Corrections Policies

In journalism, a correction is the notice that a news outlet provides to its audience of mistakes in published or posted content. Reporters and editors identify or are informed about errors and then follow their organization’s policy—an adopted newsroom practice typically found in its codes of conduct—in correcting published, posted, or broadcast content. Reputations of news organizations rely on truthful reports, so factual accuracy is paramount. Otherwise, journalism may be perceived as misleading the audience, prompting people to turn to other sources of information that may be tainted by self-interest rather than public interest. In this entry, the history and ethics of corrections policies in U.S. news organizations are explored, with discussion of policies and procedures in place at different types of news outlets. The ...