Whittier 360 Editorial Standards for Independent Local News
- Whittier 360 News Network
- Jun 14
- 4 min read
These Whittier 360 Editorial Standards explain how Whittier 360 News Network approaches accuracy, fairness, sourcing, corrections, right to respond, election coverage, AI use, and independent local reporting.
Whittier 360 News Network is committed to factual, fair, independent, and accountable local reporting.
Whittier 360 currently operates as a developing local news organization led by founder Rebecca Canales. As the organization grows and additional board members, contributors, volunteers, editors, or reporters become involved, these standards will guide the work of everyone acting on behalf of Whittier 360 News Network.
Our goal is not to tell readers what to think. Our goal is to provide records, statements, timelines, context, competing claims, and relevant information so readers can reach their own conclusions.
Core Principles
Whittier 360 News Network is guided by the following principles:
accuracy
fairness
transparency
independence
accountability
clear sourcing
correction of errors
separation of fact, analysis, and opinion
respect for readers’ ability to think for themselves
Local news should help the public understand what happened, what was said, what records show, what remains disputed, and why an issue matters.
Sources and Verification
Whittier 360 reporting is based on verifiable information whenever possible, including:
public records
official documents
public meeting agendas
staff reports
government notices
candidate statements
campaign materials
public comments
direct observation
interviews
photographs, video, and audio
credible firsthand information
follow-up questions to relevant parties
Whittier 360 does not treat rumors, anonymous claims, social media posts, or artificial intelligence output as established fact without review and context.
When information cannot be fully verified, Whittier 360 should make that uncertainty clear.
Fairness and Right to Respond
Whittier 360 seeks to treat people, candidates, public officials, agencies, organizations, businesses, and community members fairly.
When an article includes serious criticism, disputed claims, allegations, or information that could significantly affect a person’s or organization’s reputation, Whittier 360 will make reasonable efforts to seek comment or provide an opportunity to respond before publication when practical.
If a response is not received before publication, the article may note that an opportunity to respond was provided. If a meaningful response is received after publication, Whittier 360 may update the article, add a clarification, or publish a follow-up when appropriate.
Whittier 360 believes readers are best served when they can see the claim, the evidence, and the response from the person or organization being discussed.
News, Analysis, and Opinion
Whittier 360 may publish factual reporting, analysis, commentary, editorials, and explanatory material. These should be clearly distinguishable.
Factual reporting should focus on what happened, what records show, what officials or candidates said, and what can be verified.
Analysis may explain patterns, timelines, legal or political context, and possible implications, but should make clear when a conclusion is based on interpretation rather than established fact.
Opinion or commentary should be labeled or framed so readers understand that it reflects a viewpoint.
Neutral Language
Whittier 360 seeks to avoid unnecessarily loaded, inflammatory, or slanted language in factual reporting.
Strong language may be appropriate when accurately describing documented events, direct quotes, official findings, public statements, or serious misconduct. However, wording should not be used merely to push readers toward a preferred conclusion.
Whittier 360 may review drafts for tone, clarity, bias, and fairness before publication
.
Election Coverage
Whittier 360 News Network is committed to unbiased election coverage.
Election reporting should be based on public records, candidate statements, campaign materials, voter information, public forums, official election data, and direct responses from candidates when available.
Whittier 360 does not use election coverage to secretly promote or attack candidates. As Whittier 360 develops its nonprofit public benefit structure, the organization does not endorse candidates.
Election coverage should give candidates a fair opportunity to respond, clearly attribute claims, separate news from analysis or opinion, and correct errors when credible information shows correction is needed.
Public Records and Civic Accountability
Whittier 360 believes public records, public meetings, public spending, public agencies, and public officials should be understandable to residents.
When covering government decisions, Whittier 360 may examine agendas, staff reports, contracts, budgets, campaign filings, voting records, public comments, and official statements.
The purpose is civic accountability, not personal attack.
Conflicts of Interest
Whittier 360 will make reasonable efforts to disclose relevant conflicts of interest when they may affect reader understanding.
This includes situations where Whittier 360’s founder, board members, contributors, donors, volunteers, or close organizational interests are directly involved in the subject being covered.
A conflict does not automatically prevent coverage, but readers should be given enough information to evaluate the context.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
Whittier 360 may use artificial intelligence as a communications, research-assistance, and production tool.
AI may assist with organizing information, reviewing large amounts of public material, collating notes, drafting outlines, improving readability, neutralizing language, creating summaries, and producing decorative or illustrative media.
AI is not treated as a source, reporter, witness, editor, or decision-maker. Human editorial responsibility remains with Whittier 360 News Network.
For more details, see Whittier 360’s Artificial Intelligence Policy.
Corrections and Updates
Whittier 360 is committed to correcting significant errors.
If information is shown to be incorrect, incomplete, unclear, or missing important context, Whittier 360 will review credible correction requests and update the record when appropriate.
Corrections may be made within an article, added as an editor’s note, clarified in a follow-up, or addressed in a separate correction depending on the nature of the issue.
Attribution and Bylines
Articles should identify who is responsible for the work whenever practical.
As Whittier 360 grows, articles may be published under individual bylines, organizational bylines, contributor labels, or clearly identified community-submission labels.
Readers should be able to understand whether an article was written by Whittier 360 staff, the founder, a contributor, a community submitter, or another identifiable source
.
Community Submissions and Tips
Whittier 360 may receive tips, documents, photographs, videos, event notices, public comments, or submitted materials from community members.
Submission of information does not guarantee publication. Whittier 360 may review, verify, edit, decline, or request additional context before using submitted material.
Community-submitted material should not be presented as verified reporting unless it has been reviewed and confirmed to the extent practical.
Independence
Whittier 360 News Network is independent of government agencies, political campaigns, candidates, and parties.
Funding, donations, subscriptions, sponsorships, grants, advertising, or outside relationships should not control editorial judgment.
Whittier 360’s responsibility is to readers and the public record.
Our Standard
Whittier 360 News Network explains the records, the claims, the timeline, and the context.
Readers decide what to think.
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