Dear Reader:

It is time for another update as we continue to be guided by our journalistic code of conduct.

We are impressed with the level of feedback we get daily - some praises, some criticisms. You are happy with our decision to significantly increase the number of stories highlighting positive developments in our country. You are also happy with our decision to focus more on rural issues as we seek to deliver on our mandate to present a faithful and accurate picture of Jamaican life.

At the same time, you have rapped us for our various shortcomings, such as breaches of our code to you. You were very critical of our story on the reported sale of the national airline, Air Jamaica. Yes, we fell down on our standards. The story, which was published on Saturday, July 4, lacked comments from key stakeholders.

Annoying errors

You are highly critical of a number of annoying errors. You have little patience for us reporting that Lady Bustamante was born on March 8, 1912, on one page, but on another in the same issue the year became 1915, which is incorrect.

You have little patience for us reporting that Sir Kenneth Lightbourne was a former governor general instead of the correct Sir Kenneth Blackburne.

We will redouble our efforts to get it right the first time, but when errors slip, we will stick to our mandate to correct them promptly and forthrightly.

We will continue to be guided by our code of conduct and professionalism to you our readers. You can view the document at jamaica-gleaner.com/edi torialpolicy.html

Please, let us hear from you as we continue our mission to maintain a tradition of excellence and to be always fair and balanced in our reporting.

Garfield Grandison

Editor-in-chief