Ground Truth Editorial Policy
1. Editorial Independence
Ground Truth upholds rigorous editorial independence to ensure our journalism is impartial, transparent, and in service of the public interest.
- Decision-Making: Editorial decisions are made solely by the editorial team, free from influence by donors, sponsors, advertisers, or other external entities.
- Funding Transparency: While currently self-financed, Ground Truth is committed to disclosing all future funding sources and ensuring no financial contributions compromise our objectivity.
- Donor Influence: Contributions from donors or sponsors will not influence content, and donors will not have the right to assign, review, or approve editorial content.
2. Conflict of Interest Policy
Ground Truth is committed to avoiding actual or perceived conflicts of interest in all reporting.
- General Guidelines
- Contributors must avoid personal relationships, political affiliations, or community activities that could compromise the independence or objectivity of their journalism.
- Any potential conflict of interest must be disclosed to editors and, when appropriate, to readers.
- Prohibited Activities
- Engaging in paid lobbying or political advocacy related to environmental issues.
- Receiving gifts, access, or other benefits from sources that could be perceived as influencing coverage.
- Permissible Activities
- Volunteer efforts or unpaid involvement in community or educational initiatives unrelated to the subject of reporting.
- Personal activities outside the scope of journalism that do not conflict with reporting duties.
- Transparency
- Disclosures of potential conflicts will be prominently included in relevant reporting to ensure transparency with readers.
3. Advertising and Sponsored Content Policy
Ground Truth currently does not accept advertising but has established clear policies should the need arise in the future:
- Separation of Functions
- Editorial and advertising operations will remain entirely separate. Editorial staff will not be involved in creating or managing advertising content.
- Advertisers or sponsors will not review or influence editorial content before publication.
- Clear Labeling
- Advertorials and sponsored content will be clearly labeled as advertising, distinct in both design and presentation from editorial work.
- Readers must be able to easily differentiate between sponsored and editorial content.
- Editorial Independence
- Ground Truth will not guarantee coverage to advertisers or sponsors as part of any agreement. Coverage of advertisers or sponsors will meet the same rigorous journalistic standards as all subjects.
- Reader Trust
- Advertiser links or sponsored content will be explicitly identified to maintain transparency and reader trust.
4. Accountability and Transparency
Ground Truth is committed to maintaining accuracy, transparency, and fairness in its reporting.
- Corrections: Errors will be corrected promptly and transparently, with a note clarifying the nature of the mistake.
- Criticism and Responses: Subjects of criticism or accusations will be given a genuine opportunity to respond before publication. If they decline, that will be noted in the reporting.
- Disclosure: Sources of non-original material, such as photographs or video footage, will be clearly credited, and promotional materials will not be used without disclosure.
5. Commitment to Solutions Journalism
Ground Truth specializes in solutions-oriented journalism, adhering to the following principles:
- Response: Focus on how individuals, organizations, or communities are addressing significant social or environmental problems.
- Evidence: Provide data and qualitative insights to evaluate the effectiveness of these responses.
- Insight: Offer lessons learned from the response, why it matters, and how it could inform similar efforts elsewhere.
- Limitations: Place solutions in context by critically examining shortcomings or barriers to success.
6. Ethical Standards
Ground Truth operates under a strict code of ethics to ensure the integrity of its journalism:
- Neutrality and Fairness: All coverage must be balanced, avoiding bias or sensationalism. Balanced reporting will be ensured by consulting diverse sources, using impartial language, and critically evaluating evidence.
- Independence: Contributors will not engage in activities that compromise their ability to report objectively.
- Accountability: Readers are encouraged to hold us accountable to these standards and share concerns by emailing info@groundtruth.app.
- Legal Compliance: Ground Truth adheres to all applicable laws, including defamation laws, intellectual property rights, and data protection regulations.
- Contributor Responsibility: Opinions expressed by contributors and syndicated content are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ground Truth.
7. Policy Updates
Ground Truth is committed to maintaining a dynamic and responsive editorial policy.
- Regular Reviews: This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains aligned with our mission, industry best practices, and evolving legal or ethical standards.
- Transparency in Updates: Updates to this policy will be clearly communicated to our readers. Significant changes will be announced on our website and through other appropriate channels.
- Reader Feedback: Readers are encouraged to share suggestions or concerns regarding this policy by emailing info@groundtruth.app, as part of our commitment to accountability and continuous improvement.