I am more than usually interested in Five dead in NYC ferry disaster because, when Helen and I visited New York in 1999, we stayed on Staten Island and used the ferry. Still, I don't think it merits lead story on the ITN News bulletin - if it had happened in a third world country ,or possibly even a European country, it would not have merited much of a mention at all. But UK news will always cover too much US news stories because, in the US, they are very good at getting footage, and most eye witnesses will speak English.
It was a bit silly of ITN to describe it as the ferry that tourists use to get to the Statue of Liberty, though. Basic factual inaccuracy.
It's described in the same way in the BBC story, Gert.
Ah well - I didn't know any better, sad to say.
Posted by: Lyle | Thursday, 16 October 2003 at 16:28
The BBC say you can see the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island ferry, which is technically correct - heck I could see the statue of liberty from my bed on Staten Island (Harbor House, we stayed at...). But to go to the Statue of Liberty requires a trip on the Ellis/Liberty island ferry. (I have a photo of Helen standing on Liberty island impersonating the Statue of Liberty; Helen has one of me impersonating the Twin Towers, but when I last visited her, she said it would take months to hunt through all the boxes to find that particular photo).
You're not obliged to know - you're not a news broadcasting organisation that people think they can rely on for factual accuracy.
Posted by: Gert | Thursday, 16 October 2003 at 16:49
I am planning to stay at Harbor House. was it nice?
Posted by: Debby | Monday, 17 May 2004 at 22:12
Yes, but when we visited it lacked air-condiitoning, which was a bit unfortunate considering that it was New York's hottest ever June day...
It was a bit of a walk to the Ferry, but handy for the bus to the Ferry.
And man, the views... I will stick my neck out and say that it must be the best view from ground level in the whole of New York. Ships parked at the bottom of the garden. Very clear view of Liberty and the Twin Towers (this was in '99). the place was very friendly -we'd sit out on the stoop in the evening smoking and drinking beer and chatting to fellow guests.
Posted by: Gert | Monday, 17 May 2004 at 22:52