Rolling Stone magazine has asked the journalism school at New York’s Columbia university to investigate how it came to publish a discredited article about gang rape.
In what Reuters describes as a rare move for a publisher, the magazine wants the journalism school to produce an independent review of how it handled the story.
“Rolling Stone has agreed to publish our report in its entirety, without editing, on its website, as well as substantial excerpts in the magazine,” said a journalism school statement.
The article, published last month, described an alleged attack on a woman at a party at Virginia university in 2012. It provoked uproar and renewed concerns about campus sexual assaults.
But further scrutiny, mostly by the Washington Post, found holes in the story. And on 5 December, Rolling Stone said its trust in the female victim/accuser, identified as Jackie, had been misplaced.
It subsequently revised that statement, saying the problems were not the fault of the alleged victim.
According to the New York Times, critics have written to the magazine accusing editors of acting irresponsibly, and women’s rights advocates have said the controversy will discourage rape victims from coming forward.
Rolling Stone’s publisher, Jann Wenner, has said he will write a note about the matter in the magazine’s next issue to explain the reason for the inquiry.
