In an unexpected turn of events, the AJC (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) has issued corrections in its recent story about the University of Georgia (UGA) football program. While the university alleged fabrications in the article, the AJC’s review found no evidence to support these claims. However, the article’s author, investigative reporter Alan Judd, has been terminated for violating the organization’s journalistic standards.

Accurate and Newsworthy Cases

The article, originally published on June 27, delved into how the national championship-winning football program supported two athletes accused of sexual assault and domestic violence. The AJC’s internal review could not substantiate a pattern of the football program retaining players accused of sexual misconduct, as suggested in the original piece.

However, it is important to note that the two confirmed cases mentioned in the article, where the athletes were named, were deemed accurate and newsworthy by the AJC. These cases remain in a revised version of the article published online.

Commitment to Editorial Integrity

The AJC places great importance on editorial integrity and the trust it has built with its community. After receiving the university’s letter, the organization assigned a team of editors and lawyers to thoroughly review each claim made in the nine-page document. Additionally, they examined additional source material that supported the original story.

During this review process, the AJC identified errors that did not meet their standards and promptly corrected them. Chapman, the AJC’s spokesperson, stated, “Our editorial integrity and the trust our community has in us is at the core of who we are.”

Corrections and Changes

The statement from Chapman provides a detailed explanation of the corrections made to the article. One key assertion regarding Head Coach Kirby Smart’s tenure could not be substantiated. The claim that 11 players remained on the team after women reported violent encounters lacked sufficient evidence according to the AJC’s standards.

As a result, the AJC removed or adjusted several paragraphs of the story that relied on this count and modified the headline accordingly. The organization takes responsibility for these errors and apologizes to both the university and its readers.

Additional Error Addressed

In addition to the count discrepancy mentioned earlier, the article also improperly combined two separate statements from a detective into a single quotation. While this did not alter the quote’s meaning, it did not meet the AJC’s standards of presentation to readers.

The Journalist’s Legacy

Alan Judd, the article’s author, had been a leading reporter at the AJC for almost 25 years. Throughout his tenure, he has contributed significantly to the newsroom, undertaking impactful investigations and breaking countless news stories. Judd’s work has exposed slumlords profiting from unsafe apartment complexes, shed light on neglect and abuse in state psychiatric hospitals, and played a role in uncovering a teacher cheating scandal in Atlanta Public Schools.

In his statement, Judd expressed pride in his work and gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community during his time at the AJC.

Football Player Accountability

The UGA article forms part of a series of reports highlighting the challenges of holding football players accountable for off-field infractions. The AJC had previously reported on the program’s permissive culture, which allowed for reckless driving, excessive speeding, and street racing by its players. Tragically, this behavior resulted in a high-speed car crash in January, claiming the lives of a football player and a member of the team’s staff. Subsequently, star defensive lineman Jalen Carter faced criminal charges in connection with the crash.

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Note: The original formatting of the article has been adjusted to fit the Markdown format.