If a published story contains a factual error, RiverheadLOCAL will correct the error and attach a “correction” statement to the article describing the error and stating how it was corrected.
How to Request a Correction
If you believe we’ve published an error, please contact us at editor@riverheadlocal.com with the following information:
– A link to the story.
– A description of the error.
– Supporting documentation, if available.
We review all requests carefully. If we confirm that an error occurred, we will correct it as quickly as possible.
Types of Corrections
- Correction: For factual errors that could mislead readers or materially change understanding of a story.
- Clarification: For statements that are technically accurate but incomplete, ambiguous, or lacking essential context.
- Editor’s Note: For significant updates or explanations of editorial decisions (for example, when we’ve chosen to withhold certain details for privacy or safety reasons).
How Corrections Are Published
- Online corrections are added at the bottom of the story, marked with the date and a note describing the change.
- If a headline or social media post contained an error, we will update or remove it and note the correction in the article itself.
- If a story requires extensive correction or retraction, we may unpublish and replace it with an editor’s note explaining why.
Requests to Unpublish content
As a general rule, we do not remove published articles. Unpublishing is considered only in exceptional circumstances — for example, verified safety risks, demonstrable privacy harm, or legal obligations. When we do unpublish or redact content, we will explain our reasoning publicly.
