These are the standards our reporters work to. They exist so readers know what to expect from us, and so we can be held to it.
Accuracy
We verify before we publish. Where we rely on a police report, a press release or another outlet, we say so plainly in the story and link to the source. We do not present someone else’s reporting as our own, and we do not assert as fact something an agency has merely claimed.
Attribution and sourcing
Every story names the agency, document or person the information came from. We prefer named sources. Where a source cannot be named without risk to them, we explain to readers why anonymity was granted and what the source was in a position to know. We honor confidentiality once given, absolutely.
Bylines and accountability
Every piece carries the name of the person who reported it. Our contact address is public and monitored.
Independence
Advertisers and sponsors have no say in editorial coverage. Sponsored content is labeled as sponsored, every time, without ambiguity. Reporters do not accept gifts, payment or free services from the people they cover beyond ordinary items of nominal value, and we disclose any relationship a reader might reasonably want to know about.
Fairness
People and organizations criticized in our reporting are given a real opportunity to respond before publication, and their response goes in the story. We do not publish accusations we have not tried to put to the person accused.
Images
We license every photograph we publish and credit the photographer. We do not alter images in ways that change what they show, beyond ordinary adjustments to exposure and color.
Artificial intelligence
We do not publish machine-generated reporting under a human byline. Software may assist with transcription, copy editing and research, but a person reports every story, a person checks the facts, and a person is accountable for what appears.
Corrections
Errors are corrected openly and promptly. See our corrections policy.