Blogs > Daily Freeman Fact Check blog

A fact-checking blog for the Daily Freeman

Monday, November 28, 2011

Comment policy

Kingston resident Lowell Thing used the Fact Check box to raise an issue about comments. He writes:


I just posted a comment on Kyle Wind's story about the posters at the TRANSART building on Henry Street but it seems to have disappeared. I did seem to get a confirmation but no longer see my comment. If it takes a while before a comment appears, perhaps you could note that in your instructions for making comments. (My comment was positive, incidentally.)

Comments are moderated and take a bit to process. Here is our commenting policy:



We encourage your feedback and dialog. All comments are moderated by the editors. We ask you to follow a few simple guidelines when commenting on stories on DailyFreeman.com.
1) Please post responsibly.
2) Be polite.
3) Don't hate.
4) If you object to someone's post, use the "Report Abuse" button and we'll review it.
5) Users who don't play by the rules will be blocked and won't be allowed to participate.
6) Self-promotion of businesses or advertisements of anything for sale are not permitted.


Freeman publisher Ira Fusfeld clarified this further in a previous blog post:

Have something to say on our web page? Go at it. No space limitations, no time constraints and very little moderating on the newspaper's part. Pick a story at www.dailyfreeman.com, and comment away. You have to register with your real first and last names. If you're not brave enough to attach your opinion to your name for the public's edification, come up with a screen name and your anonymity will be protected. All we ask if for you to keep it clean and tasteful (admittedly a subjective determination). And, of course, no libel. Absent any transgressions, your posts will be approved in due time. They're reviewed periodically on weekdays, less frequently nights and weekends, so have a little patience. (Another sure thing: Some hot head will complain that his/her posts have been blocked because we don't agree with them. Let it be repeated for the umpteenth time that if the only posts the editors approved who those with which we agreed, there would be far fewer on the site. Catch our drift?)

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Friday, November 4, 2011

Woman's death prompts call for more information

Gary Boyce Sr., the first person to use the Daily Freeman's Fact Check box, points out about the story, "Ulster woman burned in propane explosion dies" that the story was published Nov. 3. But that the victim died Oct. 16 as stated.
The Freeman's report was generated from a follow up call by the reporter this week. That's when we found out.
Boyce also writes:
People should be made aware of the dangers of Propane/Bottled gas leaks. Your gas supplier offers a Gas Check, for a small fee," but it is a small price to pay for piece of mind, he wrote, adding that it should be done annually or every time gas service is interrupted. He adds: "If you smell gas people need to know what to do: "Get Out of the Home or Area Now-- Call 911 (from outside the home)and your gas supplier. "Source:Gary E Boyce Sr-NYPGA Tech Advisor

The story does point out that, "officials believe a gas leak caused the explosion, but at this point officials had not yet determined the exact point between the gas supply and the stove at which the leak occurred."

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Fact checking, better


You might have noticed that at the bottom of every story at DailyFreeman.com there is now a "Fact Check" box that leads to a form asking readers to tell us if they find an error in our reporting.

It asks for ways that we could have improved the story, or other sources we should contact on the topic. It also gives readers an optional opportunity to provide their own contact information to be a source on the topic in the future.
We are also adding this blog as a way to have all corrections collected in one place on the web.
We'll be using this blog to publicize corrections to stories, to explain, if possible, how we made a particular mistake and to give you a better window into our reporting process.
We will also take some Fact Check reports that we could not confirm or feel were not valid and explain how we came to that conclusion and chose not to make a correction.
If you have any questions about this process, we'd love to talk to you.
You can reach us at news@freemanonline.com.

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Thursday, November 3, 2011

Expanded Daily Freeman Fact Check box

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