Was the alleged typo in our viral headline “Saudi Lose Bid to Behead of UN Human Rights Council” intentional, or not?
Autocorrect will do just the darnedest things when the word “Saudi” is in context?
One thing is sure: the faux typo caught the attention of the world’s leading news agencies, whose reporters posted it all over Twitter — turning a global spotlight on Saudi Arabia’s shockingly cruel system of gross and systematic human rights abuses.
The buzz sparked a feature debate on Twitchy.com, which concluded: “Amazing UN Watch ‘typo’ regarding Saudi Arabia ‘has to be on purpose’.”
Here’s Henry Tricks, regional bureau chief in Mexico City of The Economist:
Nice (be) headline: Saudis Lose Bid to Behead of the UN Human Rights Council http://t.co/LQsYNFBbBo
— Henry Tricks (@HenryTricks) June 8, 2015
Josh Lederman, White House reporter for the Associated Press:
Ironic? UNWatch press release headline is "Saudis Drop Bid to Behead of UN Rights Council." I think they mean "be head of"
— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) June 8, 2015
Nicole Gaouette, foreign policy reporter at Bloomberg:
https://twitter.com/nicolegaouette/status/607999236412702720
Yochi Dreazen, Managing Editor at Foreign Policy:
Annals of unfortunate typos: UN Watch press release says "Saudis Drop Bid to Behead of UN Rights Council." (Hint: should read "be head")
— Yochi Dreazen (@yochidreazen) June 8, 2015
David A. Graham, writer for The Atlantic:
https://twitter.com/GrahamDavidA/status/607999835367571456
Reema Omer, legal Advisor for the International Commission of Jurists:
"Saudis Drop Bid to Behead of UN Rights Council" -typo or not, this UN Watch headline is quite accurate http://t.co/Qn4ipoJAqo
— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) June 8, 2015
Hannah Allam, foreign affairs reporter of McClatchy Newspapers:
Ouch, the typo in this UN Watch headline about #SaudiArabia. #AndYetFitting pic.twitter.com/jSliZyEQd7
— Hannah Allam (@HannahAllam) June 8, 2015
