Detroit News has apologized to readers for changing a review of a car following an advertiser complaint. In the process, their auto reviewer resigned.
The publisher and editor, Jonathan Wollman, called the episode a "humbling mistake." The auto review appeared in the paper, drew criticism from Chrysler, and the writer was asked to change some passages that had been deemed acerbic and disrespectful of the Chrysler 200.
Wollman insisted in his message that no attempt was made to change the reviewer's verdict, but that the changes were designed to improve the piece.
"Once the review was published we should have maintained the wording in all our formats and avoided any sense that we were acting at the influence of any interest aside from our readers' interest," Wollman wrote.
He added: "The credibility of our journalism is our calling card to your doorstep and your digital screen. We simply cannot act at any behest but yours and we must avoid any appearance to the contrary."
The publisher and editor, Jonathan Wollman, called the episode a "humbling mistake." The auto review appeared in the paper, drew criticism from Chrysler, and the writer was asked to change some passages that had been deemed acerbic and disrespectful of the Chrysler 200.
Wollman insisted in his message that no attempt was made to change the reviewer's verdict, but that the changes were designed to improve the piece.
"Once the review was published we should have maintained the wording in all our formats and avoided any sense that we were acting at the influence of any interest aside from our readers' interest," Wollman wrote.
He added: "The credibility of our journalism is our calling card to your doorstep and your digital screen. We simply cannot act at any behest but yours and we must avoid any appearance to the contrary."
