Yesterday, when BBC’s ‘On This Day’ distorted the all-important content of UN Resolution 242, HR subscriber Anat Tcherikover wrote the BBC editor, received a prompt response, and elicited a correction on the BBC website.
Anat’s letter (view it here, with BBC’s response) is a fine example of how to approach editors by e-mail. Note these techniques:
* Quick response — within 24 hours of the article’s posting on the news outlet’s site
* Sober, factual tone — no name-calling
* Inclusion of the URL of the article in question
* Inclusion of the URL of the evidence brought to critique the article
* Clear, succinct line of reasoning, with summary: “I hope you’ll agree that taking the single sentence ‘Withdrawal… conflict’ out of context creates the false impression that demands were directed solely at Israel.”
* Requesting a specific response: ‘For fairness, a correction would be appreciated.’
* Respectful signoff, including one’s title and address
* Keeping HR in the loop (via a ‘cc’ or forward), so we can share the problem/success with our broad readership
See more on how to become an effective media patroller.
