NJ21st Editorial Policy

In practice since 2021, updated 05/07/2025

Mission and Editorial Independence

NJ21st is a nonprofit civic journalism initiative dedicated to increasing transparency, accountability, and public engagement across New Jersey’s 21st Legislative District. Our reporting focuses on public funding, education, local governance, and civic rights.

We are fiercely independent. We do not accept advertising from political organizations or government agencies, and we are not beholden to elected officials, special interests, or party machinery. Editorial decisions are made without influence from donors, sponsors, or board members.

Fact-Based Reporting

All NJ21st reporting is built on verifiable facts and primary-source documents. Whether an article contains investigative research, budget analysis, or community commentary, our team uses a rigorous editorial process that includes:

• Document review (e.g., budgets, public records, transcripts)

• Interviews and/or source confirmations

• Public meeting observations or video footage

• Data verification against public databases

We strive for clarity, transparency, and fairness in all published work. If an error is discovered, we issue corrections promptly.

Corrections Policy

Factual corrections are added at the top or bottom of the article, with a clear explanation of the correction and the date it was made. We encourage readers to flag potential inaccuracies by emailing [email protected].

Editorial vs. Opinion

Most NJ21st pieces blend reporting and commentary — what we refer to as news-magazine style journalism. While grounded in fact, our editorial voice may be clear and unapologetic, especially on matters where transparency or ethics are at stake.

When an article includes substantial opinion or argument, it is labeled accordingly. Opinion pieces and editorials (Community Voices) are clearly labeled and reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of NJ21st as an organization.

Community Voices

The “Community Voices” section provides a platform for local residents and stakeholders to contribute perspectives on school, municipal, and state issues. These submissions are reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and relevance, but they are given more flexibility than NJ21st staff-written pieces.

Anonymous Contributions Policy

We allow anonymous publication only under specific, verified conditions:

Who May Contribute Anonymously

• Employees of local public entities (non-administrators) who face credible career risk by speaking publicly.

• Volunteers affiliated with nonprofit organizations who could face removal or retaliation for expressing dissenting views.

We do not permit anonymous contributions from elected officials, political candidates, or administrative leadership.

Verification Standards

Before publishing, we:

• Confirm the contributor’s identity (full name, location, and role).

• Conduct face-to-face or live identity verification when feasible.

• Independently verify any factual claims.

• Evaluate the necessity and justification for anonymity based on the contributor’s role, risk of retaliation, and the public interest in the information provided.

• Maintain internal documentation to ensure accountability.

Reader Disclosure

Anonymous articles include the following statement or something proximate:

“This article was written by a verified contributor whose identity is known to NJ21st. They have requested anonymity due to potential personal or professional repercussions due to the content submitted and its relationship to their employment or role. NJ21st has confirmed the author’s identity, role, and connection to the information presented.”

If the contributor is affiliated with a nonprofit, the name of the organization will be disclosed.

Public Engagement

We invite civil responses from anyone named in an article or affected by our coverage. Responses are published prominently and without delay. We also welcome tips, commentary, and documents from the public to help strengthen our civic mission.

Use of AI Tools

All content is originally written and all Data is initially vetted by real people, AI is a tool we use to hold ourselves accountable.We occasionally use AI tools to refine or verify editorial content, but all articles are written, reviewed, and fact-checked by our human team. AI is never used to generate full stories or replace original reporting.

Examples of how we use AI include:

• Using Grammarly for grammar and clarity checks (some AI functionality is built into the tool)

• Using ChatGPT to:

  • Verify consistency in datasets

  • Confirm the appropriateness of formulas used in analysis

  • Provide perspective on fairness or tone in article drafts

All content is originally written and all data is vetted by real people. We use AI as a tool to strengthen our editorial process — not to replace it. It’s one more way we hold ourselves accountable to the standards our readers deserve