Effective August 1, 2025
1. Purpose and Scope
This policy sets the standards and procedures for correcting errors in all content published by The Adept Traveler, including news articles, research insights, guides, newsletters, social posts, and future mobile-app items. It applies to every staff member, contractor, and contributor involved in creating or editing material for adept.travel.
2. Categories of Updates
| Category | Definition | Public Note | Example Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine Copy Edit | Spelling, punctuation, style, or format changes that do not alter meaning | None | Fix a typographical error, adjust Oxford comma usage, update alt-text grammar |
| Minor Factual Correction | Small factual error that does not materially change the story's thrust | Single-sentence correction note | Correct a flight number, update a misquoted price |
| Substantive Correction or Clarification | Error or omission that could mislead readers or change interpretation | Full correction box at top of article | Correct an incorrect policy detail, add key context that alters takeaway |
| Retraction | Fundamental error that cannot be remedied by correction or clarification | Retraction statement and article removal or replacement | Misidentifying a location of an incident, attributing a quote to the wrong official |
3. Discovery and Verification
- Anyone may report an error via https://adept.travel/correction, email to corrections@adept.travel, social media DM, or direct phone contact.
- The Editor-in-Chief (Brandon J. Yaniz) reviews the claim, verifies the facts against original sources, and classifies the error.
4. Workflow and Timeline
- Immediate Confirmation, the Editor-in-Chief verifies the error as soon as practicable.
- Amendment
- Routine copy edits are made silently.
- All other corrections are drafted with a timestamped note.
- Approval, only the Editor-in-Chief may publish a correction, clarification, or retraction.
- Publication Deadline, corrections are posted as soon as the text is ready and the edit queue permits, typically within hours of verification.
5. Presentation and Transparency
Location, correction boxes appear directly below the headline, above the body text.
Note Format, "Correction (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM CT), followed by a concise explanation."
Text Treatment
Incorrect wording is replaced with accurate language.
Strikethrough is used only when preserving the original wording adds clarity.
The correction box remains visible for the life of the article.
6. Notification and Distribution
- Once email newsletters and the mobile app launch, any substantive correction, clarification, or retraction triggers an automated push or newsletter update to users who accessed the affected content.
- For social channels, the Editor-in-Chief chooses one of three actions based on severity, silent post edit, corrective reply, or deletion and repost with a correction note.
7. Reader-Initiated Corrections
- We acknowledge all correction requests as soon as possible. If the Editor-in-Chief is unavailable, an automated reply confirms receipt.
- Requesters are notified by email when the issue is resolved or, if unfounded, are provided an explanation.
8. Legal and Ethical Review
- Potentially defamatory, privacy-sensitive, or otherwise legally risky corrections undergo outside legal review before publication.
- The Adept Traveler will cooperate with official requests to correct or clarify syndicated or republished versions of an article and will make reasonable efforts to ensure downstream updates.
9. Internal Record-Keeping
- An internal corrections log records every factual correction, clarification, and retraction, including date, time, nature of the error, and corrective action. This log is reviewed during annual policy audits but is not published.
10. Governance and Review
- Custodian, Brandon J. Yaniz, Founder and Editor-in-Chief.
- Review Cycle, at least once per year, or more frequently if required by search-engine best practices.
- Escalation, individuals who dispute a correction decision may contact the Editor-in-Chief through any method listed on https://adept.travel/contact. All concerns receive a written response within seven calendar days.
This Corrections Policy demonstrates our commitment to accuracy, transparency, and accountability, ensuring that readers receive timely, reliable information that helps everyone travel better.