Somerville Patch 'Ombudsman': Shots That Weren't Fired and Shoplifted Lobsters
On Jan. 18 Somerville Patch posted a misleading article. Here's an apology and an explanation of what happened. Read to the end to learn about shoplifted lobsters.
This is Chris Orchard, editor of Somerville Patch, and I'm writing this post to describe a mistake that ended up on the website Friday night. I want to apologize for that mistake and explain to readers why the mistake happened and what Somerville Patch could have done better. Although tiny Somerville Patch, unlike a large newspaper or broadcaster, does not have an ombudsman—an independent investigator who represents readers and examines mistakes—I'm writing this post in the spirit of that tradition. In doing so, I'm hoping that you, the Somerville Patch reader, will accept my apology and continue to view Somerville Patch as a reliable news resource in the community, albeit one that occasionally makes mistakes. Let me start by describing …
In this Article:
Jesa Damora
11:15 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Chris, Thanks for trying to bridge the gap between citizen-led news outlets like this and newspapers, from which more authority is expected and historically observed. This highlights the tough position you, as the guide of this outlet, are put in, and indeed the problem for every hybrid news producer and consumer. The breakdown of what actually transpired in this instance helps. Not sure what the… more ›