> From: cdollar <[log in to unmask]>
>
> I am a LLL Leader in Indiana.  There have been several inaccurate
> stories in the news here lately.  We've all been writing tons of letters
> to the editor trying to get the misinformation corrected but so far no
> letters have been printed. :-(  I have read several of the letters moms
> and Leaders have written and they were well worded and polite.  I guess
> the newspaper doesn't see the harm in their error.  :-(
>
> The original article was actually a pretty decent article on BFing
> http://www.indystar.com/article.php?breast10.html  Unfortunately, the
> editors decided to pull from the article " Breast-feeding moms lack
> legal protection - Nursing in a public place classified as indecent
> exposure in Indiana" as the headline.  :-(  The sensational angle has
> been picked up by other papers now and the story has been trimmed down
> to be nothing but "BFIP is illegal"
> http://www.myinky.com/ecp/health/article/0,1626,ECP_756_1320566,00.html

If the headline is wrong and nursing in a public place is not indecent
exposure in Indiana, the newspaper should do a correction.

Letters to the editor aren't the same thing as asking for a correction...
The letters editor may be on the ball and forward letters up for a decision
on a correction. Or not.

Assuming you've already talked to the reporter, phone the editor directly,
explain immediate impact of the error (concerned calls and emails, etc) and
ask for a correction. Also ask that they either append the correction to the
web site article or replace the offending headline. But first talk to the
reporter who filed the original story. Usually a correction request starts
with the reporter and moves up to the editor. Also, the newspapers'
correction policy might be published in their masthead info.

You might also want to call the public relations/media relations person for
your state's justice department to see if they intend to also ask for a
correction. (I'm from Canada, and I'm assuming there is an equiv. To our
provincial justice depts - not sure what it's actually called, but there
will be someone in charge of public/media relations who is probably also
cringing at the error.)

Anyway, misrepresenting a state's law in a newspaper headline is the sort of
thing most newspapers would hasten to correct.

If there has been substantial subsequent news coverage the state might also
be convinced to issue a newsrelease or hold a news conference correcting the
information.

If none of that works, you could hold your own news conference or media
event to see if you can counter the coverage with a "bfip is legal" event.
Line up a few authorities (local sheriff, or someone from the justice dept.)
who will talk to the media to clarify the legalities, and give the media
these contact numbers so they more easily prepare an accurate story.

One other thought - if you have a web site you can put up a link to the
article and a note indicating that it is incorrect. That way people who are
searching for info on Indiana's bf laws will at least see the correction on
your site.

Good luck,

-- Jodine Chase

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