Mon
Apr 29 2013
03:51 pm
Hold the flowers
By: Bbeanster

This morning I was startled to see a story on the KNS page that former KNS managing editor and longtime sports guy Marvin West died in Lexington, Ky. last night.
That made me sad because I like Marvin and I like his column in the Shopper.
I called Sandra Clark with the "Hey, Marvin died" news.
She had already heard and was sad, too. We talked about what a great life he had, wintering in Mexico, summering on Norris Lake and stuff.
Then I looked at FB and there's Bill Dockery saying that Marvin's not dead.
Then I look at the KNS page again and the story's gone, baby, gone.

So my question is, what do you do about running a death announcement on somebody who's still alive and kicking?
Correct it?
Retract it?
Ignore it?

Is it libelous to say somebody's dead when they're not? How did this happen? Who killed Marvin?

It's turned into a pretty funny story...

Topics:
Dave Prince's picture

An actor sharing my name died

Submitted by Dave Prince on Mon, 2013/04/29 - 4:52pm.

An actor sharing my name died the year I was EIC of my high school paper. I ran his obituary with my picture.

Nobody cared.

Average Guy's picture

Correct it

Submitted by Average Guy on Mon, 2013/04/29 - 4:53pm.

Anything less is as bad as not taking the time to corroborate it.

Rachel's picture

And in other news, Franciso

Submitted by Rachel on Mon, 2013/04/29 - 4:53pm.

And in other news, Franciso Franco is still dead....

R. Neal's picture

That's pathetic. Saw an obit

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2013/04/29 - 5:17pm.

That's pathetic.

Saw an obit for George Soros on one of the national news websites a week or so ago. The date of death was "X". Turns out he wasn't dead at all.

Elwood Aspermonte's picture

What is sad is Marvin West is a better writer dead or alive

Submitted by Elwood Aspermonte (not verified) on Mon, 2013/04/29 - 5:52pm.

than anybody over there at the KNS sports hole and West honed his skills and his observations as a writer on a manual then electric typewriter, long before the advent of text phones, the internet, DSL or T1 lines, word processors, laptops, or digital cameras. He used the power of words since there was no power of technology.

A sports writer is a writer who happens to write about sports.

A KNS sports writer is a jilted fan, who covets his space and press pass in Neyland Stadium, and publishes the most bizarre commentary, not providing any information or insight as to the game, the athlete, or the situation they are purportedly covering. They just grind the same old axes over there all season long.

Stan G's picture

Slightly Off Topic, But

Submitted by Stan G on Mon, 2013/04/29 - 8:18pm.

Since Marvin has returned from the dead, can he explain why in heavens name the Shopper News delivers the Halls/Fountain City edition to Cumberland Estates?

sclark426's picture

Stan: Don't know, but will

Submitted by sclark426 (not verified) on Tue, 2013/04/30 - 2:56pm.
(in reply to Stan G)

Stan: Don't know, but will check. -- s.

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