Code of Ethics

My Local Press is committed to the future of serious, quality journalism. We believe local news is essential to democracy and community life. As journalism evolves to meet the needs of local communities, we hold ourselves and the journalists on our platform to the highest ethical standards.

These principles guide our work and set the bar for responsible journalism on My Local Press.

1. Truth and Accuracy

• Verify — Confirm information before publishing
• Context — Help readers understand the full picture
• Accuracy — Avoid distortion, sensationalism, and misleading headlines
• Corrections — Acknowledge and correct errors promptly and transparently

2. Independence

• Community First — Serve the community, not special interests
• Editorial Freedom — Maintain independence from advertisers and sponsors
• Transparency — Disclose conflicts of interest that may affect coverage
• Integrity — Resist pressure from those who would influence reporting

3. Fairness and Respect

• Diverse Voices — Seek diverse perspectives and give voice to all sides
• Right to Respond — Give subjects of coverage the opportunity to respond
• Dignity — Treat sources and subjects with dignity and compassion
• Protection — Protect vulnerable individuals, especially children and victims

4. Accountability

• Responsibility — Take responsibility for our work and its impact
• Openness — Be transparent about our methods and decision-making
• Feedback — Welcome feedback from the communities we serve
• Standards — Hold ourselves to the same standards we expect of others

5. Community Service

• Local Stories — Amplify local voices and stories that matter to neighborhoods
• Relevance — Cover issues that affect daily life in communities we serve
• Sustainability — Support the future of local journalism and those who practice it
• Engagement — Foster informed civic engagement and community connection