Errors happen; hiding them compounds the damage. A correction is a published notice that acknowledges a mistake in an earlier report and supplies the accurate information.

Corrections appear promptly, in a consistent location, and with enough detail for readers to understand what was wrong. Digital platforms allow updates to the original story along with a timestamped correction note. Print corrections usually run in a fixed corrections column or box.

A culture that treats corrections as routine rather than shameful encourages staff to surface errors quickly. Readers notice whether an organization corrects itself cleanly. Over time, transparent correction practices become part of a newsroom’s reputation for honesty.

• Published notice fixing an earlier error
• Appears promptly and with clear detail
• Applied to both print and digital stories
• Signals accountability to the audience