An Argentine journalist was dismissed from her position after mistakenly reporting the death of the father of renowned footballer Lionel Messi. The incident occurred during a live broadcast, generating immediate repercussions and severe professional consequences.
The professional slip-up happened while presenter Noelia Novillo was participating in the “Desayuno Americano” program, a morning show broadcast on América TV. At the time, she confused Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, with the fashion designer Jorge Ibáñez, who had recently passed away and was on the network’s agenda.
Details of the confusion that marked the television broadcast
As soon as she realized the mistake, the journalist promptly rectified the information and publicly apologized. She corrected the statement live, expressing her regret over the disclosure of incorrect information to viewers and explaining the oversight.
However, even with the retraction, the error resulted in the immediate dismissal of the professional from América TV. The seriousness of the fake news, involving such a well-known and beloved figure in the country, was decisive in the television leadership’s decision.
Direct impact on the presenter’s professional trajectory
The family of football star Lionel Messi enjoys great prestige and affection in Argentina, transforming any news about its members into a subject of high national sensitivity. Fake news, especially about the well-being of their families, causes great commotion and severe repercussions in the country.
The episode highlights the immense responsibility of communicators in live broadcasts and the indispensable need to accurately check information before broadcasting. Errors of this magnitude can have a lasting impact on credibility and a journalistic career.