Published: August 04, 1999
Last Updated: August 10, 1999
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Major initiative  In researching the causes of spelling/grammar mistakes and factual errors in the paper, it appears that all roads lead back to the basics. The initiatives being undertaken by Florida Today reflect this reality, with special emphasis on the "grass-roots" interventions that solve one of the most fundamental root causes of inaccuracy: that reporters (due to inexperience or lack of familiarity with the local market) sometimes just don’t know what they’re talking about.  Florida Today is undertaking four projects to explore improvements in news accuracy:  Increasing staffers’ knowledge of the local market (with an interactive CD containing interviews with local celebrities, scene setters and general orientation, and testing to ensure that the message was received. Improving staff expertise in areas of specialized reporting (establishing closer relationships with/reliance on true experts). Revamping its corrections policy (including changes in the style, location and wording of corrections as well as the systems for monitoring errors), anchoring corrections, as well the establishment of a database to track errors by type. Short-term experimentation with different models of desk functions, including splitting copy-editing and pagination duties (so that copy editors can find more uninterrupted time to edit) and perhaps a short-term reinstitution of the "old days" of proofreaders, multiple copy editors, copy clerks, firm deadlines and division of labor. Import to the JCP  Florida Today is exploring four of the fundamental underpinning of news accuracy: knowledge (of subject or market), fact-checking procedures, operations and (inevitably) corrections. While all are "internal" processes or changes, each could make significant contribution to the JCP findings, and their ability to be generalized across ASNE’s members.  JCP test method  A database to track factual errors is already in place, and will be continued to determine the degree to which each of these initiatives influences the quantity and severity of published errors.  For more information, contact Judy Pace Christie, executive editor at  407/242-3898; e-mail: jchristi@flatoday.infi.net