Corrections Policy

1.  Our commitment

We will get things wrong sometimes. When we do, we will correct it promptly, openly and in a way readers can see. Quietly editing a mistake out of an article is not a correction, and we do not do it.

This policy explains how to tell us about an error, what we will do, and what to do if you are not satisfied with our response.

2.  What we correct

• Factual errors — wrong names, titles, dates, places, figures or events.
• Misspelled or misidentified people, and photographs of the wrong person.
• Quotes that were inaccurate or attributed to the wrong person.
• Headlines, captions or standfirsts that misrepresent the article they sit on.
• Errors of translation between our English and Malayalam editions, where the two versions say materially different things.
• Material omissions that leave a misleading impression.

3.  What is not a correction

We will always listen, but the following are not errors of fact:

• disagreement with an opinion or a columnist’s argument;
• disagreement with our judgement about what to report, or how prominently;
• a request to remove accurate reporting because it is unwelcome.

If you disagree with an opinion piece, you are welcome to write a letter or a response for possible publication.

4.  How to ask for a correction

Email corrections@thenewslytimes.com or use the form at [link]. Please include:

• the headline and the link to the article, and the date and edition (English or Malayalam);
• the exact words you say are wrong;
• what the correct information is;
• any document, record or source that supports it; and
• your name and a contact number or email, so that we can come back to you.

You do not have to be the person mentioned in the article to raise a correction.

5.  How quickly we respond

6.  How we fix things

We use four levels, and we choose the one that matches how serious the error is.

Update

Used for a developing story where new information has come to light and nothing published was wrong at the time. The article carries a dated note saying what has been added or changed.

Clarification

Used where what we published was accurate but could be misread, or where important context was missing. A dated clarification note is added to the foot of the article.

Correction

Used where we published something that was wrong. The article is corrected and a dated correction note is added to the foot of the article stating what was wrong and what the position actually is. Where the error was serious or went to the substance of the story, the note goes at the top of the article instead, and the correction is also listed on our corrections page.

Retraction

Used where a story was wrong in its essentials and cannot be fixed by correcting part of it. The article is withdrawn and replaced with a retraction notice at the same web address, explaining what was published, what was wrong, and apologising. We keep the web address live so that anyone who followed a link to the original story sees the retraction rather than a missing page.

7.  Corrections apply to both editions

Where an article has been published in both English and Malayalam, a correction is applied to both versions, in the language of each, on the same day. A correction made only in one language is not complete.

8.  Corrections to social media, video and audio

Where an error appeared in a social media post, we correct or delete the post and publish a fresh post carrying the correction. Deleting a post without saying why is not a correction.

Where an error appeared in a video or audio item, we add a correction to the item’s description and to the article page that carries it. Where the error was serious, or where the item cannot be understood correctly without the fix, we take the item down and publish a corrected version with a note explaining what was wrong.

9.  Requests to remove an article

A news archive is a record of what was reported at the time, and we do not unpublish accurate journalism simply because someone would prefer it were not there. Removing an article is a last resort, and the decision is the Chief Editor’s.

We will consider removal where:

• the article is the subject of a court order, including a suppression order;
• publication creates a genuine risk to someone’s safety;
• the article is seriously wrong and a retraction would not be enough;
• the material was published without the consent of a person whose consent was required, such as an obituary notice placed without the family’s agreement; or
• there is a compelling reason of a similar kind and no countervailing public interest in the article remaining available.

Where removal is not justified, we may consider a lesser step, such as removing a photograph, updating the article with the outcome of a court case, or asking search engines to stop indexing the page.

10.  Our record of corrections

Significant corrections and all retractions are listed on our corrections page at [link], with the date and a link to the article. We think readers are entitled to see our record, not just our stories.

11.  If you are not satisfied

Please contact the Chief Editor, George Cheeran, at cheeran@gmail.com. Set out what you raised with us, what we did about it, and why you think our response was not enough. The Chief Editor will reply within [10] working days, and that reply is our final position on the matter.

We are not currently a member of an external press complaints body, so we cannot offer you an independent appeal against an editorial decision. We would rather tell you that plainly than point you to a process that is not open to you.

That does not remove your other options. A complaint about how we have handled your personal information can be made to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at www.privacy.org.nz or 0800 803 909. Nothing in this policy affects any legal right or remedy available to you.

12.  Contact

• Chief Editor: George Cheeran , email at geroge@malayalamfm.co.nz