USA Today removes 23 stories after probe finds reporter apparently ‘fabricated’ quotes
By Oliver Darcy, CNN Business
USA Today on Thursday said that it had removed 23 stories from its website after an internal investigation found that one of its journalists had apparently “fabricated” quotes in her stories.
“After receiving an external correction request, USA Today audited the reporting work of Gabriela Miranda,” said an editor’s note written by USA Today’s managing editor of standards, Michael McCarter. “The audit revealed that some individuals quoted were not affiliated with the organizations claimed and appeared to be fabricated. The existence of other individuals quoted could not be independently verified. In addition, some stories included quotes that should have been credited to others.”
“As a result,” the note added, “USA Today removed 23 articles from its website and other platforms for not meeting our editorial standards.”
McCarter’s note included a list of stories that were removed. Readers who click on those links now see an editor’s note that says the article “has been removed from our platforms because it does not meet our standards.”
Some of the stories by Miranda appeared in the print version of the daily paper. A spokesperson for the newspaper said that, as a result, the editor’s note will appear in print on Friday.
USA Today said that Miranda, who was a breaking news reporter, had resigned. Miranda could not be immediately reached for comment.
The New York Times was first to report the news about the internal probe.
USA Today said that it strives “to be accurate and factual” and that it “regret this situation.”
The newspaper said that it will, as a result, improve its process for those who want to “lodge complaints or request corrections” and it will “ensure stories have clear and sufficient identifying information for individuals quoted.”
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