Following an internal review, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) has publicly acknowledged and corrected inaccuracies in a previously published article concerning the University of Georgia football program and allegations of player misconduct. The newspaper also announced the termination of the article's author, Alan Judd, citing violations of the organization's journalistic standards.
The original article asserted that 11 players remained on the team despite reports of violence against women. The AJC now states this figure could not be verified and has amended the article accordingly, removing several paragraphs and revising the headline. The revised headline now focuses on two confirmed incidents where players were accused of abusing women, which the AJC maintains are factual and worthy of public attention.
The University of Georgia had formally requested a retraction of the original article, alleging misrepresentation of a police interview with a then-16-year-old recruit, Jamaal Jarrett, and the improper combination of separate statements by a detective into a single quote. The AJC’s internal investigation appears to support the university’s claim regarding the manipulated quote, acknowledging that while the meaning remained unchanged, the presentation failed to meet their standards.
While declining to retract the entire piece, the AJC has issued corrections and apologized for the errors. AJC Editor-in-Chief Leroy Chapman emphasized the organization’s commitment to accountability, both for the institutions they cover and for their own journalistic practices. Chapman reiterated the importance of editorial integrity and acknowledged the newspaper's shortcomings in this instance.
The university strongly criticized the original article, citing “errors, unsubstantiated allegations, innuendo, and possibly even fabrications.” However, the AJC stated their review found no evidence of fabrication within the story. Former AJC reporter Alan Judd expressed pride in his 24-year tenure at the newspaper and gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community.
