MINOT — If you were writing an article and quoted someone, but to that quote you added some words the quoted person didn’t say, would that be fair? Especially if the words changed the meaning of what was said?

Of course that’s not fair. Reporters quote people all the time, and while we’re all human — mistakes in transcription, tone or understanding can happen — a reporter who intentionally adds words to a quote that weren’t used by the person being quoted is someone who shouldn’t be a reporter. It’s an unethical thing to do.

So what, then, to make of Auditor Josh Gallion’s office adding words to a response from Stark County disputing an audit about a general fund balance that’s not in compliance with the law?

If you read government audits, a typical feature is a list of findings from th

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