In response to the rapidly evolving political landscape that has led to real and demonstrated risks to students across college campuses, The Wire came together to create an official policy to deal with the influx of deletion requests. This policy was carefully crafted after almost a month of deliberation, debate and advice from our Advisory Board and other accomplished journalists. The policy is published in full below.

Ethics Policy for Deletion Requests

Commitment to Accuracy and Integrity
The Whitman Wire is dedicated to accurate, fair and unbiased reporting. All published sources undergo the required Washington State Law consent process, as well as The Wire’s internal quote-check procedure — except in cases of breaking news where immediate reporting is necessary. Given these rigorous standards, deletion requests will only be considered under specific circumstances and must follow the procedures outlined below.

Published content, including materials stored in archives or captured by web archiving services such as the Wayback Machine, cannot be altered or removed.

The Wire will not consider total article deletion or honor byline removal requests.

Deletion Request Criteria
A formal deletion request must meet the following requirements:

• Individuals must provide a detailed case specifying the exact quotes or content they wish to have removed.
• Requests must include citations of specific legal statutes or regulations that support the claim for deletion.
• A demonstrated, specific and immediate threat to life or safety must be included for consideration in cases.
• The Editorial Board will review each request on a case-by-case basis and make a final decision based on journalistic and ethical considerations. 
• Deletion Request — Correction statement will list specific reasons behind deletions to allow full transparency to the reader. 

Editorial Review Process

Requests will be reviewed within a specified timeframe. If consensus cannot be reached, the editorial board will move to vote and issue a final decision. 

Consideration will be given to academic breaks and publication schedules.

Editorial Board Discussion Guidelines

• Time Allocation: Discussions should last between 40 minutes to 1 hour.
• Structured Deliberation: Editorial board meetings should begin early to allow for thorough discussion.
• Participation Structure:
  • First 30 minutes – Each board member must contribute.
  • Final 10 minutes – Open discussion for additional input and deliberation.

• The Wire acknowledges the challenge of maintaining objectivity, especially when faced with sensitive issues. However, all requests will be evaluated through a consistent and transparent process, regardless of the topic’s perceived significance or controversy.
• Requests will remain confidential – all information in requests will remain with the Editorial Board members and will not be disclosed to other parties. 
• The Editorial Board will discuss all deletion requests collectively to ensure a fair and thorough review.
  • Majority Vote – Under discretion will decide the outcome of these cases. 
• EIC will be responsible for crafting a context note — published at the top of the article citing specific reasons for article changes and citation of specific law — if applicable. 

Responsibility of the Requesting Individual

• The responsibility for justifying a deletion request falls entirely on the individual making the request.
• Writers employed by The Wire understand the nature of journalistic publication and should recognize their accountability for their contributions.
• Interviewees and sources who have previously consented to publication must provide compelling reasons, supported by legal or ethical grounds, for any deletion request.

• The passage of time and changes in political or social contexts may factor into the Editorial Board’s decision-making process.

Requests that stem from shifts in public opinion or personal reconsiderations will be carefully weighed against The Wire‘s commitment to historical accuracy and journalistic integrity.

While this policy was decided on a majority vote, the Editorial Board was given a chance to voice their individual opinions regarding this policy change. Opinions in the editorial board piece here.