How to Ask Journalists for Corrections Without Burning Bridges
Here’s the lowdown on asking a journalist to make a correction—without stepping on any toes.
Joni Sweet is a seasoned writer, editor, and content strategist with 13+ years of media experience. In this newsletter, Joni reveals her current assignments and insider tips to help PR professionals sharpen their pitches, avoid rookie mistakes, land coverage for their clients, and build stronger relationships with writers. Get ready for candid advice, a touch of sass, and secret strategies to make your pitches stand out.
You've landed that coveted coverage for your client, and you’re thrilled—until you notice a tiny error in the final copy. Time to put on your PR hat and ask for a correction. But how do you do it without harming your relationship with the journalist?
There’s an art to correction requests. It requires knowing when to pick your battles, how to phrase your request delicately, and understanding the editorial side of things.
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of mastering correction requests, a quick shout-out to our amazing sponsor, PodPitch.
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Now, let’s break down the do's and don'ts of getting that correction without burning any bridges.
Mastering the Art of Correction Requests
Correction requests are tricky. Most freelance writers (like myself) aren’t able to directly make corrections to our stories—we have to ask our editor to do so. This can sometimes make us seem annoying or even incompetent. And let’s face it, no one wants to risk losing their gig over a minor issue.
So, it’s really important to…
Choose Your Battles Wisely
Before you even think about hitting “send” on that correction request, ask yourself if the story actually has a factual error.
Is your client’s name misspelled? Is there a glaring factual error that could tarnish your client’s reputation or twist the story’s integrity? Fire off that correction request ASAP. Trust me, the writer is just as eager to fix these slip-ups as you are.
But if the “mistake” is something minor that doesn’t cause harm, think twice before hitting that send button. If it’s a detail that barely registers or could even be seen as technically correct in some contexts, don’t be that person. Pestering over petty issues can stir up drama and make the writer less inclined to work with you in the future. Save your correction requests for the errors that truly matter.
Did the writer “forget” to mention all five of your client’s books or a full range of their accolades? Spend your time managing your client’s expectations, not micromanaging the journalist. Journalists often work with strict word limits and editorial constraints, which means we can’t include all of our sources’ amazing accomplishments—just the ones that help establish their credibility quickly.
Act Fast and Be Polite
Timing is everything. The sooner you flag an error, the better for everyone involved (that includes you, the journalist, the publication, and your client).
Reach out quickly to boost your chances of getting the correction in before the story makes its rounds. Keep your message concise, respectful, and polite.
Start by acknowledging the journalist’s hard work and thanking them for the coverage. Then, get straight to the point: outline the error clearly and concisely. Make it easy for us to fix by including:
Exactly where the error is in the story (reference subheds to help us find it quickly)
The text of the mistake (use a red font to point out the exact text that contains the error)
Suggested wording for the correction
Supporting evidence, if needed (though sometimes, like with a misspelled name, it might not be necessary)
Send that email and take a breath—you’ve done all you can do for now.
Own Your Role
Sometimes mistakes in the final piece stem from inaccuracies in the materials we receive from PR teams. No one’s perfect, and we all make mistakes. Owning those slip-ups shows professionalism and builds trust with journalists. Remember, we're all working toward the same goal: accurate and compelling stories.
Chances are good that you weren’t the source of the mistake (after all, you got the info directly from your client!). But you can still play a role in smoothing things over and ensuring the correction is handled effectively. Offer to send over supporting evidence, provide context, or help with any necessary follow-up. By doing so, you’re not just asking for a fix—you’re demonstrating your commitment to the accuracy of the story and fostering a collaborative relationship with the journalist.
Follow Up (But Don’t Be Annoying!)
Very few mistakes are so dire that they warrant a rapid-fire succession of correction requests. Most errors, even those that are significant, can be resolved with a single concise request and a bit of patience. If you don’t hear back after a few days, send a polite nudge, but avoid bombarding the journalist with relentless reminders.
If the correction request is indeed truly urgent (for example, your doctor client was quoted as saying apples cause cancer, when they actually said apples DON’T cause cancer), send that e-mail, and if you haven’t heard back from the journalist by the end of the day, you could give them a call. I don’t normally recommend unscheduled phone calls (a topic for a future newsletter), but in this case, it’s warranted.
You could also consider escalating the issue—but do so carefully (and only after you’ve given the writer plenty of time to address the issue first!). Reach out to an editor or another point of contact at the publication if necessary, but keep your tone professional and supportive, and don’t throw the journalist under the bus. Keep your communication private and empathetic to maintain a good working relationship with everyone.
Accept “No” for an Answer
Sometimes, a correction request gets a hard pass. Maybe the publication stands by their editorial choices, has space constraints, or simply doesn’t see it as an issue. Or perhaps the writer’s not willing to ask their editor for a minor tweak, like a missing backlink.
When it’s a “no,” roll with it gracefully. A simple response like “Got it! Thanks for considering it, and I hope we can work together again soon” keeps things cool.
Then, let your client know what’s up. Explain the publication's reasons, suggest other ways to get the message out, and offer strategies to avoid similar issues in the future. For instance, if they’re bummed their latest book didn’t receive a shout-out, let them know you can ask journalists up front (before an interview!) how likely it is they can mention the title of the book.
Thank Them for the Update
Got what you needed from your correction request? A quick “Thank you!” goes a long way with us writers—especially when it doesn’t come with a brand new pitch attached.
If your correction request was a bit of a nuisance and the writer went the extra mile to fix it anyway, find a special way to show your appreciation.
Earlier this year, a PR person pushed hard for me to get a client’s URL added to the live version of my story. It was in my first draft, but didn’t make the final cut (and it was outside of my control). I expressed that a backlink was never promised and they were putting me in an extremely awkward position of bringing a petty correction request to an editor I wanted to maintain a good relationship with.
They were still pretty insistent, so I brought the request to my editor and got it fixed. I was still pretty frustrated with this PR person… until they sincerely thanked me for “being so understanding for our crazy backlink request” and even sent me a box of Levain Bakery cookies. Turns out, cookies are the ultimate apology—who knew?
Great advice. Everyone dealing with PR would be wise to read it.
A few words on backlinks. Clients are often obsessed with backlinks. I mean utterly obsessed. You get them the coverage, the publication doesn't put a backlink and the client becomes despondent and thinks it's all a failure. It's so important to manage the client's expectations beforehand. Journalists don't like being asked for backlinks and the addition of backlinks depends on the publication. So, always check the editorial policy of the publication. If they publish backlinks, then it's okay to ask, if not, let your client know beforehand.