diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index a6eb469a70d..843c8464588 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Python News
 What's New in Python 2.3 beta 1?
 ================================
 
-*Release date: XX-XXX-2003*
+*Release date: 25-Apr-2003*
 
 Core and builtins
 -----------------
diff --git a/README b/README
index c81d8b3f065..c35c77e5bcc 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-This is Python version 2.3 alpha 2
-==================================
+This is Python version 2.3 beta 1
+=================================
 
 Copyright (c) 2001, 2002, 2003 Python Software Foundation.
 All rights reserved.