PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A student-run news organization that covers Penn State has posted a letter online from its managing editor announcing his immediate resignation after the publication’s Twitter account sent messages saying former coach Joe Paterno had died.
Paterno’s sons had disputed Onward State’s Saturday posts, and the publication had recanted. Paterno’s family announced Sunday that he had passed away.
The Saturday report had been amplified by media organizations across the country and retweeted uncounted times. The Associated Press did not publish the report.
Devon Edwards says in the letter that he takes responsibility and “never, in a million years, would have thought that Onward State would be cited by the national media.” He did not explain how the error occurred.
