Every newsroom makes mistakes. What matters is how quickly a mistake is found and how honestly it is fixed. This page explains what we correct and how we correct it. It also tells you how to report an error and what you can expect from us once you do. The policy applies to every story and photograph and graphic and headline we publish in any format.
What we treat as an error
An error is anything in our published work that is wrong or misleading in a way that matters to a reader. We correct all of the following when we find them:
- A wrong name or title or age or place
- A wrong date or number or statistic
- A quote that is inaccurate or was given to the wrong person
- A photograph or video that shows something other than what the caption says
- A headline or summary that says more than the story supports
- A chart or graphic that misstates the data behind it
- A missing fact that leaves readers with a false impression
Small errors count too. A misspelled name may look minor to us but it is not minor to the person who owns that name. We fix spelling and grammar mistakes quietly when they do not change meaning. Anything that affects meaning gets a visible correction.
What is not an error
Disagreeing with a story is not the same as finding a mistake in it. If you believe our reporting is unfair or incomplete we want to hear that and our editors will take it seriously. But a correction is reserved for facts that are wrong. Opinions in clearly marked opinion pieces are not corrected even when readers or the people mentioned disagree with them. If the facts underneath an opinion piece are wrong we correct those facts.
Stories also change as events develop. When new information comes in on a breaking story we add it and mark the time of the update. That is not a correction because the earlier version was accurate when it was published. If the earlier version was wrong we say so.
The four kinds of notice
We use four labels so that readers can tell at a glance what kind of change was made.
Correction
Used when we published something false. The notice states what was wrong and what is true. Example: “An earlier version of this story gave the wrong date for the council vote. It took place on Tuesday and not on Monday.”
Clarification
Used when the story was not false but could mislead or confuse readers. The notice adds the missing context.
Update
Used when new facts change the picture of a developing story. The notice gives the time and describes what is new.
Editor’s note
Used for anything else readers should know about how a story was handled. This may include a conflict of interest or a legal order or a decision to withhold a name.
How and where we publish corrections
A correction is placed on the story itself. The text of the story is changed so that the wrong information is removed and a notice is added at the bottom of the page. The notice gives the date of the change. We do not fix a story silently when the error affected its meaning. The old wording is not erased from our records and we keep a copy of every version.
A serious error receives wider notice. A serious error is one that harms a reputation or misleads readers on an important public matter or affects a legal or financial decision. In those cases we also place the correction on our home page and send it through the social media accounts and newsletters that carried the original. If the error appeared in a headline or a social post the correction is attached to that same item as well as to the story.
When the mistake is in a photograph or a video we replace the image or fix the caption and add a notice. If we published an image that falsely shows an event we remove the image and explain why.
Corrections are written in plain language. They say what was wrong and what is right. They do not hide behind phrases such as “an earlier version was unclear.” We do not explain or defend the error in the notice. If readers need to know how the mistake happened that goes in an editor’s note.
How fast we act
Speed matters because a wrong fact keeps spreading until someone stops it. Our targets are set out below.
- Errors that could cause harm are looked at straight away and corrected as soon as they are confirmed.
- Other factual errors are checked and corrected within one working day of being reported.
- If we cannot confirm a claim of error within that time we tell the person who reported it what we are doing and when to expect an answer.
We will not wait for a person to complain before acting. A reporter or editor who discovers a mistake is expected to raise it with a senior editor immediately.
Older stories and requests to change them
Our archive is a public record and we do not rewrite it to make things look better. Errors in older stories are corrected the same way as errors in new ones no matter how long ago they were published.
We also receive requests from people who ask us to remove or change a story about them because it is old or embarrassing or painful. Each request is reviewed by a senior editor who was not involved in the original story. We consider whether the story was accurate and whether the public interest in it remains and whether the person has been harmed in a way that outweighs that interest. Stories about court cases are updated when the outcome changes. If a person was charged and later cleared we add that fact to the original story and to any related coverage. We do not delete accurate reporting because the subject would prefer it forgotten.
We remove a published story entirely only when a court orders it or when keeping it online puts a person in real danger or when it was fundamentally false and cannot be fixed by correction. In those cases we leave a note in its place that explains what was removed and why.
How to report an error
Anyone can tell us about a mistake. You do not need to be the person named in the story. Send an email to [email address] and include the link to the story and the text that is wrong and the reason you believe it is wrong. If you can point us to a document or record that shows the right information that helps us act faster.
A senior editor reads every message sent to that address. You will receive a reply within ten working days and usually much sooner. The reply tells you whether we found an error and what we have done. If we decide not to make a change we explain the reasons. If you are not satisfied you may ask for the decision to be reviewed by the editor in chief.
Staff and freelancers are asked to treat people who report errors with courtesy. A complaint is information and we try to use it that way.
The corrections log
We keep a record of every correction and clarification we publish. It notes the story and the date and the kind of error and the person who made the mistake in the process. Twice a year the editors review the log together with the full newsroom to look for patterns. Repeated errors from a single source or a single stage of our work tell us where our process needs to change. We publish a summary of that review on this page.
Latest review: [date]
Corrections published in the period: [number]
Main causes found: [summary]
Changes made as a result: [summary]
Accountability inside the newsroom
A reporter who makes a mistake is expected to own it and to help fix it. Honest errors are treated as a chance to improve the process and not as grounds for punishment. Deliberate fabrication or repeated carelessness is handled as a disciplinary matter and may end a person’s employment. If a staff member is found to have invented material we review their earlier work and correct whatever we find.
Review of this policy
This policy was last updated on 1 October 2026. We review it every year and whenever our practice changes. If you think any part of it is unclear or does not go far enough please write to us at stories@tamrahnews.com.
Tamrah News