Jackson Free Press

No, my friends, that is not a typo in the headline. Or rather, it is not my typo.

Here is a verbatim copy of the press release Assistant Chief Administration Officer Carolyn Redd sent out at 10:30 this morning:

Neighborhood organzations
the building blocks of THE CITY OF JACKSON

Dear Community Partners,

If you are concerned about:
Our Neighbors
Protecting Our Property Values
Keeping Our Families Safe
Preserving the intergrity of Our communities

WHEN: Thursday, June 14, 2007

WHERE: TelCom Center
105 E Pascagoula Street

TIME: 5:30 P.M.

Hosted by: Mayor Frank E. Melton and Leland Speed

Note: Light Refreshments will be served.

Note that "integrity" is spelled "intergrity." Note further that in the original Word file, which I'll try to get the tech folks to post tomorrow, both "inergrity" and "organzations" appear in all caps, which makes them, you know, more noticeable.

I am inclined to be tolerant of others' print mistakes because God knows I've made more than a few myself. The Jackson Free Press runs a very tight ship typographically with a small, dedicated staff, but we've made our share of typos.

Of course, we are putting out 40 pages a week, while the city sends one press release every 13 months. (I kid! But we don't get more than a couple city press releases a week, if that.) Also, we've never made a spelling mistake in a headline, so far as I know, or printed the word "organzation." Or "intergrity."

Forgive me for pointing out how funny it is that the Melton administration can't even figure out how to spell that last one.

The reason why we have never misspelled those words is that there has been a remarkable development in publishing in the last 30 years. It is called "spell check." When you are in Microsoft Word, you can check the spelling of a document by pressing the F7 key.

Mayor Melton, I know you say you don't read the newspapers, much less a blog. You are like our president in that and so many other ways. But if you are reading--seriously, I can take care of these press releases for you for $65,000, tops.

Previous Comments

ID

113229

Comment

Yes, spell check is always good. But, so is having the know-how to re-read what you wrote before you fire it off. Kinda fits Melton's style though. ;-) I like the way they have these gatherings at the last minute. Not very much planning involved. Not happy to see a private person as a "co-host" to the mayor's problems. Why do I get the feeling this is a hidden campaign opportunity for Melton's candidates: Robert Shuler Smith (what's with the middle name?), Michelle Purvis, and Tyrone Lewis to get in front of some folks and make statements about how they will help Melton fight crime. Yada, yada, yada.... I recommend Judge Skinner as an impromptu speaker at the meeting!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-06-12T22:31:54-06:00

ID

113230

Comment

Sounds like a caucus to me. Anyway, the document is poorly written, period. Neighborhood organzations the building blocks of THE CITY OF JACKSON In addition to the misspelled word, the arrangement of these phrases are awkward. It seems like there should have been a colon or ellipses or something between them if all the words weren't going to have starter caps. I also don't see the point of having THE CITY OF JACKSON in all caps. If you are concerned about: Our Neighbors Protecting Our Property Values Keeping Our Families Safe Preserving the intergrity of Our communities In addition to the misspelled word (can't believe I had to say that again), they need to be consistent with capitalization. Why didn't they capitalize "intergrity" (God help us) and "communities"? Note: Light Refreshments will be served. Why is "Refreshments" capitalized? Anyone? Anyone?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-14T08:35:07-06:00

ID

113231

Comment

Redd is paid quite enough to spellcheck her occasional releases. Bottom line.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-06-14T09:15:59-06:00

ID

113232

Comment

She has my writing and computer skills, LW. But wouldn't anybody with good sense hire me unless I had a very capable secretary or editor to check my work.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-14T09:25:51-06:00

ID

113233

Comment

It is strange to me that these conferences are called last minute. You wouuld think they'd want a coalition and advertising early. It kills me that the community policing dept. was gutted and now Anderson wants to highlight, guess what, community policing!

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-06-14T11:28:49-06:00

ID

113234

Comment

Izzy, I think there's a lot of backpedaling going on because they realize now that getting rid of programs that actually worked was a terrible idea. I expect more of this in the near future.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-14T16:32:02-06:00

ID

113235

Comment

I hope they put community policing back

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-06-14T16:45:51-06:00