[Vision2020] Journalistic integrity

[Dale Courtney]

Wilson wrote: 
> 4. Having shouted their error on the front page, the Daily 
> News had whispered a teeny correction later on. The Statesman 
> must have missed it somehow.

Actually, they did *not* use the word "correction". They said that
Bacharach's story was "incomplete". 

No one from the Daily News has yet to respond to _my_ question either:
what's the difference between a story being "incomplete" and it being
factually "incorrect". 

I'm posting Nathan Alford's column from 9 Aug 2003 where he said he was
committed to accuracy in the Daily News. 

As always, actions speak louder than words.

But hey! Bacharach and the Daily News made it onto the AP wire with their
incorrect information. And that's all that *really* matters, isn't it? 

Alford has been copied on this. We'll see if he's willing to answer your
request for the incorrect information to be corrected in the Daily News,
LMT, and The Idaho Statesman. Or would that be losing too much face? 

Best,
Dale

_______________________________________
COLUMN: Accuracy: Readers demand it; we're dedicated to providing it 
Daily News, 9 Aug 2003

Nathan Alford

Our back warehouse is packed to the ceiling with rolls of newsprint. They
sit, waiting to roll on our 1972 Harris printing press which shows all of
its age and a lot of charm. 
Throw in some ink and the daily effort of a talented team of 60-plus and
you've got a newspaper. 

But there's one more essential ingredient: credibility and trust with you,
the reader. All else is secondary. 

It's an intangible that we work hard to earn every day. 

At the core of every successful newspaper is the unwavering commitment to an
accurate and complete news report, free of bias and opinion. 

It's an ethical obligation that's been the subject of national debate in the
wake of the New York Times' discovery that reporter Jayson Blair plagiarized
stories and invented quotes. 

The subsequent fallout and critical analysis of the Times proves it's an
issue with potential to shake even the nation's most established newspaper. 

At the Daily News, we're conscious of our obligation. And it's healthy to
remind ourselves and you every so often that accuracy is an absolute
priority. 

No matter the magnitude of the error, whether it's a fact or a misplaced
vowel, it matters to us. 

Anything less than a 100 percent accurate report has the potential to
undermine our most valuable resource - credibility. 

What can we do to protect and grow credibility with readers? 

We've always been willing to run a correction if an error is brought to our
attention. The plan is to build and improve upon that policy. 

It's called "Accuracy matters." It will be a permanent fixture on Page 2 of
the main section. Each day you'll see a reminder of our commitment to an
accurate report. Its purpose is to create a daily reminder of our
accountability to the public. 

Corrections are important enough that we'll go on the record, taking
ownership of an error while providing a swift and complete correction. 

Two-thirds of Americans believe news organizations are unwilling to
acknowledge their errors, according to a report by the Pew Research Center
for The People and the Press. Only 23 percent say newspapers admit their
mistakes. 

We're willing to do our part to change that perception. 

If we make an error, it will be noted. If incorrect information was provided
to us, we'll note that too. 

The goal is to have a complete, open and easy-to-use correction policy. 

We hope you'll take us up on the invitation. It won't work without feedback
from you. 

That may be part of the challenge, according to another study. 

A national survey of 3,000 newspaper readers by Associated Press Managing
Editors, an association of U.S. and Canadian editors, warns you may not be
willing to participate. 

The unscientific poll listed four reasons why readers choose not to report
errors. They included: 

n Readers doubted newspapers cared about mistakes or would listen. 

n Navigating a newspaper's corrections system would take too much time. 

n The error was so obvious that surely someone at the paper would correct
it. 

n They believed inaccuracies were intentional in journalism that glosses
over the fine points and hypes storytelling. 

This editor and publisher is on the record saying: That is not the case at
the Daily News. Complete and accurate facts are a priority. If you notice an
error, a correction is a quick phone call away. Errors inevitably will
escape detection from time to time, but it's never our intent. 

We are always looking for ways to improve the news product and the way we
run the newspaper. 

The addition of "Accuracy matters" is one small step in that direction. 

It's an invitation to be a part of the daily effort to create a credible
news report. 

We welcome your voice in the conversation. 


Nathan Alford is editor and publisher of the Daily News. Column ideas are
appreciated. He can be reached by phone at (208) 882-5561, ext. 247, or by
e-mail at alford@dnews.com.