AP sucks people in again with incorrect information

What an absolute tragedy that these families were given such a false hope. According to Editor & Publisher, it was AP that originally broke the story:

' An Associated Press dispatch first carried the news at 11:52 pm: "Twelve miners caught in an explosion in a coal mine were found alive Tuesday night, more than 41 hours after the blast, family members said. Bells at a church where relatives had been gathering rang out as family members ran out screaming in jubilation." But many newspapers, and all of cable TV news, reported the rescue as fact, not merely based on family claims.

A later AP account by Allen Breed grew more, not less, certain: "Twelve miners caught in an explosion in a coal mine were found alive Tuesday night, sending family members streaming from the church where they had gathered during the nearly two-day ordeal. Joyous shouts rose of 'Praise the Lord!'" '

I have had my issues with AP in politics, but this is one where people really got hurt from the shabby reporting methods that seem to hound this news service. I hope this incident causes a well needed shake up in their organization.