Should you write that Letter to the Editor?

"Should you write that Letter to the Editor?” by Tom Nardacci

Reporters sometimes make mistakes because they are human too. But, sometimes stories are lopsided, go too far, or may hurt your bottom line. The inevitable question becomes: “How should we respond?”

When articles appear that include inaccurate or misleading information, you should consider the following options:

1. If information was erroneous, ask the media outlet for a retraction. First, you should call the reporter as a courtesy and let them know that you would like a retraction. Then, you should speak to an editor and get an exact date when it will appear. This is particularly important for statistics because some reporters will simply follow the lead of a previous story, basing future stories on the information in the first article. It is a judgment call, however, by the media outlet whether they will do a retraction.

2. If the story is misleading or one-sided, you should consider a “Letter to the Editor.” Your letter should first address the exact article, rebut the specific items you disagree with, and make your point strongly and positively. You should not come across as defensive or confrontational. Make sure your writing is tight and that you leave no room for interpretation.

Not every mistake requires a correction or response. If it is a small error, don’t sweat it. Call the reporter and let them know in a courteous way. This helps to avoid future mistakes.