Corrections

Our Commitment

Because our coverage reaches a wide audience across AI, software, hardware, semiconductors and emerging tech, TechDefused recognises an ethical responsibility to correct all factual errors, large and small, as soon as we become aware of them.

We do not wait for someone to request a correction. We do not minimise errors or defend the indefensible. We correct promptly, clearly, and transparently.

Correction Philosophy

Why We Correct

Trust requires accountability. Readers who see us correct errors openly are more likely to trust what we publish. Readers who see us defend, ignore, or minimise errors will trust us less.

Errors happen. Despite our best efforts, mistakes occur. Technology news moves fast, and the complexity of technical subjects — model architectures, semiconductor specs, security disclosures, funding mechanics — creates opportunities for error. The question is not whether we make mistakes, but how we handle them.

Correction benefits everyone:

• Readers who deserve accurate information
• Subjects of coverage who deserve fair treatment
• The public record of technology news
• TechDefused's long-term credibility
• The journalism profession's standards

Speed Matters

The faster we correct, the less misunderstanding spreads. Corrections should be:

• Immediate when errors are clear and significant
• Prompt when verification requires brief investigation — typically within hours
• Thorough even when investigation takes longer

Speed never justifies publishing unverified corrections. But investigation should proceed with urgency.

What We Correct

Factual Errors — Always Corrected

• Incorrect names, spellings, titles, or roles
• Wrong dates, times, or locations
• Inaccurate numbers, statistics, or vendor-reported figures
• Misattributed quotes or statements
• Incorrect technical specifications — model parameter counts, benchmark scores, process nodes, throughput numbers, hardware configurations
• Wrong CVE numbers, severity ratings, or affected-version ranges in security coverage
• Misstated funding-round sizes, valuations, or investor lists
• Misidentified companies, products, or individuals
• False claims presented as fact
• Misleading headlines or article summaries

Material errors: any error that could mislead readers or create false impressions, regardless of size or seeming importance.

Clarifications vs. Corrections

Corrections fix factual errors — things we got wrong.

Clarifications address ambiguity or add context where the original content was accurate but unclear or incomplete.

Examples:

• Correction: "An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the funding round was $50 million. It was $15 million."
• Clarification: "This article has been updated to note that the model was trained on a previously undisclosed dataset, providing additional context to the benchmark results reported here."

Both serve reader interests. Both are published prominently.

What Doesn't Require Correction

Updates to developing stories: when new information emerges in a developing story, we update the article with a timestamp noting the addition. This is standard practice, not a correction.

Stylistic choices: differences in writing style, headline wording, or article structure are editorial decisions, not errors requiring correction.

Differences of interpretation: when reasonable people might interpret information differently, our interpretation doesn't require correction unless factually wrong.

Third-party errors: if source material contains errors, we correct our citation but note the error originated in source material.

How We Correct

Correction Format

Print-style correction (for minor errors):

Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled the CEO's name. It is Sarah Chen, not Sarah Chan.

Inline correction (for digital updates):

[Corrected text], previously incorrectly stated as [wrong text].

Editor's Note (for significant errors):

Editor's Note: This article originally stated that the acquisition was valued at $500 million. This was incorrect. The actual acquisition price was $50 million. We apologise for the error and have corrected the article.

Correction Placement

Digital corrections:

• Correction note appended to the top or bottom of the corrected article
• Corrected content updated inline
• Timestamp showing when the correction was made
• Original error preserved in the correction language for transparency
• Both correct and incorrect information shown so readers understand the change
• Material corrections also recorded in the corrections log below

Social media corrections:

• Correction posted on the same platform as the original
• Original error quoted with the correction
• Link to the corrected article where applicable
• No deletion without a replacement correction post

Correction Language

Clear and direct:

• State what was wrong
• State what is correct
• Use simple language
• Avoid defensive tone
• Accept responsibility

Good example:

Correction: This article originally stated that OpenAI's GPT-4 was released in January 2024. It was released in March 2023. The article has been corrected.

Poor example (don't do this):

Note: An earlier version of this article contained information about GPT-4's release date that may have been imprecise based on various conflicting reports we reviewed at the time.

No blame attribution: we never blame individual reporters, editors, or systems in published corrections. "An earlier version" or "This article originally" suffices. Internal accountability is separate from public correction.

Correction Process

How Errors Are Identified

Internal review:

• The verification layer in our pre-publication QC pipeline (the most common source)
• Editorial spot-checking of published content
• Automated quality-control systems flagging potential issues
• Cross-reference checking during follow-up coverage

Reader reports:

• Corrections email: corrections@newsdefused.com
• Editorial contact: editorial@newsdefused.com
• Social media notifications
• Direct outreach from coverage subjects

Source notifications:

• Original reporting sources correcting their own stories
• Companies or individuals noting errors in coverage
• Expert readers providing technical corrections

Investigation Protocol

When a potential error is reported:

1. Acknowledge receipt. Respond to the reporter, thank them for raising it, and commit to investigating.
2. Verify. Check original source material, consult authoritative references, verify with subject-matter experts where needed, and determine if the error is factual or interpretive.
3. Decide. Error confirmed → proceed to correction. No error found → respond to the reporter explaining why. Uncertain → continue investigation until resolved.
4. Correct. Draft the correction following format standards, publish it promptly, notify the original reporter, and update every platform where the error appeared.

Timeframe:

• Simple factual errors: corrected within hours of confirmation
• Complex issues requiring verification: corrected within 24 hours where possible
• Investigations requiring expert consultation: completed as quickly as thorough investigation allows

Accountability

Editorial leadership reviews all corrections, analyses patterns for systematic issues, investigates root causes for repeated errors, and implements process improvements. Where errors trace back to the automation pipeline, generation parameters are adjusted, QC thresholds refined, and source-selection logic reviewed — recurring sources of error are addressed at the pipeline level, not patched article by article.

Special Correction Situations

Errors in AI-Assisted Newsroom Content

Most TechDefused coverage carries the TechDefused Newsroom byline. That byline signals AI-assisted production under human editorial oversight — it does not lower the correction bar. Errors in Newsroom content follow the same standards as any other content:

• Same correction format and placement
• Same speed expectations
• Investigation includes reviewing generation parameters and QC thresholds
• Platform adjustments made to prevent recurrence
• No attempt to deflect responsibility to automation
• Human accountability maintained at the publisher level

Errors in Guest-Byline Content

Where an article carries a named human byline — staff writer, freelancer, or contributor — the editorial chain of responsibility runs through that author and the editor who handled the piece. Public-facing correction language remains identical ("An earlier version of this article…"); we do not name the author in the correction itself. Internal accountability is separate from public correction. The same speed, transparency, and format standards apply.

Errors From Source Material

When source articles or vendor releases contain errors we propagated:

• We correct our article
• We note the error originated in source material
• We link to the source's correction if available
• We accept responsibility for not catching the error

Significant Errors

Major errors requiring extended correction.

Editor's Note triggers:

• Errors affecting an article's core thesis
• Multiple related errors in a single article
• Errors raising ethical concerns
• Errors requiring substantial rewrites

Editor's Note format:

Editor's Note: This article has been substantially revised to correct multiple errors regarding the company's funding history. The original article incorrectly stated amounts and dates for three separate rounds. We apologise for these errors. The article now reflects accurate information verified with the company and primary filings.

Errors Affecting Individuals

When errors harm individuals:

• Correction made immediately
• Subject contacted and offered the right to respond
• Apology included when appropriate
• Follow-up coverage considered where warranted

Technical Corrections

For technical subjects requiring expert verification:

• Consultation with qualified sources
• Clear explanation in the correction of what was wrong
• Additional context if needed for understanding
• Verification against the primary document before publishing the correction, to avoid replacing one error with another
• No oversimplification that creates new errors

What We Don't Do

No Stealth Corrections

We never:

• Silently change content without noting a correction
• Delete errors without acknowledging them
• Rewrite history as if the error never occurred
• Update articles without transparency

Readers comparing cached or shared versions to current content should see what changed and why.

No Article Removal

We do not remove published articles except in extraordinary circumstances:

• Legal requirements (court orders, defamation settlements)
• Privacy-law compliance (e.g. right to be forgotten where applicable)
• Serious safety concerns (e.g. content enabling harm)

Standard practice instead: correct errors in place, add an editor's note if needed, and maintain the article with corrections visible.

No Blame Deflection

We don't:

• Blame AI systems for errors
• Blame source material for our republication
• Blame individual staff members publicly
• Make excuses for errors

We take responsibility and correct.

How to Report Errors

Email preferred: corrections@newsdefused.com

Include:

• Link to the article containing the error
• Specific description of the error
• Correct information with a citation to the primary source, if available
• Your contact information for follow-up

What to expect:

• Acknowledgment within 24 hours
• Investigation of the reported error
• Notification if a correction is published
• Explanation if we determine no error occurred

When We Disagree

If we investigate and determine no correction is needed:

• We respond explaining our reasoning
• We consider alternative perspectives
• We remain open to additional information
• We treat all reports respectfully

Corrections Log

No corrections recorded yet. As articles publish, every material correction will be logged here with the date, the article, and the substance of the change.

Our Promise

TechDefused commits to:

1. Correct all errors regardless of size or source
2. Correct promptly without waiting for external pressure
3. Correct transparently showing what was wrong and what's correct
4. Correct completely across all platforms where the error appeared
5. Learn from errors through process improvement
6. Welcome correction reports from any source
7. Respond substantively to error reports
8. Take responsibility without excuses or deflection

A news organisation's character shows in how it handles mistakes. We handle them with speed, transparency, and accountability.