Atlanta Journal-Constitution Incorrectly States the Purpose of PDK Watch

In a May 17, 2001, article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s DeKalb Extra, reporter Will Anderson made an incorrect statement about PDK Watch’s mission. He said that PDK Watch would ultimately like to shut down the airport. A citizen wrote an e-mail to Joe Earle, a reporter who has covered PDK in past articles, and asked,

So the question I have to you is, what gives?  Why did Mr. Anderson write something that is not true? Will the newspaper print a retraction?  My neighbors share their disappointment with me in what they perceive is biased and unfair treatment by the AJC.  What can we as a community do to work with the AJC to ensure that the news is fairly reported?  Would you and Mr. Anderson like to meet with the people form PDK Watch to learn more about their organization and its goals?  Please share your thoughts with me on this topic.  I suggest the journalistic integrity of the DeKalb (B) Section is at stake here.

When no response was given, the citizen then wrote to Mike King of Inside The AJC. Here is his response.

I believe the newspaper owes its readers a correction on this. I find no indication in the previous stories we have written about PDK Watch and no attribution in the story you cite that would allow us to justify what we said. I've asked the reporter and editor involved to provide a correction. Thank you for bringing it to our attention and I apologize for not being able to deal with it sooner than this. Sincerely, Mike King

A correction was published July 5, 2001.