Policies
Editorial Policy
The standards behind what is published here and how different types of content are labelled.
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[SITE NAME] aims to be a trustworthy source of local information for Mercer and Hunterdon Counties. These are the standards that guide what we publish.
Independence
Editorial decisions — what we cover and how — are made independently. Coverage is never sold. Businesses and organizations cannot pay for a Business Spotlight, a story or favorable treatment.
Accuracy
We verify facts before publishing, attribute information to its source, and link to original documents where possible. When we get something wrong, we correct it promptly and transparently under our Corrections Policy.
Labels you will see
Every piece of content carries a label so you always know what you are reading:
- Local News / Feature / Guide — independent editorial content.
- Business Spotlight — an independent editorial feature about a local business. Not paid for.
- Opinion / Blog — personal views and commentary. Not news reporting.
- Community Submission — written by a resident or organization, reviewed and possibly edited by us.
- Press Release — an official statement from the issuing organization, published as provided. Not independent reporting.
- Sponsored / Promoted — paid content or paid placement, always clearly marked.
Conflicts of interest
When the author has a personal or professional connection to a subject, we disclose it in the article. [List any standing affiliations here — e.g. employers, boards, clients.]
Sources
We grant anonymity only when there is a clear public interest and no other way to obtain the information, and we explain why in the story.
Submissions
Community submissions are welcome and are reviewed for accuracy, relevance and fairness. See the Submission Guidelines.
Use of AI tools
[Describe your policy — for example: "We may use software tools to help with transcription or proofreading. Every published article is written, reviewed and fact-checked by a person."]
Contact
Questions about our standards: [CONTACT EMAIL].