When The Dispatch is alerted to a possible error of fact in any of our various products (article, newsletter, podcast), we will conduct whatever due diligence is necessary to ascertain whether we made an error. We will search out other reputable sources, or call our own sources to check veracity. Simple errors such as proper-name misspellings or incorrect use of numbers or amounts will be corrected immediately, and other errors will be corrected once we have determined there was a mistake.
Once we have determined that, we will correct the text and place an asterisk at the end of the corrected sentence, even for errors as small as proper-name typos. We will then append a note to the bottom of the article explaining the error and the correction. This is a standard formulation used by many media outlets and we are confident that our readers will recognize it.
If there is a minor error within one of our fact checks–spelling errors, math, misattributions of quotes–we will follow the same process. If there is a major error that causes us to reassess our conclusion, we will put an editor’s note at the top explaining the error and clarifying that changes may have been made throughout to support the new conclusion.
If a correction is required for one of our email newsletters, the next edition of the same newsletter will include a note highlighting the error and correcting it.
Please note that we at The Dispatch hold ourselves, our work, and our commenters to a higher standard than other places on the internet. We welcome comments that foster genuine debate or discussion—including comments critical of us or our work—but responses that include ad hominem attacks on fellow Dispatch members or are intended to stoke fear and anger may be moderated.
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