The results of Columbia University's three-month investigation into Rolling Stone magazine's general editorial practices have been published. Citing "systematic failure," the report is reportedly being deemed a worthy enough punishment by Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner for those involved in the controversial "A Rape on Campus" story. Sabrina Erdely authored the original article, published in the December 2014 issue of Rolling Stone, which claimed that fraternity members at University of Virginia gang raped a woman during a house party, presumably as part of some sort of initiation ritual.
The story quickly began to unravel in public, however, as other journalists and writers started to uncover glaring discrepancies in the story's posited facts, inspiring a backlash against Rolling Stone and promptly triggering a series of apologies. The investigative report concludes that the magazine's repudiation of the article's main narrative is a clear story of "journalistic failure that was avoidable."
Additionally, Sabrina Erdely issued an apology in conjunction with the damning report. "Reporting on rape has unique challenges," Erdely said, "but the journalist still has the responsibility to get it right." Erdely also added that she hopes her journalistic mistakes " do not silence the voices of victims that need to be heard."
Update: CNN reports that University of Virginia’s Phi Kappa Psi fraternity is suing Rolling Stone magazine following Columbia Journalism School's three-month investigation into the falsely published campus rape story. In a statement to CNN, the fraternity said,
“After 130 days of living under a cloud of suspicion as a result of reckless reporting by Rolling Stone magazine, today the Virginia Alpha Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi announced plans to pursue all available legal action against the magazine.”
