The Boston-based newspaper Boston Globe invites people it has written about in the past to revisit these publications and, if they see fit, to “update” them — for example, delete names or delete articles from Google.
“It has never been our intention to make short, low-impact publications in our newspaper negatively affecting the future of the common citizens mentioned in these articles,” said newspaper editor Brian McGregor. “Given the shortcomings of our criminal justice system, we are aware that these publications disproportionately affect the colored population of the country. And we want to take part in solving this problem. “
The newspaper is conducting a general analysis of the impact of its publications in criminal matters on people of color, and the Fresh Start program is part of this analysis. But the newspaper will be “less willing” to resort to altering information about major criminal offenses or public figures. A committee of 10 editorial staff will consider each case individually, and requests from organizations will not be accepted.
Deborah Dwyer, professor in the Department of Journalism at the University of Missouri, expresses concern about some of the implications of editing past publications. She warns of the possibility of “inequality” among those asking for such a review. “A white lawyer has a better opportunity to go to the newspaper than a similarly offended black teenager who may not have read the Boston Globe,” Dwyer said.
Newspaper headline:
Forget about the past!