As an update to the previous post, below is the online archives policy of the GWHatchet. Thanks to Howard Marshall for the info, which is in their policy manual, but also not online yet.

The Hatchet often receives requests from the public to remove stories from its archives. Normally, these stories are reports of crime or other inappropriate behavior. The Hatchet’s policy is that all stories found to be reported fairly, accurately and truthfully shall remain as part of the historical record.

In circumstances where substantive evidence is provided that the story is biased, inaccurate, incomplete or otherwise flawed, it shall be at the discretion of the editor in chief to add an editor’s note at the beginning of the story explaining such to future readers.

This same policy shall also apply to arrests where the suspect is later found not-guilty or charges are dropped. Should the story be especially damaging, the editor in chief shall have the discretion to add a note explaining circumstances or a link to the follow-up story where the most accurate information can be found.

When corrections or clarifications are published in the print edition of The Hatchet, that same list will appear on its own online article page. Additionally, section editors should log into the administrative interface of the Web site, and write the correction or clarification in italics at the bottom of the appropriate articles. At the top of the article should be written in italics, “Editor’s Note: A correction/clarification is appended.”

This entry was posted on Monday, March 24th, 2008 at 12:04 pm and is filed under ethics, Legal Issues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.