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Bloomberg News editor fired over inaccurate headline

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mkeys@thedesk.net

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Pickering's errant headline moved on Bloomberg's news terminal and on the company's mobile applications. (The Desk)
Pickering’s errant headline moved on Bloomberg’s news terminal and on the company’s mobile applications. (The Desk)

A Bloomberg editor was fired on Friday after he erroneously sent an inaccurate headline regarding a former Goldman Sachs banker.

John Pickering was dropped by the company after he moved a headline on the Bloomberg news terminal that claimed ex-Goldman banker Fabrice Tourre was acquitted by a jury on suspicion of misleading investors.

Tourre was, in fact, found liable for six of seven charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The headline, which also moved as a breaking news alert on Bloomberg’s mobile apps, was corrected within minutes.

Despite the correction, Bloomberg released Pickering on Friday, ending his 20-year career with the financial news organization.

The New York Post first reported Pickering’s unemployment on Saturday.

Bloomberg’s financial terminal product is one of the most-used in the business and information industry, and news that moves on the Bloomberg terminal has been known to have heavy influence on financial markets. Bloomberg prides itself on “delivering accurate, accountable information 24/7,” which may have been cause for Pickering’s termination.

A message left with management at Bloomberg went unreturned Monday.

New York Post: Headline costs Bloomberg News editor his job
Huffington Post: Bloomberg blows Fabrice Tourre verdict on Twitter

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About the Author:

Matthew Keys

Matthew Keys is the award-winning founder and editor of TheDesk.net, an authoritative voice on broadcast and streaming TV, media and tech. With over ten years of experience, he's a recognized expert in broadcast, streaming, and digital media, with work featured in publications such as StreamTV Insider and Digital Content Next, and past roles at Thomson Reuters and Disney-ABC Television Group.
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