Collector’s item – Mail apology
You read that right. Following on from the response to the Mail's poll on the existence of ME the other day, which I wrote about here, those who complained to the newspaper have received the following message:
Thank you for your email, which has been passed to me by Martin Morgan.
First of all, let me apologise sincerely for any offence that may have been
caused.The poll to which you refer was posted by a junior member of staff of Mail
Online in response to a story which questioned once again the causes of ME.As I am sure you are aware, there is still a great deal to learn about what
lies behind the condition. However, I entirely accept that this is
completely different from suggesting that the condition itself is not real,
regardless of the cause.I am pleased to report that once the clumsy nature of the poll was drawn to
more senior staff's attention it was immediately removed from the website.The Mail - both the paper and online - prides itself on its coverage of
medical matters and has devoted much resource over the years into covering
the search of the causes and a cure for ME. Rest assured that we will
continue to do this and that its sufferers continue to enjoy our full
sympathy and support.We do appreciate all feedback - whether positive or negative - and I am
particularly grateful to you for taking the time and trouble to draw this
to our attention.With my best regards,
Charles A Garside
Assistant Editor
So there you are. Props to the Mail for admitting it got it (horribly) wrong, though I think it's a bit naughty to blame a 'junior' member of staff and say only the 'senior' people could sort it out - I think senior people in any organisation should always take responsibility for what their staff do, even when they get it wrong. Well done to those who campaigned hard to challenge the error. I doubt there will be an apology on the site, of course, but you can't have everything.
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January 14th, 2010 - 13:34
Is this the same Mail who were demanding the head of senior BBC people over the actions of its employees last year?
January 14th, 2010 - 13:40
As I suggested, too many potential and actual tory voters pissed off.
If there were enough flat earth society members peed with the Dully Maul they'd renege on their bold declarations in favour of a cuboid one straight away . . .
Truth? Moola . . .
January 14th, 2010 - 14:05
I really do hope the sufferers will enjoy their sympathy.
Not patronising at all.
January 14th, 2010 - 14:14
Frame it!
January 14th, 2010 - 16:19
The cold weather must have reached down to hell – the mail apologised! Good on those guys getting a response!
In other news, it's not just ME sufferers and brown people that mail readers have it in for. They also aren't too keen on short people: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1242863/Pictured-The-smallest-police-officer-British-history-5ft-tall-Pc-Port.html
January 14th, 2010 - 18:38
So, when are they planning to apologise for MMR then?
January 15th, 2010 - 10:31
"…We do appreciate all feedback – whether positive or negative…"
Is that an open invitation for us all to mail them, pointing out what a hideous heap of shit their paper is?