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How to edit or remove a column after publication
A published column can be reopened in the editor, corrected and saved, or removed in one click. What happens to the page, author archive, and serious factual errors.
Publication does not turn a text into a fixed file. In Columnist, an author can reopen an already published column in the same editor, make changes, and save them. If the material should no longer remain public, it can be removed in one click.
What can be corrected
A text can be edited after publication. When you save a revision, the applicable checks run again: minimum length, language match, and absence of external addresses. Do not use editing as a way to pass the rules first and add prohibited content afterwards.
If you correct a typo or punctuation, readers usually do not need an extra note. If you change a material fact, a number, or an accusation, it is better to mark the correction in the article so that the history does not appear to have been silently rewritten.
What to do with a factual error
First stop the error from spreading: correct the text. Then check whether it also affects the headline, lead, photo caption, or main conclusion. If the mistake changes the meaning of the column, silently replacing one word is not enough.
A practical formula is: “Correction: the original version incorrectly stated X. The correct information is Y.” For a serious error, add the date of the correction. That allows the reader to understand what changed and why.
How to remove a column
The author dashboard provides a one-action removal. After that, the public page closes, the previous public address no longer shows the published text, and the record remains in the author’s dashboard. This preserves the author’s own archive without physically deleting the record.
A removed article no longer appears as an active publication in the feed or on the public author page.
When the publication can remove a column
The publication also retains the right to remove material and notify the author. The rules specifically identify advertising disguised as a column and unlawful content. The fact that an author publishes without prior editorial approval does not remove the publication’s right to act afterwards.
What happens to the rights
Rights to the text remain with the author. The publication receives a non-exclusive right to display the column, keep it in its archive and feeds, and translate the headline and lead for navigation. Removal ends the public display of the page; it does not transfer ownership of the text to the publication.
Republishing on your own site
Because the licence is non-exclusive, the author may republish the column elsewhere. However, an identical full copy at another address can compete with the original page in search. In practice, it is usually better to post a teaser, summary, or follow-up than an exact duplicate.
When to edit and when to remove
Edit: a typo, outdated wording, a new precise figure, a factual correction, or an added clarification.
Remove: the entire article rests on a false premise; the publication violates rights; the author can no longer substantiate serious allegations; or there is a strong reason why the material should no longer remain public.
You do not always need to remove a text simply because your opinion has changed. Sometimes it is more honest to leave the original column in place and publish a new one explaining what changed in your reasoning.
Correction checklist
- decide whether the problem is technical or substantive;
- check the headline and lead;
- correct all related figures consistently;
- make a material correction visible to the reader;
- make sure the new version contains no external addresses;
- keep the text above 120 words;
- if the problem is fundamental, consider removing the article.
Columnist is available at columnist.mib.news.
Correcting a fact is not the same as ordinary editing
If you notice a typo five minutes after publication, you can simply fix it. If a verifiable statement changes, for example a date, amount, or the meaning of a quotation, treat the change as a factual correction. Correct it quickly and, if the mistake was material, do not make the new version look as though the incorrect wording never existed.
For a serious error, keep your own record of what was wrong, where the error came from, when it was corrected, and which source confirmed the new version. This is useful if a reader or someone involved in the story asks about the discrepancy later.
When full removal is the better option
Removing the entire article is more sensible than a narrow edit when the foundation has collapsed: the key document proves to be fake, the author lacks rights to essential images, the publication exposes information that cannot remain public, or the article is essentially advertising. Replacing a few sentences does not solve those problems.
If the dispute concerns one interpretation or a corrected number, an edit is usually enough. The scale of the response should match the scale of the defect.
FAQ
Can I edit a published column?
Yes. It opens in the same editor, and the changes are saved to the publication’s page.
Does the text disappear from my dashboard after removal?
No. The public page closes, but the record remains in the author’s dashboard.
Do I need to mark a typo correction?
Usually not for a minor typo. For a material factual error, it is better to say clearly what was corrected.
Can the publication remove the article without me doing it?
Yes. The publication retains that right and notifies the author, including in cases of advertising disguised as a column or unlawful content.
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