Ethics policy
Editorial standards
The rules every Coastal Ledger journalist works to. They are enforced by the editor and reviewed each year by the cooperative's members.
Sourcing and verification
We name our sources wherever it is safe and possible to do so. Anonymity is granted only when the information is of clear public interest, cannot be obtained another way, and the source faces a credible risk of harm — and only with an editor's approval. Factual claims are verified against documents or a second independent source before publication.
Original reporting
Our journalists attend the meetings, read the filings and conduct the interviews themselves. When we build on another outlet's work, we say so in the text and link to it.
Corrections and transparency
We correct errors promptly and visibly. Corrected articles carry a dated correction note at the foot of the story rather than a silent edit.
Conflicts of interest
Staff do not report on organisations in which they, or their immediate family, hold a financial or governing interest. Staff do not accept gifts, free travel or paid speaking fees from the people and bodies they cover, and do not hold office in or donate to local political campaigns.
Advertising and sponsorship
Commercial content is labelled 'Paid' at the top of the item and is never written by newsroom staff. Advertisers receive no advance notice of coverage and have no right of review.
Use of artificial intelligence
We do not publish machine-generated articles. AI tools may assist with transcription, translation drafts and document search; every output is checked by a named journalist, who remains responsible for the published text.
Images and captions
Photographs are not staged, composited or materially altered beyond standard tonal adjustment. Every image carries a caption and a credit. Illustrations and archive images are labelled as such.
Right of reply
Anyone criticised in a story is given a fair and specific opportunity to respond before publication, and their response is carried in the story.
Questions about a specific editorial decision go to the editor at newsroom@coastalledger.org. To request a correction, see our corrections policy.