The Guardian Issues Apology After Smearing New College Of Florida President Richard Corcoran

The Guardian has apologized and retracted a March 2026 article that falsely described New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran as 'openly racist.' The claim appeared in a piece promoting the documentary *First They Came For My College*, which examines political changes at the public honors college under Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s leadership. The characterization stood for weeks amid national media scrutiny of New College, a focal point of Florida’s debates over diversity initiatives. However, after an internal review, The Guardian determined the allegation was unsupported by evidence and removed it on April 9, 2026. An editor’s note now states, 'We concluded that the characterization was not supported to the standard required and should not have been used. We apologize for this.' The retraction marks a rare correction in high-profile media coverage of New College, which faced backlash after DeSantis appointed six conservative trustees in 2023. The new board dissolved diversity programs, phased out gender studies, and installed Corcoran, a former Florida House Speaker and Education Commissioner, as president. Protests and faculty departures followed, fueling the documentary’s narrative. The Guardian’s admission underscores journalistic standards amid polarized debates over Florida’s education policies. The correction follows intense scrutiny of media portrayals in the state’s broader culture wars, where unverified claims have drawn legal and ethical concerns.