URBTNews.com Editorial Guidelines (Published)

URBTNews.com Editorial Guidelines (Published). Scope: All content published on URBTNews.com, including articles, opinion pieces, multimedia, and user-generated content.

1. Mission & Editorial Purpose

URBTNews.com delivers high-impact news and analysis focused on urban communities, policy, culture, and equity. Our editorial mission is to inform, empower, and engage readers with accurate, relevant, and responsibly sourced content.

We prioritize:

Accuracy
Fairness
Clarity
Accountability
Respectful Discourse

2. Audience

Our content serves:

Urban residents and stakeholders
Policy professionals and advocates
Academics and students
General readers with interest in urban issues

We publish for clarity over complexity and use language accessible to a broad audience without sacrificing precision.

3. Editorial Independence

URBTNews.com editorial decisions are made independently of:

Advertisers
Sponsors
External funders
Political campaigns or partisan organizations

Editorial judgment is based solely on:

Newsworthiness
Public interest
Ethical standards

Authors must disclose any affiliation that may represent a conflict of interest.

4. Accuracy & Verification

4.1 Source Standards

All facts must be verifiable.
Primary sources are preferred (official documents, direct interviews, public records).
Secondary sources may be used only if primary verification is unavailable; attribution required.

4.2 Fact-Checking

All claims of fact must be verified by at least two independent sources.
Quotations must be accurately transcribed and attributed.
Speculative language (“may”, “could”) must not be presented as fact.

4.3 Corrections

Errors discovered post-publication must be corrected promptly.
A correction note must be appended to the article.
Major errors require editorial review and public notice.

5. Fairness & Impartiality

5.1 Balanced Reporting

Present multiple perspectives for factual reporting.
Avoid favoring one side without evidence or context.
Explicitly label opinion and analysis content.

5.2 Source Attribution

Clearly identify all sources, including anonymous sources, with rationale for anonymity.
Anonymous sourcing must be approved by senior editorial staff.

6. Opinion & Commentary

Opinion pieces must be:

Clearly labeled as Opinion or Analysis
Distinctly separated from factual reporting
Grounded in verifiable information

Conjecture and argument are permitted only in opinion content.

7. Language & Tone

Use clear, precise language.
Avoid jargon; define necessary technical terms.
Non-derogatory, inclusive language required.
Avoid sensationalism in headlines or content.

8. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Editorial content must:

Reflect diverse voices and experiences
Avoid stereotypes or framing that undermines equity
Include context for historically underrepresented groups

9. Attribution & Intellectual Property

Use quotes and media only with permission or valid license.
Provide proper attribution for all third-party content.
Respect copyright and fair use standards.

10. Confidentiality & Anonymity

Anonymous sources are permitted only when:
- Information is of high public value
- Source faces significant risk
- Senior editors approve
Protect source identity; do not disclose names without consent.

11. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, editors, or contributors must disclose:

Personal, financial, or organizational relationships relevant to story content
Political or advocacy affiliations that may bias reporting

Conflicts must be resolved before publication.

12. Sponsored Content & Advertising

Sponsored content must be clearly labeled and separate from editorial content.
Editorial staff must not be influenced by sponsors or advertisers in content decisions.

13. Social Media Use

Staff social media must:

Maintain professional standards consistent with editorial values
Not publish unverified or confidential editorial plans
Correct errors or misstatements promptly

Editorial accounts must not impersonate others or mislead.

14. Multimedia & Data Journalism

Multimedia content (video, audio, graphics) must meet the same editorial standards as written content.
Data reporting must include sources, methodology, and limitations.
Visualizations must be accurately labeled and not misleading.

15. User-Generated Content & Comments

User comments are moderated for:
- Hate speech
- Harassment
- Misinformation
- Violations of terms of use
Legitimate user contributions may be republished with editorial review and proper credit.

16. Editorial Review & Governance

Senior editorial staff oversee compliance with these guidelines.
Regular training for contributors and editors is required.
Periodic review and revision of the editorial guidelines will be conducted.

17. Enforcing Standards

Violations of these guidelines may result in:

Revision or removal of content
Contributor reprimand
Termination of publishing privileges

Acknowledgment

By contributing to URBTNews.com, authors agree to abide by these editorial standards.