Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Policy

Whittier 360 News Network is committed to transparency, fairness, independence, and accountability.

Local journalism often involves covering people, organizations, officials, candidates, agencies, businesses, donors, community groups, and public controversies in a close community where relationships may overlap. Because of that, Whittier 360 believes readers should be given enough information to understand relevant connections when they may affect how a story is viewed.

Purpose of This Policy

The purpose of this policy is to help readers understand when Whittier 360, its founder, board members, contributors, volunteers, donors, sponsors, or close organizational interests may have a connection to a subject being covered.

A conflict of interest does not automatically prevent coverage. However, relevant conflicts or relationships should be disclosed when they may affect reader understanding.

What May Create a Conflict

A conflict of interest may exist when Whittier 360 or someone acting on behalf of Whittier 360 has a direct personal, financial, political, professional, organizational, or public role connected to the subject of a story.

Examples may include:

• a founder, board member, contributor, or volunteer being directly involved in an issue being covered

• a donor, sponsor, advertiser, or funding source being directly involved in a story

• a candidate, official, organization, agency, or business having a close relationship with someone connected to Whittier 360

• Whittier 360 covering a public controversy involving its own organization, founder, board, contributors, or published work

• Whittier 360 covering a ballot measure, initiative, petition, public campaign, or civic effort where someone connected to Whittier 360 has played a direct role

• financial relationships that could reasonably appear to influence coverage

• personal disputes or prior conflicts that may be relevant to reader understanding

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Disclosure Standard

Whittier 360 will make reasonable efforts to disclose relevant conflicts of interest when they are directly connected to the subject of coverage and when disclosure would help readers evaluate the context.

A disclosure may appear in the article, editor’s note, author note, correction, update, or related transparency statement.

The goal is not to list every personal opinion, distant connection, or minor association. The goal is to disclose relationships that are relevant, material, and useful for reader understanding.

Founder, Board, and Contributor Involvement

Whittier 360 News Network was founded by Rebecca Canales and is currently developing its nonprofit governance structure.

If Whittier 360 covers an issue where its founder, a board member, contributor, volunteer, donor, sponsor, or close organizational participant has a direct role, Whittier 360 should disclose that connection when it is relevant.

This may include public comments, petitions, ballot measures, candidate disputes, public agency matters, lawsuits, complaints, advocacy efforts, or other civic issues where the connection could reasonably matter to readers.

Coverage of Whittier 360 Itself

Whittier 360 may report on issues involving its own organization when those issues are newsworthy, affect the public record, or relate to local journalism, civic transparency, public access, election coverage, or community information.

When Whittier 360 covers itself, its founder, its policies, its nonprofit status, its public disputes, or its role in the community, the article should make that relationship clear.

Donors, Sponsors, and Funding Sources

Funding does not control Whittier 360’s journalism.

Donors, sponsors, advertisers, subscribers, grantors, or other supporters do not receive favorable coverage, protection from criticism, or control over editorial decisions because of financial support.

If a significant donor, sponsor, advertiser, grantor, or funding source becomes directly relevant to a story, Whittier 360 will make reasonable efforts to disclose that relationship when needed for reader understanding.

Political Activity and Election Coverage

Whittier 360 News Network does not endorse candidates.

Election coverage should be based on records, candidate statements, campaign materials, voter information, public comments, official data, and verifiable information.

If someone connected to Whittier 360 has a direct role in a campaign, candidate dispute, ballot measure, political committee, initiative, or election-related controversy, Whittier 360 should disclose the connection when covering that matter.

Personal Views and Public Commentary

Journalists, founders, contributors, and community members may have personal views. The existence of personal views does not automatically create a conflict requiring disclosure in every article.

However, when a personal role, public statement, advocacy position, prior dispute, or direct involvement is closely connected to the subject of coverage, Whittier 360 should consider whether disclosure is needed.

Right to Respond

When Whittier 360 publishes serious criticism, disputed claims, or allegations involving a person, candidate, agency, organization, business, or public official, Whittier 360 will make reasonable efforts to provide an opportunity to respond when practical.

This is especially important when a story involves a conflict of interest, personal dispute, public controversy, or criticism of a person or organization.

Readers are best served when they can see the claim, the evidence, the context, and the response.

Corrections and Clarifications

If Whittier 360 fails to disclose a relevant conflict of interest, or if a reader believes a disclosure was incomplete or unclear, Whittier 360 will review credible requests for correction or clarification.

When appropriate, Whittier 360 may update the article, add an editor’s note, publish a clarification, or provide additional context.

Our Standard

Whittier 360 News Network believes transparency strengthens trust.

A conflict of interest does not always prevent coverage.

But when a relationship matters, readers should know about it.