Our recent post about the state of online corrections was published before an inspired project by the San Francisco Chronicle. The paper is, as far as we know, the first newspaper in the world to introduce audio corrections. Last week it launched Correct Me If I'm Wrong, a regular podcast that will feature selected voicemail corrections/comments left by readers.
"Almost every day, The Chronicle hears from readers (and some non-readers)," says the paper. "Most of these comments -- voicemail, email and letters -- don't make it into our letters column. But they can be unusually passionate, irate, confounding and creative."
The acknowledgment that so many pieces of reader communication -- voicemail, email, letters -- end up going unacknowledged or unprinted is key. For a long time, the space limitations of the letters to the editor column left many readers out in the cold. The online world can offer ways for newspapers and other media outlets to give these communications a place, to give their readers a voice. Allowing online comments on articles, putting additional letters online, publishing corrections within articles online (and maybe in the future crediting readers who spot errors?), and now broadcasting voicemail corrections -- these are all important ways to engage readers and allow them to contribute and have their voice heard.
The first installment of the Chronicle's podcast is frankly nothing short of hilarious. And it's a valid correction: the reader, who gets more than a little enraged, points out that the paper referred to a "pilotless drone," which is of course redundant. Drones are by definition unmanned aircraft.
This is a fantastic update of the correction for the online world and we hope it starts a trend. One thing to keep in mind: the paper shouldn't only choose the most irate/humorous reader voicemail corrections and comments. By all means, offer the choice messages that give the public a sense of the kind of abuse journalists sometimes face. But the danger is this could turn into something that mocks readers if the paper ignores some of the more sincere offerings. So, as always, the process matters. We also wonder if the paper asks the readers for permission to use
their messages before broadcasting them? (We emailed in an interview
request last week and hope to hear back soon.) Based on comments given to the New York Times, it appears the paper has its heart in the right place. Let's hope its microphone will follow.
Putting voice mail messages from readers online was the idea of Phil Bronstein, the vice president and editor of The Chronicle. “This is about listening to your readers,” he said. “Newspapers used to be a lot more lively than they are now, and they could definitely stand some of that.” If readers respond well, he added, the paper might add “dramatic readings” of some of the letters that come in.
