Accuracy to a newspaper is what virtue is to a lady; but a newspaper can always print a retraction.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Accuracy is as essential to a newspaper as virtue is to a lady, but newspapers have the unique ability to correct their mistakes publicly.
- In plain terms
- Newspapers need accuracy like people need virtue, but they can fix errors by printing retractions.
- What can you take from it?
- Mistakes can be corrected if the medium allows for public retraction.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How important is a retraction compared to the original error?
- Does the ability to correct reduce the pressure to be accurate initially?
Another view
Retractions do not always undo the initial harm caused by inaccurate reporting.
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The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. So we must never neglect any work of peace within our reach, however small.
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