What is it about the New York Times that it can't spell names correctly? Today's blooper comes in the lead, front-page article about the inquiry into the pardon of Marc Rich. The Times reports that "the Justice Department's public integrity section, which investigates corruption, is headed by Lee Radick, an official who has been criticized by Republicans." Mr. Radek spells his name like that, with no "i" and no "c."
In some instances, the Times manages to spell names incorrectly even when it clearly knows the correct spelling. That is the case in an article in the international section of today's Times about the heir to the Peacock Throne. The Times article refers to him as "Riza Pahlevi," but it also includes the address of his site on the World Wide Web, www.rezapahlavi.org. It's clear from that web site that his preferred spelling in English is Reza Pahlavi, not, as the Times renders it, "Riza Pahlevi." It's a wonderful little example of Times arrogance -- that the newspaper would think it knows how to spell a name better than the actual bearer of the name. If there is some other innocent explanation for the spelling variations, the Times would do well to let readers in on it.
The Country of Europe: An article of the front of the business section of today's New York Times reports on a business that manufactures electronics. "The more automated plants operate in wealthier countries like the United States, Europe and Singapore," the Times reports. Well, Europe may be well on its way to a common market and a common foreign policy, but, at least for now, it's not a country in the same way that the United States and Singapore are.
Hypocrisy Watch: In an editorial today, the Times whips itself up into a froth over the fact that minority managers hold 7 of the top 25 positions at the city parks department. It says that is a "disturbing picture" and an "unacceptable" pattern. But let the reader's eyes drift upward on the page to the Times masthead, and one is reminded that the Times record on racial diversity in the top ranks is probably worse than that of the parks department. The Times also condemns the parks commissioner's practice of having his staff wear name tags with nicknames. "The name tags ought to go," the Times thunders. "This demeaning practice has no place in a professional organization." The editorial might have noted that the parks commissioner himself wears one of those supposedly "demeaning" name tags. Granted, it is his choice to do so, but it's also the choice of the employees to work there. If they don't like it, they are free to go get jobs somewhere else where they don't have to wear name tags.
The Devil and Daniel Webster: A front-page article in today's New York Times about calling card charges includes a pullout quote that says, "'No hidden charges' takes on a meaning that would have baffled Daniel Webster." The Webster the Times seems to mean in this reference is Noah, not Daniel.