A staff writer for The Independent Florida Alligator committed an act of apparent journalistic fabrication in a recent story about UF eating disorder support resources. The Alligator deeply regrets the errors published in the story, which did not meet our journalistic standards.
The article first appeared online Nov. 26 and was printed Dec. 1. It included quotes attributed to a UF Health pediatrician. The pediatrician informed The Alligator via a communications officer Dec. 12 they were never interviewed for the story.
Upon reviewing the incident, Alligator editors determined the interview likely never took place. A recording the reporter provided of their conversation with the pediatrician — used during our pre-publication fact-check — is now assumed to be fabricated. After closer inspection, we’ve concluded the voice on the recording does not match that of the doctor’s, and we do not consider the attributed quotes reliable.
The story was removed from our website Dec. 12, the day we became aware of the incident. The Alligator is also reviewing 14 additional articles this reporter published in our newsroom, eight of which went into print. Any stories found to contain fraudulent quotes, sources or material errors will be removed or corrected.
Because UF’s Fall 2025 semester recently came to a close, most members of The Alligator’s staff are no longer in Gainesville. Despite this, editors have repeatedly attempted to contact the reporter, including over text, phone, email, WhatsApp and FaceTime, since we became aware of the incident. They have not responded.
The reporter is no longer with The Alligator and will not be re-hired to The Alligator’s staff. As a new semester begins, we are doubling the size of our copy editing desk — and creating stricter fact-checking and verification processes — to ensure this incident does not repeat itself.
As an independent, student-run newsroom, we pride ourselves on providing trustworthy information to the UF, greater Gainesville and Alachua County communities. We apologize to our readers for breaking that trust, and we look forward to rebuilding it.
Signed,
Zoey Thomas
Editor-in-Chief, Spring 2026
Sara-James Ranta
Digital Managing Editor, Spring 2026
Megan Howard
Engagement Managing Editor, Spring 2026
