Accuracy: We do our best to ensure that all of the information we print is factually accurate, and to address concerns about potential inaccuracies quickly and thoroughly.
If a member of the public contacts us about a mistake in an article, we do our best to thoroughly review the information in question.
If we find that we made an error of fact, we will run a correction in print and online at the next opportunity, and will do our best to ensure the correct information reaches all the people the error did.
We may also find that the initial article had its facts right, but failed to consider an important fact or perspective. In that case, we will publish the new information as that will best inform the public, whether through a clarification or as part of continuing reporting.
Transparency: We believe readers' trust in the work we do benefits from their understanding of how we do it.
We make it clear in our writing where we're getting our information. We do this through methods such as providing links to the documents we use, distinguishing between information gathered in a public forum and information told directly to the River Reporter, and the like.
We attribute all the information we publish in our news writing to the source of that information unless it's a common knowledge piece of information or something stated by multiple sources. If we're reporting on an issue where the facts are in dispute, we do our best to determine the truth of the matter while talking with and publishing the perspectives of all parties involved in the process of our reporting.
While we may occasionally use anonymous sources, we will only do so if there is a story of crucial public significance that we cannot get through any other means.
Objectivity: We believe our news reporting should be objective, meaning, 'factually accurate and free of bias.' We recognize that writers are people with their own opinions and beliefs, but we believe that a newspaper can best serve its community when the articles writers create are based on the facts and not on the writers' beliefs.
The process of gathering, writing, editing and publishing news at the River Reporter is designed to result in unbiased, factually accurate and objective reporting. If anyone has questions about that process, or concerns that our reporting has fallen below this standard, we encourage them to get in touch and to start a conversation; we can always do better.
We require news staff to refrain from public statements, including on social media, that would lead to the appearance of bias in their work. While news staff may express their support or disdain for non-partisan causes such as environmental conservation or human rights, they may not express support or disdain for specific organizations within their coverage area, or for specific political parties or candidates.
While non-news staff and freelancers are not bound by this restriction, we encourage them to make it clear when they are speaking on their own behalf and when they are speaking on behalf of the paper. When contributors to the paper write letters to the editor in their capacity as private citizens, we publish a disclaimer with their letter stating that they write for the paper in other capacities and that they are expressing their personal opinions in the letter, not the opinions of the River Reporter.
Conflicts of Interest: Writers with the River Reporter are allowed and encouraged to develop connections with the communities they cover; such is the nature of community news. However, their personal or financial connections must not result in biased reporting or the appearance of such. We generally prohibit news writers from reporting on a business in which they or an immediate family member has a financial stake, or organizations of which they or an immediate family member are members.
If the connection between a reporter and a source or a story could impact the reporting, we will add a disclaimer to the article clearly stating the connection and any measures taken by the editorial team to ensure that their reporting remained unbiased.
By nature as a community newspaper, we cover individuals and organizations that financially support the River Reporter through advertising, donations or other means. While the editorial and advertising arms of the paper do collaborate to ensure the broad strokes of the paper's coverage meets both needs, we keep sufficient distance between the work of the news staff and that of the advertising staff to ensure that the news staff can cover our advertisers without bias.
If we believe the financial connection between the paper and the subject of an article could create the appearance of bias, we may put a disclaimer on the article, disclosing that the subject of the article supports the paper financially and explaining the steps we took to ensure the article remained free of bias. All ads that could be misconstrued as news coverage will be clearly marked as “Paid Advertisement.”
Advertising policies: The River Reporter generally accepts advertisements regardless of their content, with exceptions being made for ads that are fraudulent, illegal, or libelous in their claims and language. Advertising is accepted to cover the costs of publishing the River Reporter, not to further the paper's editorial aims, and accepting a wide swathe of advertising sustains the paper's existence while furthering our editorial commitment to freedom of speech. For more on the River Reporter's advertising policy, see below.
Ethical Journalism: We are aware of the power of journalism to do incredible good in the world, as well as to cause real harm. We encourage reporters to be aware of the power dynamics between themselves and the members of the community they work with.
When interviewing someone with less experience in working with the media, particularly members of historically marginalized populations, we encourage reporters to ensure their source knows the potential consequences of talking to the press and to extend grace if a source wants to, for example, withdraw or review information they've provided. Conversely, we encourage reporters to afford little leniency to politicians, business executives or other figures in positions of power, ensuring that they are rigorously questioned.
We encourage reporters to consider the possibility for harm that may come from their work, and to recognize that just because the public would be interested in a story does not always mean they have the right to know it.
We encourage reporters to avoid undue obtrusiveness in their reporting, balancing the public's right to know against people's right to privacy. Public figures, such as elected officials and business executives, have less of an expectation to privacy than private citizens, and we encourage reporters to respect that distinction.
Information Sharing: From time to time, members of the public may ask for access to information compiled in the course of our newsgathering work.
Members of the public may freely access our published archives, and River Reporter staffers may assist them in searching those archives. Requests for unpublished information such as meeting recordings, phone numbers, and photographs, or requests for us to provide information for private use, are handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the news team.
We will not provide any information that reveals the identity of a confidential source or that exposes information provided in confidence. We will not provide information to be used in legal proceedings unless that information is requested through official legal channels.
The River Reporter generally accepts advertisements regardless of their content, with exceptions being made for ads that are fraudulent, illegal, or libelous in their claims and language.
Advertising is accepted to cover the costs of publishing the River Reporter, not to further the paper's editorial aims, and accepting a wide swathe of advertising sustains the paper's existence while furthering our editorial commitment to freedom of speech.
We do not agree with the views in every ad published nor do we expect our readers to agree with each and every ad either. Instead, we hope that advertisements offer readers a chance to see that there are sometimes opposing views. All political ads require a line indicating who is paying for the ad, and when not obvious, ads are tagged as “Paid Advertising.”
There are advertising types we will reject. Examples include ones whose typography and layout mimic the paper itself and could possibly deceive readers; lurid, fraudulent, or illegal content; and ones that do not have the proper disclaimers they need to be considered legal.
Many ads fall into a grey area. They may be considered misleading or harmful by some and not by others. We assume that with those grey-area types of advertisements, our readers will be able to judge for themselves the merits of these things (like for marijuana dispensaries or adult-themed events).
RiverReporter.com contains display advertisements as well. The majority of these ads are sold directly by our staff and follow the same guidelines as written above. In gray areas, as with our print policy, we err on the side of inclusion.
A few remnant spaces on the digital version are used for Google AdSense. These ad spaces are purchased through third-party agents and are not ads that River Reporter staff have any knowledge of directly. These ads are cleared by Google and its partners to meet basic guidelines.
Visitors to the site should be aware that these ads are sometimes based on browsing history and demographics and that the River Reporter is not the one who thinks you should buy those shoes you were looking at three days ago.
