Editorial Standards & Policies
LevittownNow.com and NewtownPANow.com are committed to creating accurate, fair, complete, and contextual journalism. Our reputation is based on reader and business partner perceptions of our current and past work. The below document is an overview of our policies and standards.
Mission statement
LevittownNow.com & NewtownPANow.com seek to improve our communities by bringing up-to-date, accurate information that is relevant to our readers’ lives and by giving local businesses effective and affordable marketing options.
Journalistic ethics
LevittownNow.com & NewtownPANow.com, as news organizations, believe that the public has a right to know about notable and important matters and issues in the community is paramount. We believe our journalism should inform, enlighten, and also serve as a watchdog on government, individuals, and organizations.
We follow the Society of Professional Journalists four principles:
- Seek Truth and Report It
- Minimize Harm
- Act Independently
- Be Accountable and Transparent
Learn more about the SPJ principles here.
Corrections policy
In short: If we get it wrong, we’ll fix it and provide transparency.
Our goal is to fix an errors in a timely manner while being accurate and balanced. If possible, requests for corrections should be accompanied with supporting documentation or information on how to obtain those records. An online article is not considered inaccurate, or does not contain an error, simply because there have been future developments or new information in a story after publication.
Publication and placement of corrections and clarification notices are dependent upon many factors and are determined on a case-by-case basis.
New details and information on stories could lead to new articles or updates to previous ones. The updates will often feature the time and date of the revision.
We consider our published reporting and media a part of the historical record. While we do receive requests to remove content, it is rare that we unpublish material. There are narrow circumstances in which we will consider removing content and all requests should be made via emailing news@levittownnow.com. Source remorse or embarrassment is not a reason to unpublish.
Fact-checking standards
This news organization is committed to reporting accurately and works to confirm information in articles with multiple sources when possible before publication. We attempt to review documents, records, and media to back up information in articles.
We stand by our reporting as accurate and seek to answer serious inquiries about the information and reporting process.
Unnamed sources policy
While LevittownNow.com and NewtownPANow.com attempt to get all information on the record, that is not always possible, especially in while reporting on certain matters. On-the-record sources provide a level of trust and context for readers and we strive to offer that. There are circumstances when permitting anonymity for sources is necessary to obtain information vital to the public good or where the source might face risk of harm, legal jeopardy, or loss of livelihood for speaking with us or sharing material. Decisions about publishing the names of sources are often made after careful consideration and conversation.
Gifts/Food/Source relationships
In most cases, reporters are permitted to accept food and/or beverage or a gift (coffee mug, T-shirt, etc.) of small value, but they are required to make every effort to pay on their own and must reject large gifts (usually considered anything over $20). If reporters feel their ethics can be swayed by a small item, they are required to make the issue known to management. Reporters are encouraged to have good working relationships with sources on all sides of stories, but they are required to keep them professional. Common practice is reevaluate working relationships with sources to contemplate whether a reporter has become too close with a source. Although this topic, as the New York Times’ ethics guide notes, “defies hard and fast rules, it is essential that we preserve a professional detachment, free of any whiff of bias.”
Aggregation
Our news organization follows three guidelines when it comes to aggregation:
- If solely aggregated, keep it short and provide a brief not replacement.
- Use aggregation to help provide more context and/or detail to original reporting.
- Must credit originating news source and provide link.
Content from third-parties
LevittownNow.com and NewtownPANow.com often share content from third-party reporting outfits. We make all attempts to vet the sources before we begin using their content. Those organizations often have their own editorial standards and policy.
This document was created with an eye toward policies from the New York Times, CTV News, The Washington Post, The Associated Press, NPR, Society of Professional Journalists, and the Trusting News project.
UPDATED: December 2019