New York - Publisher Bloomberg yesterday inadvertently ran an obituary for Apple (NASD: AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs, and later retracted the mistake, but not before it was picked up and republished by gossip site Gawker.

The error took on added heft due to Jobs' battle with pancreatic cancer and recent speculation over his health in The Wall Street Journal and New York Times.

"Steve Jobs, who helped make personal computers as easy to use as telephones, changed the way animated films are made, persuaded consumers to tune into digital music and refashioned the mobile phone..." the obituary begins.

The published materials also include internal directions for Bloomberg reporters, such as suggestions for additional sources including Apple board member Al Gore, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and California Attorney General Jerry Brown.

"An incomplete story referencing Apple Inc. was inadvertently published by Bloomberg News at 4:27 p.m. New York time today," Bloomberg's retraction reads. "The item was never meant for publication and has been retracted."

Related Links:
http://gawker.com/5042795/bloomberg-runs-steve-jobs-obituary

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10027886-37.html