Mergers and acquisitions to widen the gap?

Senior journalist and media educator Mahesh Vijapurkar offers an interesting instance of lack of care and caution on the part of the reporter and sub-editor:

A page- one second lead story in The Economic Times, Mumbai edition of January 26, 2011 is Rishad Premji to lead Wipro's buyout team. The story's intro runs thus:

"Rishad Premji, Wipro's new strategy chief, has been given the additional responsibility of leading the company's M&A pursuits as India's third-biggest software exporters seeks to widen its gap with aggressive aggressive rivals by identifying the bext big bets."

 

Excuse me? Mergers and acquisitions to widen the gap? Normally, it would be reduce the gap with the competitors ahead of it. One can widen the gap without a strategy chief having to do anything. Mere complacency would do fine, thank you! 

As explained later in the copy, Wipro would like to regain growth. Unless the intent is to increase the gap between Wipro and the fourth-biggest software company. Why should it strain to stay third in the pecking order and not second instead of keeping the fourth at the fourth place?

One single word and the story is at odds from what was sought to be said. 

Like I always say, care and caution helps, especially when English is not our mother tongue.