Posted on 04/21/2012 11:16:01 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
In a quirky example of new media getting tripped up over history, overseas press reports Thursday claimed that Harley-Davidson Inc. had built a new factory in Milwaukee - with the writers not realizing they were taking information from a 94-year-old magazine article.
Trade publications as far away as India picked up the story, which originally ran in the May 1918 issue of Motorcyclist Magazine and was reprinted in the magazine's recent issue as a historical article.
Those who used the information, without Motorcyclist Magazine's permission, apparently didn't get the back-in-time angle.
One automotive publication in India wrote:
"To make their global presence stronger the iconic Harley-Davidson Motor Company is going all guns blazing in planning and strategizing for future trends. The popular motorcycle company has built a new facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where machinery is being installed currently as you read."
The article, from RushLane.com, goes on to say "production output of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles is expected to double when the plant is up and rolling."
RushLane says it's the leading source for vehicle news in India and says the website is read by vehicle enthusiasts, executives and investors. After realizing its mistake, RushLane posted on its website:
"We do not in anyway wish to misrepresent facts, and as is obvious, there is no new factory. We are apologetic for any and all confusion caused in the online media, and take full responsibility for the all important date omission."
Motorcyclist Magazine reprinted the article from 1918 as part of a series of stories for its 100th anniversary. The point is to give readers a look at the magazine's coverage over the past century, said Aaron Frank, editor at large.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
Actually, the quality and precision of the writing is better than anything you read today in a newspaper or magazine.
You are right about that.
happens all the time in the religion forum. People treat the 1918 Catholic Encyclopedia (published by laity in a Protestant culture, echoing that culture’s “knowledge”) as if it were Catholic doctrine.
We are slowing passing hundred year anniversaries, etc. The internet will slowly start returning hits from hundred year old references as alot of people still use two-digit year references.
i.e. a reference like 4-20-13 may very well return 1913 results, not the 2013 ones one is looking for.
I think the last factory built in Milwaukee was indeed built in 1918.
Eh, maybe they saw it on the front page of the Drudge Report.
This is akin to accepting April 1 news releases.
Did they also mention the new Zeppelin, Hindenburg?
That’s what they get for plagiarizing.
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