By: Joe Strupp Newspapers Shouldn't Be So Afraid To Admit Mistakes
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Jerry Ceppos, the outgoing president of the Associated Press Managing Editors (APME), criticized the nation's newspaper editors Thursday for failing to put more emphasis on accuracy and publishing corrections whenever necessary. Ceppos, vice president for news at Knight Ridder, made the comments during his opening speech at the APME annual conference here.
"We all share the blame for this lack of leadership," Ceppos said. "Despite studies that have proven readers trust us more if we explain our mistakes, we are still refusing to explain ourselves."
Citing the recent Wen Ho Lee editor's note in The New York Times - in which the Times did not admit inaccuracies, but said that it could have covered the controversial case better - Ceppos urged editors to emulate the Times and write about coverage and mistakes whenever possible.
"We are responsible for our profession's insane inability to admit our errors," he said. "What's the big deal about giving a reader a correction?"
Ceppos said the keys to improving accuracy and the review of mistakes include:
o Letting staff know that you expect mistakes to be corrected.
o Using errors to illuminate professionalism.
o Working on the mindset of employees so they are not afraid to admit mistakes.
Ceppos' term as president will end at the completion of the conference. He will be replaced by incoming president Chris Peck of The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash
Joe Strupp (jstrupp@editorandpublisher.com) is an associate editor for E&P.
Copright 2000, Editor & Publisher.
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