Can a newspaper print a story that is wrong?

[Illinois]

A newspaper wrote that my friends business was moving to a new location. Actually, my friend plans on retiring in the fall and is not moving. A former employee and associates will open a separate business in a different location. My friends business has been in the community 15+ years and has Verne's stopped in public and asked if she is moving.

So my friend talked to the editor of the newspaper (who was rude and nasty). The editor said my friend could only have a clarification written. And a reporter from the paper would write it. My friend talked to the reporter and the reporter was rude and seemed to defend the new business??. The reporter didn't even understand that the business was incorporated when speaking to the reporter.

The clarification article was published the next day and made my friend cry. The article was not at all what the reporter told my friend and instead promoted the new business even more and failed to clarify anything... Just appeared to be hurtful, even the address of my friends business was published wrong.

Any help is greatly appreciated to clarify this mess, that has truly pained both my friend and I.

 

[Proserpina]

Newspapers have, for as long as there have been newspapers, been allowed to print the correction in the last sentence on page 2, thereby doing what was asked of them.

I'm not sure what your friend's goal is though.

 

[disagreeable]

Time Machines have not been invented you are limited to mortal recourse.

 

[Betty3]

What does your friend want from the newspaper - another correction? Your friend can only ask. I'm not sure what your friend's goal is either/what your friend is trying to accomplish.

 

[Proserpina]

One may also need to consider that the more fuss one makes about a subject, the more likely it is to see ones own dirty laundry plastered around willy-nilly.
So to speak.

Wisdom is knowing how to keep your mouth shut, and when.

 

[CdwJava]

I had to offer a sad chuckle when I read the title of this thread: Can a newspaper print a story that is wrong?

Of course they CAN - it happens all the time! The question would be whether they SHOULD, or, if there is any recourse for an incorrect article.

Knowing and intentional misinformation might be actionable ... but, being in error most likely will not. I don't think your friend has any real recourse here except, maybe, to obtain his own Facebook or web site and post the correct information there so that if anyone searches online for his business, they might find those sites. But, if he is retiring in a few months, why does it matter? What exactly is the issue, anyway?

 

[Betty3]

I don't understand why the big concern.