How do you get a television station to remove a story from its website?

[no_hypocrisy]

Long story short. My friend was arrested, interviewed by the prosecutor, and was acquitted, thanks to his attorney.

The story was reported on a local news station and put up on its website. That was more than three years ago.

But now the story is still up. When you "google" his name and city, it's the first one. All it discusses is that he was arrested and why. Even has his picture. This is having a negative impact on his reputation.

While the story was accurate that he was arrested, it also implies that he was convicted by the lack of follow-up.

If a letter requesting the story be taken down doesn't get the result, then what?

[NYC Liberal]

1. Just an idea: maybe ask them to put an "UPDATE" at the top of the story

rather than deleting it altogether. They probably aren't going to want to delete a news story if it was/is factually accurate.

But adding a small "Update" at the top noting that he was interviewed and acquitted is a very reasonable request that they probably wouldn't have a problem honoring.

[Modern_Matthew]

2. Sounds like a reasonable request, but would that be convincing enough to potential employers? nt

[no_hypocrisy]

4. That's what concerns us. If you don't click the story, all you see is

that he was arrested, and it doesn't say it was a long time ago.

[NYC Liberal]

7. If they updated the headline, wouldn't Google pick that up?

That *might* work.

[elana i am]

3. does it come up in a google search?

once it's been cached by search engines you're screwed. you can pay someone to do online reputation repair. there are services that do that.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Yes, on top of a google search.

Are you saying that even if the story is taken down, it remains on Google?

For how long do you think?

[Jim__]

6. If polite requests can't get the story updated, try to use this as an example of bad journalism.

Maybe competing local news media would like to have a story that points out the incompetence or unfairness of this site. If you can get competing media to cover the story emphasizing the effects on your friends reputation, it can also serve to counter those bad effects.

[taterguy]

8. Send them a Form 2359B

Problem solved.

You're welcome.

[no_hypocrisy]

9. I don't know what that is. Can you elaborate please?

[taterguy]

10. I could

But I won't.

[Ilsa]

12. Googled it. Didn't get a clear response. Do you mind explaining what you are talking about?

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[taterguy]

20. Yes

[Ilsa]

11. Maybe the old

"threaten to sue" them will get their attention? If they have a comments section, you could tell the whole story and how poor their journalism and integrity are.

[TuxedoKat]

14. I'd talk to a a lawyer

so he/she could help you with what to say when you contact the website owner. Type "who is" and website name to get the responsible person for the website. You will also have to sign in to google to get it removed from the search engine pages.

[KharmaTrain]

15. Was The Original Story Wrong?

If it wasn't, they're really under no obligation to remove it. Sorry to hear about your friend but if he was arrested and the story was accurate, the problem was your friend getting in trouble in the first place. Good to hear he was acquitted and I would hope the paper reported that...if not, then I would send them a letter to make sure they do so (citing the old story that still shows up on search engines).

As far as removing something that is factual, while I feel sorry for your friend, the paper has no reason to do so and many would say this would be considered "censoring". I hope they print his acqittal and then I'd get a bunch of friends to rate that story up...then that will show up on the search engines either above or next to the story about his arrest.

[no_hypocrisy]

16. I understand. What about an appeal that the story is three years old

and no longer relevant, esp. in light of the fact that it was a mere arrest and no story beyond that?

[KharmaTrain]

17. I Understand...

In a previous life I worked in the media...with a very solid, dedicated news department. Part of their job was to daily check the police blotter and report what was on their..."public record". This included every arrest and the subsequent police report which is how they wrote their stories. Very basic Journalism 101. They'd constantly get harassed by someone whose name or a member of their family appeared on a newscast and try to get them to drop the story. This happened with a couple of advertisers and prominent politicians...and the station did lose advertising accounts and access as these news people would stand their ground...public record is public record. If the person wanted the story changed...change the public record.

That said, it's different today with the intertubes and its long memory. However, asking someone to spike a story, no matter how old, that is factual is something I'm sure many won't do. Even if they did, the internet is very unforgiving...I'd bet the story is already stored in a place like the Internet Wayback Machine.

It's also unfortunate for your friend's plight and this addresses a whole other issue...and that's how it's impossible to rehabilitate one's reputation; be it a past run-in with authorities to financial troubles.

Cheers...

[no_hypocrisy]

18. Thank you. Back to my original question: can the story be pulled or

is it to be "alive" online for eternity?

[KharmaTrain]

19. The Internet Is Unforgiving...

To your question. Can the story? Sure. But I would think it would depend on who filed it and the discretion of the news director. Maybe if your friend writes a well written letter and do a follow-up call that may get a response.

As far as being pulled...here's the Internet Wayback Machine:

http://www.archive.org/web/web.php

You'll see its easy to pop in a name into the search and find sites and stories. Not sure how you could ever get a story erased from there (I'm finding stuff I posted in 1998 on there). The best of luck...