NPR’s Supreme Court correspondent Nina Totenberg has apologized for a ‘rookie mistake’ that led to the false report of Justice Samuel Alito’s retirement. Totenberg explained that she misheard a statement from Chief Justice John Roberts, which led to the error.
Apology and Explanation
Totenberg discussed the matter on ‘All Things Considered’ and read the text of the apology she sent to Alito. She stated that she ‘rushed out of the courtroom’ and misheard the announcement, assuming it was about Alito’s retirement.
NPR’s editor-in-chief, Thomas Evans, said that the organization has systems in place to avoid such mistakes and is ‘trying to be a nimble news organization during breaking news and still be correct at all times.’ The incident has raised questions about the possibility of Alito’s retirement, which some court watchers had already been discussing.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
