# journalism error term

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journalism-error-term/41838>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 19, 2000, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journalism-error-term/41838 "2000-11-19T12:25:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journalism-error-term/41838/1 "2000-11-19T12:25:31Z")

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One of the most frustrating things I know of is when I’m reading an article in the newspaper. and there is a reference to a person, by the last name, without any introduction or explanation. The usual reason for this is that in the original version of the article, the reporter had a section that described the individual, but the editor took out that paragraph, without changing the later text.

I remember once hearing that there is a term for that phenomenon, but I can’t remember the term. Anyone know?

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**Author:** ![sheerah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@sheerah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sheerah)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journalism-error-term/41838/2 "2000-11-19T21:24:03Z")

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When I wrote for a daily paper and this occurred in one of my court or meeting articles, I called the phenomena “My editor is a brainless ninny with defecation occupying his parietal region.”

A more universally accepted term may exist, however. 🙂

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**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journalism-error-term/41838/3 "2000-11-19T21:37:26Z")

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This page:

[http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~feef/accuracy.htm](http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~feef/accuracy.htm)

discusses the phenomena, but doesn’t give it a name.

I suppose “missing first reference” would fit, but I imagine you were looking for something a little more glamorous-sounding.