Freelancer Accuses USA Today of Over-Editing Abortion Story Before Backtracking
A story on the battle to liberalize Ireland’s abortion laws published in USA Today Thursday contained edits that grossly altered the original story, according to freelance journalist Caelainn Hogan, who wrote the piece.
Or rather, that was according to Hogan before she changed her mind about complaining about those edits.
Hogan, 24, told FishbowlDC that USA Today‘s version of her story, which was purchased through the freelance writer service Associated Reporters Abroad, added “material I had never seen before” and included “paraphrasing of my own words and manipulation of quotes which I feel distort the original.” Hogan is an Ireland native but is currently in Turkey.
The original version of Hogan’s story, which she forwarded to FBDC, is different from the USA Today version, but mostly by way of inconsequential edits. For example, the original story contained the following quote:
“The issue of abortion in Ireland s [sic] so contentious many are reluctant to discuss it,” said Clare Quigley, 23, a medical student in Dublin.
It was amended to read:
“The issue of abortion in Ireland is so contentious,” said Clare Quigley, 23, a medical student in Dublin.
Not exactly a nefarious edit.
Edits to the story include added quotes… Read more
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