The Press Complaints Commission today published guidance to the newspaper and magazine industry about the online prominence of PCC-negotiated corrections and apologies.
It also issues guidance on the prominence of critical adjudications issued by the PCC.
The guidance covers a number of practical points that editors should take into account when considering the prominence of online corrections and apologies.
These include:
- giving consideration to linking back to the original article
- the length of time that the correction or apology should remain online,
- tagging
- the amendment of URLs if necessary.
- giving consideration to appropriate placement on the relevant section where the original article appeared (such as the “news” or “showbusiness” section).
The guidance document also gives some more specific guidance about the publication of upheld adjudications issued by the PCC.
So if you are negotiating with the PCC for an apology from a newspaper, make sure you ask how the newspaper will ensure the apology is prominent online too.
