[USMA:11127] FW: Error at Italy news site

[Hooper, Bill and or Barbara]

Title: FW: Error at Italy news site

This is the reply I received to my message regarding the incorrect conversion of 18 deg. C to 34 deg. F. My msg also suggested that it would be better not to convert at all and avoid the problem of faulty conversions entirely.

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From: "Inews" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2001 03:34:58 +0100
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Error

Dear Dr. Hooper:
   Thank you for taking the time to write us at Italy-news regarding the
error you spotted in a news item on Tuesday, February 13, 2001, about a
medical operation and, specifically, the temperature of the patient's body
during surgery.
   You are correct, the temperature should have read 64 degrees Fahrenheit,
not 34 degrees as we reported. In checking our conversion notes, we find that
the error was typographical. We regret the mistake and will issue a
correction in an upcoming edition of Italy-news. Although we have been making
great progress in our attempts at complete accuracy in both reporting and
translation, it remains an ongoing challenge.
   The second issue you raise is one that continues to be discussed by all
of us who report and translate for Italy-news. Recently we adopted the
Associated Press style manual as our guide for translating into English.
Since over 65% of our English readership is in the United States, we decided
that we would use American equivalents and conversions for many units of
measurements as suggested in the AP style guide. Our English-language editor
recommends Fahrenheit rather than Celsius because of the overwhelming number
of American English-language readers of Italy-news.
   Additionally, many readers use the translations to learn one or more of
the languages we use at Italy-news. It seems logical to us to use the
terminology associated with the language in which we are writing in light of
the percentages noted above.
   We hope this answers your question. We also hope that you will continue
to read Italy-news and feel free to contact us with any questions or comments
you might have. It's always a pleasure to hear from our readers; we'll always
try to be responsive to your suggestions.
   Le inviamo i nostri migliori saluti,
   Carol Saraullo
   Italy-news