Then, last week, Fox News had to apologize again for doing the same thing. This time it used old footage of Sarah Palin from last year’s presidential campaign while covering her current book tour. In both cases, the older footage made the crowds seem much larger than they actually were. Here’s the on air apology:

And while we’re on the topic of Palin-related apologies, MSNBC also issued an on air sorry after it used Photoshopped pics of the former governor during a segment:

Editor’s Note: Sorry for coming late to this. I meant to schedule this post for Friday, but neglected do so.

Update Nov. 23: Now it appears as though my timing was good. Fishbowl DC today got it hands on an internal Fox News memo that outlines a “zero tolerance” policy regarding “on-screen errors.” This includes a range of disciplinary actions that management will take against “those who played significant roles in the ‘mistake chain,’ and those who supervise them.” The full memo is below.

One positive aspect of the memo is that it’s not solely about punishing people who make mistakes. In order to try and reduce errors, the channel will “start by going to air with only the most essential, basic, and manageable elements.” Trying to simplify things is a good approach; Fox News should also examine the processes currently used to put elements on the air, and figure out how it can improve them.

Subject: Quality Control

We had a mistake on Newsroom today when a wrong book cover went on screen during a guest segment, the kind of thing that can fall through the cracks on any day with any story given the large amount of elements and editorial we run through our broadcasts. Unfortunately, it is the latest in a series of mistakes on FNC in recent months. We have to all improve our performance in terms of ensuring error-free broadcasts. To that end, there was a meeting this afternoon between senior managers and the folks who run the daytime shows in which expectations were reviewed, and the following results were announced:‪ Effective immediately, there is zero tolerance for on-screen errors. Mistakes by any member of the show team that end up on air may result in immediate disciplinary action against those who played significant roles in the “mistake chain,” and those who supervise them. That may include warning letters to personnel files, suspensions, and other possible actions up to and including termination, and this will all obviously play a role in performance reviews. So we now face a great opportunity to review and improve on our workflow and quality control efforts. To make the most of that opportunity, effective immediately, Newsroom is going to “zero base” our newscast production. That means we will start by going to air with only the most essential, basic, and manageable elements. To share a key quote from today’s meeting: “It is more important to get it right, than it is to get it on.” We may then build up again slowly as deadlines and workloads allow so that we can be sure we can quality check everything before it makes air, and we never having to explain, retract, qualify or apologize again. Please know that jobs are on the line here. I can not stress that enough. I will review again during our Monday editorial meeting, and in the days and weeks ahead. This experience should make us stronger editorially, and I encourage everyone to invest themselves one hundred and ten percent in this effort.

We have been asked to make clear that Edgar Wright’s appreciation of Edward Woodward, which appeared in the paper on Tuesday, November 17, was abridged and the full version can be read at www.edgarwrighthere.com/2009/11/edward-woodward-1930-2009/

Actually, the paper was asked to acknowledge the fact that it took Wright’s blog post and published an excerpt of it without his knowledge or permission — or any mention that the words had been taken from his blog. This “clarification” clarifies nothing. The Times stole the piece.

Here’s what Wright posted on his Twitter feed after seeing the story:

Background here and here.