Golden West Journalistic Standards & Principles

Updated November 14, 2023.

At Golden West, we are committed to providing our readers with accurate news and information in a timely manner. It is important to us that the information we deliver is dependable and reliable. If any inaccuracies are identified in our stories, they will be promptly corrected, and a note will be appended to the article for transparency. If you come across an error, please reach out to us here

Golden West does not publish articles based on the opinions of our reporters. Any quotes or claims in stories will be attributed to their source.

When quoting statements obtained via email, news release, or other non-live interviews, we will make it clear in the story.

We cite authoritative sources and exercise caution when dealing with sources of unknown reliability. We disclose the names of our sources, and in rare instances, we may use confidential sources only when their safety or employment is at serious risk. We strive to be transparent about our sources, their motivations, and any conditions set for providing information.

Golden West does not compensate sources for information. We do not permit subjects of our reporting to review stories prior to publication. Our reporters do not accept gifts or considerations from the sources we cover.

News releases from businesses, government or government representatives, as well as other individuals and organizations, are treated as original source documents. We do not present the contents of a news release as original journalism.

Golden West will occasionally add updates to a story as new information becomes available.

Golden West rarely removes content from our sites, except in exceptional circumstances. These circumstances may include severe inaccuracies, ethical breaches, significant public safety concerns, or situations where legal obligations require the removal of a story or other content (e.g., to comply with a publication ban).

Sponsored content that appears on Golden West sites is labeled as such.

Golden West is a for-profit news and entertainment organization. Our primary support comes from advertising, with the majority of our advertisers being local businesses in the communities we cover. Advertisers are not involved in the selection of content for our stories.