At The Kolkata Herald, accuracy, fairness and accountability are fundamental to our journalism. We recognise that errors can occur in journalism, particularly when reporting breaking news or developing stories. When a significant factual error is identified, we are committed to correcting it transparently and promptly. Our approach is based on the principle that corrections are an essential part of responsible journalism. The Press Council of India includes accuracy, verification and corrections among its journalistic standards.
1. Our Commitment to Accuracy
Before publication, our editorial team makes reasonable efforts to verify important factual information using reliable sources. However, no newsroom is completely free from mistakes. If we discover that published information is inaccurate, incomplete or materially misleading, we will review the matter and make an appropriate correction.
2. What Can Be Corrected?
Corrections may be made for significant errors involving names, dates, locations, numbers and statistics, quotes, positions or designations, factual claims, election or political information, financial information, scientific or technical information, legal information, photographs or captions, and headlines that materially misrepresent the article, along with other significant factual inaccuracies. Minor typographical, grammatical or formatting errors may be corrected without a formal correction notice when they do not materially change the meaning of the article.
3. How We Correct Articles
When a significant factual error is identified, we may correct the relevant sentence or information in the article, add a correction note explaining the significant change where appropriate, update the headline if the original headline was materially inaccurate or misleading, update the article with new verified information when a developing story changes substantially, or remove information when it is found to be materially false, unlawful or otherwise inappropriate to retain. We will not normally delete an article merely because it contains an error if the underlying report remains newsworthy. Where appropriate, the article will be corrected transparently.
4. Corrections to Breaking News
Breaking news can develop rapidly. If information published during the early stages of an event subsequently changes, we may update the article to reflect the latest verified information. Where the original information was reasonable based on credible information available at the time, an update may be more appropriate than a formal correction. Where the original information was demonstrably incorrect, we will correct it.
5. Allegations and Statements
The Kolkata Herald distinguishes between verified facts, claims or allegations, statements made by individuals or organisations, and analysis or opinion. If an allegation is incorrectly presented as an established fact, we will review and correct the relevant wording. The existence of a correction does not necessarily mean that the entire article was inaccurate.
6. Reader Requests for Corrections
Readers are encouraged to report factual errors. A correction request should preferably include the article headline, the article URL, the specific sentence or information believed to be incorrect, an explanation of the error, the correct information, supporting evidence or a reliable source where available, and contact information for follow up where appropriate.
Please send correction requests to:
Editorial Team, The Kolkata Herald
Email: contactkolkataherald@gmail.com
7. Editorial Review
Every correction request will be reviewed by our editorial team. Submitting a correction request does not automatically mean that a correction will be published. The editorial team may independently verify the information before making a decision. Where appropriate, we may contact the relevant author, source, organisation or individual before making a correction.
8. Corrections Are Not Used to Change Editorial Opinion
Our Corrections Policy primarily concerns factual accuracy. A reader’s disagreement with an article’s opinion, editorial position, political analysis, interpretation, commentary or perspective does not automatically constitute a factual error. Opinion and analysis may be challenged or debated without requiring a correction, provided that the underlying factual information is accurate and fairly presented.
9. Transparency
When a material correction is made, we may include a correction note such as:
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated [X]. The article has been corrected to reflect [Y].
Where appropriate, the date and time of the correction may also be mentioned. We will avoid silently changing significant factual errors when transparency requires a correction note.
10. Archived Articles
Older articles may contain information that was accurate when originally published but subsequently changed. Such articles may be updated with relevant context or an editor’s note where necessary. Historical reporting will not normally be rewritten simply because circumstances have changed.
11. Withdrawal or Removal of Content
In exceptional circumstances, an article may be removed, substantially revised or withdrawn when there is a serious factual, legal, ethical or editorial reason to do so. Such decisions are made by the editorial team on a case by case basis.
12. Commitment to Readers
The Kolkata Herald believes that trust is built through accuracy, transparency and accountability. We will make reasonable efforts to verify information before publication, distinguish facts from allegations and opinions, correct significant errors, listen to credible correction requests, provide readers with updated information when circumstances change, and maintain transparency when material corrections are necessary.
Our goal is not to claim that we will never make a mistake. Our goal is to ensure that when we do make a significant mistake, we acknowledge it, correct it and learn from it.