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September 26, 2012
An open letter to the New York Times Public Editor: when it comes to Atlantic Yards, the editor heading the Corrections desk denies reality
Atlantic Yards Report
Dear Ms. Sullivan,
On Saturday, Sept. 22, I attempted to get the New York Times to correct three clear, easily checkable errors in the upcoming Sept. 23 cover story in the Metropolitan section by Liz Robbins about the new Brooklyn arena, headlined In Brooklyn, Bracing for Hurricane Barclays.
I wrote to, among other people, Senior Editor in charge of Corrections Greg Brock, last month lauded by your predecessor as leading a "powerful engine of accountability."
My experience with Mr. Brock, unfortunately, has gone in the exact opposite direction: a tendency to downplay, disavow, and evade errors, coupled with a reflexive nastiness that is unworthy of that position.
The upshot: the uncorrected errors led to a less skeptical view of the controversial Atlantic Yards project than the facts would suggest.
Please take a look at this verbatim correspondence, augmented only by graphics and slight punctuation changes.
NoLandGrab: Seriously. The Times's reticence at correcting Atlantic Yards-related errors is warped, and embarrassing.
Related coverage...
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, The Times' Corrections Desk, Headed by Greg Brock, Denies Reality When It Comes to Atlantic Yards
The New York Times Company, which partnered with Forest City Ratner to use eminent domain to build its new headquarters, has a problem. They are, overall, soft on their former development partner, editorially in favor of their development partner, and they have a "corrections editor" who refuses to correct clear errors of fact—errors which consistently shine a better light on the developer than the facts would and that impugn project opponents.
Posted by eric at September 26, 2012 11:18 AM