the editor got it wrong: can I get a retraction?
If you’ve ever been quoted in a news article you’ve probably discovered that your words don’t sound quite the same in print as they did when they were leaving your mouth. Reading them the next day can bring all kinds of grief and pain, especially if you were mis-quoted. Should you request a retraction?
My general rule of thumb is to only request a retraction if the information could be potentially hurtful to someone. Most mis-quotes are annoying to the person quoted, but in the grand scheme are insignificant and quickly forgotten. And, since retractions aren’t often printed in large type in the most prominent locations, most times you’ll find that, while seemingly thousands of people read your quote, very few, if any, will notice the retraction.
Mispelled name, wrong title, even an incorrect fact that doesn’t change the integrity of the article—those are generally not reasons to request a retraction. Instead of asking for one, ask the publication to change their archives so that the stored information is correct.
