OH DEAR, OH DEAR, OH DEAR – AT 8:10 P.M. ET:  Another shining example of the quality of journalistic research these days.  A commencement speech has been given.  Apparently, three minutes of research were done.  This is the result:

Where am I? The crowd at Saturday's Wheaton College commencement may have wondered that while listening to Ann Curry's speech to grads. The "Today" show anchor gave a shout-out to a few distinguished Wheaton alums, but there was one problem: They were alums of the other Wheaton College. Curry, a graduate of the University of Oregon, cited evangelist Billy Graham, horror director Wes Craven, and 9/11 hero Todd Beamer, who was a passenger on United Airlines flight 93. While it's true all three attended Wheaton, it was the Christian liberal arts college in Illinois, not the school in Norton where Curry was speaking.

"She gave a great speech," said Wheaton spokesman Michael Graca. "She went out of her way to meet with students before her speech and to get information about the college." The transcript and video of Curry's 16-minute talk is posted on the college's web site, but the reference to Graham, Craven, and Beamer has been edited. "We didn't want to broadcast misinformation," explained Graca, who told us Curry is aware of her mistake.

In case you're wondering, Wheaton College in Massachusetts does have its own distinguished alums, including "60 Minutes" correspondent Leslie Stahl, former New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman, and Oscar-nominated actress Catherine Keener. In an open letter to the Wheaton community today, Curry said: "I am mortified by my mistake, and can only hope the purity of my motive, to find a way to connect with the graduates and to encourage them to a life of service, will allow you to forgive me."

COMMENT:  If this happened in real journalism, no doubt they'd "stand by our story."   Curry's apology was gracious.  I only wish there were more apologies and corrections where they really count.

May 24, 2010