Open Letter to Margaret Sullivan, Public Editor of The New York Times: Is Your Newspaper's "Ethical Journalism, A Handbook of Values and Practices for the News and Editorial Departments" Mere Window Dressing?

Dear Ms. Sullivan,

As you know, I recently sent an e-mail to Andrew Rosenthal, editorial page editor of The New York Times, asking why corrections to Thomas Friedman's December 4, 2012 op-ed entitled "Iron Empires, Iron Fists, Iron Domes" had not been made. Although I expressly noted the factual errors, both large and small, in Mr. Friedman's op-ed (see: http://jgcaesarea.blogspot.co.il/2012/12/open-letter-to-andrew-rosenthal-why-has.html), I did not receive an answer from Mr. Rosenthal to my e-mail, a copy of which was sent to you.

As provided by Section 15 of your newspaper's "Ethical Journalism, A Handbook of Values and Practices for the News and Editorial Departments" (http://www.nytco.com/pdf/NYT_Ethical_Journalism_0904.pdf):

"The Times treats is readers as fairly and openly as possible. In print and online, we tell our readers the complete, unvarnished truth as best we can learn it. It is our policy to correct our errors large and small, as soon as we become aware of them."

As further provided Section 16 of your "Handbook of Values and Practices for the News and Editorial Departments" provides:

"Simple courtesy suggests that we not alienate our readers by ignoring their letters and e-mails that warrant reply."

Are columnists, such as Mr. Friedman, entitled to play fast and loose with the facts, or, must they be corrected when their underlying factual assumptions are mistaken?

Given that Mr. Rosenthal has not responded to my query, perhaps you would care to reply.

Yours sincerely,
Jeffrey Grossman
Caesarea, Israel