We published an article last week with the headline Only 8% of schools have received air monitors that were promised by government (24 October, page 4). It said this finding had been “revealed” by a Twitter poll conducted by a headteacher. Twitter polls are informal and, if choosing to report them on a significant issue, we should be clear that respondents are self-selecting users of the platform who may or may not be statistically representative. In this case we failed to make that clear. The poll question, which was not given in the article, was, “Anybody seen a CO2 monitor yet? Asking for a school?”, and it cannot be said whether all those answering were in a position to confirm school arrangements. The online version of the article, which was amended shortly after publication to include reference in its headline to the Twitter poll, has been withdrawn from our website.
Professor Brian Josephson, speaking about the academic community (Premonitions that turn out to be true can feel profound. But is there science to explain them?, 24 October, Magazine, page 59), was quoted as saying: “You’re supposed to believe certain things and you run into problems you disagree with.” His actual quote was: “You’re supposed to believe certain things and you run into problems if you disagree.”
Other recently amended articles include:
Frances Haugen: ‘I never wanted to be a whistleblower. But lives were in danger’
‘Darker skies and colder weather provide perfect conditions... for Covid-19 to thrive’
Painting is back in the frame … and the rising stars are mostly women
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