NJ21st Journalism and Ethics Policy

NJ21st is an independent civic journalism organization dedicated to transparency, accountability, and public understanding of local and state government in New Jersey. Our work is grounded in public records, verifiable facts, and the belief that informed communities are essential to a healthy democracy.

We follow the core principles of responsible journalism while being transparent about our perspective, methods, and limitations.

Truth, Accuracy, and Verification

NJ21st is committed to factual accuracy and responsible reporting.

We prioritize primary source documents, including public records obtained through OPRA, official meeting materials, budgets, audits, contracts, and firsthand statements.
Claims are verified through documentation whenever possible.
Articles undergo internal review prior to publication, often by more than one contributor.
When facts are disputed or unclear, we state that uncertainty plainly rather than speculate.

Our goal is not speed, but accuracy and clarity.

Independence and Funding

NJ21st maintains editorial independence.

We do not accept funding, sponsorships, or direction from political parties, political committees, government entities, school districts, or businesses we may cover.
Financial support, when accepted, does not influence editorial decisions.
Contributors are not paid based on story outcomes, traffic, or political alignment.

NJ21st content is published under a Creative Commons license where appropriate to promote transparency and public access.

Opinion, Advocacy, and Reporting Distinction

NJ21st publishes both reported journalism and opinion or analysis, and we are explicit about the difference.

News and investigative reporting is based on verifiable facts, documents, and on-the-record statements.
Opinion and commentary reflect interpretation, judgment, or advocacy and are clearly labeled as such.
Readers should never have to guess which type of content they are reading.

Being opinionated does not excuse inaccuracy. Opinion pieces are still held to standards of factual integrity.

Fairness and Right of Response

NJ21st strives for fairness, even when coverage is critical.

We make reasonable efforts to include responses from individuals or entities that are the subject of serious criticism.
When a response is declined, unavailable, or provided after publication, we note that clearly.
Submissions from community members are welcomed but may be edited for clarity, relevance, and factual accuracy.

Fairness does not require false balance. Documented facts are not offset to create artificial neutrality.

Sources and Anonymity

NJ21st prefers on-the-record sources.

Anonymity is granted only under limited circumstances.

The information must clearly serve the public interest.
The source must face a credible risk of retaliation.
The information cannot reasonably be obtained another way.
The source’s credibility must be independently evaluated by NJ21st.

When anonymity is used, we explain to readers why it was necessary and describe the source’s role as specifically as possible without revealing identity.

NJ21st does not pay sources for information.

Conflicts of Interest

Transparency requires disclosure.

Contributors must disclose personal, professional, or financial relationships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing coverage.
When a conflict exists, it is disclosed to readers or the contributor is recused from coverage.
NJ21st does not allow contributors to cover matters where they have a direct financial stake.

Humanity and Minimizing Harm

NJ21st recognizes that journalism affects real people.

We avoid unnecessary harm to private individuals who are not public officials or decision-makers.
We distinguish between public accountability and personal attacks.
Satire and humor, when used, are clearly identifiable and not intended to mislead.

Public officials and public institutions are subject to scrutiny. Private individuals are treated with care.

Corrections, Clarifications, and Accountability

NJ21st takes responsibility for errors.

Factual errors are corrected promptly once verified.
Corrections are clearly noted on the article and are not silently changed.
Significant corrections include an explanation of what was wrong and what was fixed.

Readers are encouraged to contact NJ21st with corrections, documentation, or concerns.

Accountability to the Public

NJ21st exists to serve the public interest.

We welcome scrutiny of our work.
We explain our sourcing and methodology when asked.
We do not retaliate against critics or dissenting voices.

Trust is earned through transparency, consistency, and accountability.