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Why did Globe & Mail report Canada’s Justin Trudeau got Standing-O when never happened?

Justin Trudeau’s speech was OK, but not standing O-worthy.

The Globe and Mail wrongly said Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Liberal Leader, got a standing ovation during a speech this month.

But, he didn’t. He just  got “enthusiastic applause by some” of the audience.

The Globe and Mail corrected its Feb. 9 story to acknowledge Trudeau didn’t get standing ovation. The statement reads:

“Clarification: The original newspaper version of this article and an earlier digital version incorrectly said Mr. Trudeau’s speech to Calgary’s Petroleum Club was interrupted by standing ovations. In fact, while there was enthusiastic applause by some members of the audience, it was not a standing ovation.”

The Globe’s public editor Sylvia Stead told iMediaEthics by e-mail how the error occurred. “The reporter said there was enthusiastic applause and some in the audience were standing but in hindsight it didn’t qualify as a standing ovation,” she e-mailed iMediaEthics.

Hat Tip: Tim Harper