Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of the 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1 on New Year's Day or shortly thereafter. Then Headline Surfer will post a Top 10 forecast story of the good, the bad & the ugly on the horizon in "2022: The Year That Lies Ahead."
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
OAK HILL, Fla. -- Linda Hyatt took to Facebook back in March to ask a simple question along with a pic of that Sunday's local section: "Anyone see what's wrong?"
The venerable Oak Hill City commissioner was spot on in calling attention in social media to the Sunday Daytona Beach News-Journal with its banner headline that read: Volusia County beches packed this weekend.
This is more than egregious from Hyatt's point of view. After all, the beach refers to the locale, Daytona Beach; half a century in chamber-tourism branding with The World's Most Famous Beach; and the very name of the paper in the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
It's one thing to make a mistake. It's yet another step to own up to it and publish a correction.
The News-Journal, which claims to be the official daily news for Volusia and Flagler counties had all day to correct the headline online but failed purposely to admit to the error and correct it. Indeed, when Monday's paper was thrown on Hyatt's driveway, no such correction had been made.
This from the languishing daily newspaper that boasts of its affiliation with Gannett, the media conglomerate that owns USA Today. In fact, right below the reporter's byline on this story is the added all-in-caps moniker, USA TODAY Network.
If the News-Journal wants to walk the walk, it has to be ready to fix the talk. After all, elected politicians like Hyatt are going to take their shots when mistakes are made and the media outlet that claims to hold politicians accountable pretends like its own house is perfect. It's not. Far from it.
Linda Hyatt, who is widowed, and an avid hunter, is no novice when it comes to seeing why the newspaper shoots itself in the foot: "Take some responsibility. Even the New York Times makes mistakes.
But those mistakes are corrected, said Hyatt, with close to a decade serving as a commissioner and former long-time vice mayor, Hyatt pointed out, adding the Daytona paper just doesn't get.
Linda Hyatt, who is widowed, and an avid hunter, is no novice when it comes to seeing why the newspaper shoots itself in the foot: "Take some responsibility. Even the New York Times makes mistakes. But those mistakes are corrected, said Hyatt, with close to a decade serving as a commissioner and former long-time vice mayor,Hyatt pointed out, adding the Daytona paper just doesn't get.
Seven of Hyatt's Facebook friends weighed in on her posting and all were in agreement as to how bad the headline was botched, butchered or whatever adjective used to convey the error.
"Can you say spell check? asked Barbara Gilmartin. Hyatt responded with classic sarcasm: "Guess the paper doesn’t have it."
Angela Bruce asked, "Where did they learn to spell?"
Vicki Dobbs, a former teacher remarked, "When I taught English, I gave my students extra credit for finding errors in print and any posted information -- restaurants and other businesses were filled with errors! I am shocked at how many errors there are!"
Lorna Brice answered Dobbs' assessment with "You must totally cringe every time you read the newspaper or watch the news on TV, with your background. I know I do, and I was a stenographic supervisor!"
Hyatt said she posted the comment after checking the News-Journal online and not seeing a correction or acknowledgment of any kind.
In trying to downplay her obvious disgust, Hyatt explained why she brought attention to the headline typo: "I only posted because I find it amusing they allowed that to go out."
While the Daytona Beach News-Journal has a correction policy statement on page A2 in its print newspaper, no such policy is clearly stated in its online version.
The local paper's correction policy, in fact, does not mirror that of Gannett's flagship newspaper, USA Today, in print or online.
Low and behold, Headline Surfer checked back with Hyatt to see if a correction had been published in the Monday paper on page 2A where corrections are supposed to be placed. "No," she answered. Asked why she didn't notify the paper directly, she said it's all to see what an embarrassing display that everyone can easily see unless they purposely look the other way.
Headline Surfer sent an email inquiry to Pat Rice, the editor of the Daytona Beach News-Journal, as to why a correction was not made, but he did not respond.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.