Opinion - Generalia   

Internal ombudsman

The Hindu's Readers' Editor is all set for March 1.

THE READERS' Editor of The Hindu will be functional from March 1, 2006. He will be assisted by an Assistant Readers' Editor and others working in his office.

When The Hindu announced on January 13, 2006 its decision to appoint K. Narayanan as Readers' Editor, on the model of The Guardian, U.K., it become the first newspaper in the history of Indian journalism to go in for an independent, full-time internal ombudsman of the newspaper.

The key objectives of this appointment, as explained in the Preamble to the Terms of Reference, were to institutionalise the practice of self-regulation, accountability, and transparency; to create a new visible framework to improve accuracy, verification, and standards in the newspaper; and to strengthen bonds between the newspaper and its millions of print platform and online readers.

As was explained at the time of making the announcement, the Readers' Editor will be a bridge between the newspaper and millions of its readers. He will be a two-way channel for readers' suggestions and grievances relating to accuracy, fairness, standards, good taste, and the highest values of journalism in whatever is published in The Hindu . Complaints will be enquired into and follow-up action taken by publishing corrections or clarifications; by replying to the complainant; and by enabling corrective action to be taken, as needed. Communication not related to editorial content will be passed on to the departments concerned. In all cases, the aim will be to respond as quickly as possible.

The Readers' Editor will also write a regular column on a range of journalism-related subjects, among other things promoting openness and transparency and providing readers access to what goes on within a major newspaper.

Issues arising from opinions expressed in the editorials or articles published do not fall within the purview of the Readers' Editor. They will be dealt with by those in charge of Letters to the Editor and by other editorial personnel.

The functions of the Readers' Editor are set out in the Terms of Reference, published on January 14, 2006, and accessible at The Hindu website (www.thehindu.com) .

Readers can contact the Readers' Editor or his office by:

1. e-mail at readerseditor@thehindu.co.in (please give the full postal address and phone number), or

2. regular mail at Readers' Editor, The Hindu , Kasturi Buildings, 859-860 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 (please give the full postal address and phone number), or

3. Telephone No: +91-44-2841 82 97, (Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or

4. Fax No. +91-44-2855 29 63.

Please specify (a) the edition, that is, the place of publication, (b) the date of publication, and (c) the page number of the published item referred to.

We invite you to make effective and full use of this vital point of access to your newspaper.

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Internal ombudsman

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