🎯 Our Commitment to Accuracy

At Israel.com, accuracy is the foundation of our journalism. While we strive for perfection in every story we publish, we recognize that errors can occur in the fast-paced world of news reporting. When mistakes happen, we are committed to correcting them quickly, transparently, and prominently.

This corrections policy outlines our systematic approach to identifying, addressing, and learning from errors to maintain the highest standards of journalistic integrity in our Middle East coverage.

📝 Types of Corrections

Factual Corrections

• Spelling and Names: Misspelled names of people, places, organizations, or significant terms
• Dates and Times: Incorrect dates, times, or chronological information
• Numbers and Statistics: Wrong figures, percentages, monetary amounts, or quantitative data
• Geographic Information: Incorrect locations, distances, or geographic references
• Attribution Errors: Misattributed quotes, incorrect source identification, or wrong titles
• Historical Facts: Inaccurate historical information or contextual details

Clarifications

• Ambiguous Language: When original wording could be misinterpreted or lacks clarity
• Missing Context: When important background information was omitted
• Incomplete Information: When significant details were not included in the original story
• Technical Explanations: When complex topics need additional explanation for reader understanding

Updates

• Breaking News Updates: New developments in ongoing stories
• Follow-up Information: Additional facts that become available after publication
• Status Changes: Updates to ongoing situations or investigations
• Official Responses: Statements or responses from relevant parties after initial publication

⚙️ Correction Process

Error Identification Sources

• Reader Reports: Corrections requests submitted by our readers
• Source Feedback: Corrections pointed out by story sources or subjects
• Internal Review: Errors caught during editorial review processes
• Peer Review: Issues identified by other journalists or news organizations
• Official Clarifications: Corrections requested by official sources or organizations
• Social Media Monitoring: Errors identified through social media feedback

⏰ Response Times and Implementation

Priority Levels

• Critical Priority: Errors that could cause harm, significantly mislead readers, or involve safety issues
• High Priority: Major factual errors affecting the story's meaning or accuracy
• Standard Priority: Important but not urgent corrections to names, dates, or figures
• Low Priority: Minor spelling errors, style inconsistencies, or small factual details

📊 Implementation Standards

Correction Display Requirements

• Prominent Placement: Corrections appear at the top of the corrected article
• Clear Labeling: All corrections are clearly labeled as "CORRECTION" or "UPDATE"
• Specific Details: Exactly what was incorrect and what the correct information is
• Timestamp: Date and time when the correction was made
• Original Information: Acknowledgment of what the original article stated
• Reason for Error: Brief explanation of how the error occurred when appropriate

Language and Tone

• Clear and Direct: Straightforward language explaining what was wrong and what is correct
• Professional Tone: Serious but not defensive approach to acknowledging errors
• Complete Information: Full context provided to ensure readers understand the correction
• No Minimizing: Errors are not downplayed or presented as minor when they are significant
• Reader-Focused: Corrections written to help readers understand the accurate information

📱 Social Media and Distribution Corrections

Social Media Corrections

• Platform Corrections: Corrections posted on all social media platforms where the error was shared
• New Posts: Separate correction posts for significant errors, not just edits to original posts
• Cross-Linking: Correction posts link to the updated article
• Hashtag Usage: Consistent use of #Correction hashtag for transparency
• Timing: Social media corrections posted within 2 hours of article correction

Newsletter and Distribution Corrections

• Newsletter Corrections: Corrections included in next newsletter edition if error appeared in previous edition
• Email Alerts: Correction alerts for breaking news errors
• Partner Notifications: Content partners notified of corrections to syndicated content
• Archive Updates: Corrections applied to all archived and cached versions
• RSS Feeds: Updated content pushed to RSS and other distribution channels

👥 Reader Engagement and Feedback

How Readers Can Report Errors

• Corrections Email: Dedicated email address for error reports
• Contact Forms: Online forms specifically for corrections requests
• Social Media: Direct messages and public mentions monitored for error reports
• Phone Line: Corrections hotline for urgent error reports
• Comment Sections: Moderated comment sections monitored for correction requests

Information Required for Correction Requests

• Article Information: URL, headline, and publication date of the article in question
• Specific Error: Exact quote or information that is incorrect
• Correct Information: What the correct information should be
• Source Documentation: Supporting evidence or sources for the correct information
• Contact Information: Way to reach the person reporting the error for follow-up

Response to Correction Requests

• Acknowledgment: All correction requests acknowledged within 4 hours
• Investigation Status: Updates provided on investigation progress for complex corrections
• Decision Communication: Clear communication about whether correction will be made and why
• Gratitude: Thanks expressed to readers who help us identify errors
• Follow-up: Notification when correction has been implemented

✅ Quality Assurance and Prevention

Error Prevention Measures

• Fact-Checking Protocols: Systematic fact-checking procedures for all published content
• Source Verification: Multiple source confirmation for significant claims
• Editorial Review: Multi-level editorial review before publication
• Breaking News Procedures: Special protocols for rapid verification during breaking news
• Template Standards: Standardized templates to reduce common formatting errors

Error Analysis and Learning

• Monthly Reviews: Regular analysis of correction patterns and causes
• Staff Training: Ongoing training based on common error types
• Process Improvements: Regular updates to editing and fact-checking procedures
• Technology Solutions: Implementation of tools to catch common errors
• Industry Best Practices: Regular review of industry standards and best practices

Transparency Reporting

• Corrections Log: Public log of all corrections made in the past year
• Monthly Statistics: Regular reporting on correction frequency and types
• Annual Review: Comprehensive annual review of correction patterns and improvements
• Process Documentation: Public documentation of our correction procedures
• Reader Feedback: Regular surveys on reader satisfaction with correction handling