Media corrections 101: can a story be changed once it’s published?
originally posted to www.carnsight.com
In the past, publishing a story meant printing it, mistakes and all. Corrections could be issued, but only after the fact, and usually in the next day’s paper. Today, stories can be amended or rewritten in real time. But that flexibility comes with new questions about credibility and control: when is it right to make a change, and when does it cross a line? What’s feasible and what’s never, ever going to happen?
For PRs and brands, understanding the difference is essential.
The good news is that factual errors can usually be corrected (e.g. spelling mistakes, incorrect job titles, dates, or statistics). These are small but important fixes, and journalists are generally quick to sort them out.
More significant inaccuracies – like a misquote, a wrongly attributed statement, or a misrepresented fact – can also be corrected. In these cases, you might even see a visible “correction note” at the bottom of an article.
BUT: corrections are at the editor’s discretion, and are never guaranteed (yes, even if it’s a factual inaccuracy).
Timing matters. The sooner you flag it, the higher the chance of a fix. As PRs, it’s part of our job to read through every piece of coverage forensically. We check to make sure everything is as it should be. That’s an important distinction from what we and our clients may want – i.e. names, dates, numbers, anything that is factual, as opposed to angles or views expressed.
Not everything is up for negotiation (in fact, most things aren’t). Journalists won’t rewrite an article simply because you don’t like the tone or wished they’d focused on a different angle. Omissions – for example, leaving out a detail you had hoped would be included – aren’t typically corrected either.
Opinion is also off-limits. Comment pieces, reviews, or analysis reflect the writer’s viewpoint. Unless there’s a clear factual error, you can’t expect these to be altered after publication. Once a piece is live, it belongs to the outlet, not the contributor or the brand.
If you do need to ask for a correction, here’s some suggestions on how to go about it:
At their core, corrections protect trust. They safeguard the credibility of both the brand and the publication (and the journalist on the byline!). And actually, rather than being a sign of weakness, a transparent correction can actually strengthen a reader’s confidence in the outlet by proving their commitment to integrity.
For brands (and their PRs), understanding what can and can’t be changed helps set realistic expectations. For readers, it’s reassurance that accuracy still matters and their news source is reliable. Especially in this latest era of rampant fake news…
Yes – but only when it comes to facts. Accuracy is non-negotiable. Preference, tone, or “I wish it had read differently” usually won’t wash. Knowing the difference can save a lot of time, frustration, and unnecessary back-and-forth.
We’ve helped clients navigate corrections calmly and effectively, ensuring stories are always as accurate and fair as possible.
If you want to chat about which PR approach is right for you, get in touch. Or, if you’re not sure if you’re ready to start PR at all, you can check out our what to get right before you start PR blog.
At Carnsight Communications we create strategies and campaigns to showcase our clients’ brilliant work through PR, content and social media. We help them get noticed by the right audience, at the right time. We specialise in creative agency PR.
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