The New York Times changes stylebook on concentration camps

Alex Storozynski
President & Executive Director
The Kosciuszko Foundation
15 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10065
 
Dear Mr. Storozynski:
 
After further discussions of the concerns raised by you and others, Times editors have decided to add an entry to the newsroom's stylebook specifically cautioning journalists to avoid misleading phrases like "Polish concentration camp."
 
As we have already pointed out, editors immediately took steps to correct the erroneous references to Dachau in an online caption over the weekend. We also published a correction about the phrase "Polish concentration camp" in an obituary last fall. We understand the great sensitivity of this topic and regret that any such lapses have occurred. But we would like to reiterate that such instances, however unfortunate, are simply mistakes, and it is wrong to suggest that they reflect any malice or deliberate distortion.
 
Still, to demonstrate our shared concern over this issue, we will add a note on this point to the stylebook and take extra care to try to avoid any further errors.
 
Sincerely,
Eileen Murphy
 
Eileen M. Murphy
Vice President, Corporate Communications
The New York Times Company
620 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10018

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