Editorial Standards & Ethics Policy

Dismal Freedom Press holds itself to the standards expected of a professional, independent newsroom. This document describes the principles that guide our reporting, editing, and publication decisions.

Accuracy

We do not publish a claim unless we can verify it. We rely on primary sources: public records, official documents, court filings, data, and on-the-record interviews. When we cannot verify a claim, we say so. When we make a factual error, we correct it promptly and transparently. See our Corrections Policy for details.

Independence

Our editorial decisions are made solely by our newsroom staff. No advertiser, donor, political organization, or government body has any influence over what we cover or how we cover it. We maintain a strict firewall between the business side of our operation and the newsroom.

Conflicts of Interest

Staff and contributors are required to disclose any personal, financial, or professional relationships that could affect — or appear to affect — their reporting. Reporters do not cover stories in which they have a direct personal or financial stake. Contributors who have relevant relationships to a story must disclose them at the time of publication.

Source Verification

We verify the identity of sources before relying on their information. Anonymous sources are used only when the information is material, cannot be obtained on the record, and the source's reason for anonymity is credible. When we use an anonymous source, we tell readers as much as we can about why without compromising the source's safety.

Right of Reply

Before publishing a story that contains significant allegations about a person or institution, we give the subject a reasonable opportunity to respond. We include their response — or their refusal to respond — in the published story.

Opinion vs. Reporting

We clearly label opinion, commentary, and analysis as distinct from news reporting. Opinion pieces represent the views of the author, not the newsroom. News stories reflect what we can verify, not what we think should be true.

Funding Transparency

Dismal Freedom Press is reader-supported. Our revenue comes from subscriptions, reader contributions, and small business advertising. We do not accept money from political campaigns, government agencies, or organizations that lobby government. We publish an annual financial disclosure.

Questions About These Standards

If you have questions about our editorial practices, contact us at newsroom@dismalfreedompress.org.