About Us/Ethics Policy

Ethics and Corrections Policy

Our Commitment to Readers

Elsinore 24/7 is committed to delivering journalism that is accurate, fair, independent, and accountable. Our goal is to serve the public with trustworthy information while maintaining the highest ethical standards.

This policy explains how we gather news, how we avoid conflicts of interest, how we handle sensitive information, and how we correct mistakes.

Accuracy & Verification

We strive for accuracy in every story we publish. Our newsroom follows these standards:

• Verify information with multiple sources whenever possible.
• Prioritize primary documents such as public records, official statements, and data.
• Clearly label Opinion, Analysis, Sponsored Content, and Breaking News.
• Use anonymous sources only when:
  • The information is essential,
  • The source faces risk,
  • The newsroom knows the source’s identity, and
  • An editor approves the use.
• Confirm spellings, titles, and factual details before publication.

If new information emerges that changes the understanding of a story, we update the article accordingly.

Independence & Conflicts of Interest

Our reporting is independent from outside influence. To protect that independence:

• Staff may not cover organizations, businesses, or individuals where they have personal, financial, or family ties.
• Any potential conflict must be disclosed to editors immediately.
• Gifts, favors, or special access from sources are not permitted.
• Sponsored content must be clearly labeled and never influence editorial decisions.

Fairness & Representation

We aim to represent all sides of an issue fairly and without distortion.

• We seek diverse voices, especially in stories affecting underrepresented groups.
• Individuals are given reasonable time to respond to allegations or criticism.
• Headlines must accurately reflect the story.
• Quotes must be presented in proper context and not altered to change meaning.
• Sensationalism and loaded language are avoided.

Photo, Video & AI Standards

Visual content must reflect reality.

• Images may be cropped or adjusted for clarity but not altered in ways that mislead.
• AI‑generated images or graphics must be clearly labeled.
• Staged photos must be disclosed.
• Crime coverage must avoid reinforcing bias through selective or unfair imagery.

Privacy & Sensitive Coverage

We take extra care when reporting on:

• Minors
• Crime victims
• Suicide or self‑harm
• Medical or personal information
• Private individuals thrust into public events

We balance the public’s right to know with the individual’s right to privacy.

Corrections & Clarifications

We correct errors promptly, transparently, and prominently.

Corrections

If a factual error is confirmed, we update the story and add a correction note at the bottom:

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated ______. It has been updated to reflect the accurate information.

Clarifications

If context was missing or wording was unclear, we add a clarification note:

Clarification: Additional context has been added to better explain ______.

Major Errors

If an error significantly affects public understanding — such as election results, crime accusations, or public safety information — we may publish a standalone correction article.

Social Media

Incorrect social posts will be corrected, updated, or removed.

How to Request a Correction

Readers may request corrections by emailing:

doug.spoon@elsinore247.com

Please include:

• The article title
• The specific error
• Supporting documentation, if available

Editors review all requests and respond within 48 hours.

Accountability & Internal Review

To maintain high standards:

• Editors conduct periodic audits of published stories.
• Serious or repeated ethical violations may result in retraining or reassignment.
• We publish an annual Ethics & Accuracy Report summarizing corrections and improvements.

Policy Updates

This policy may be updated as journalism standards evolve. All changes will be posted with a timestamp.