Privacy Policy

1. Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide the citizens of North Carolina with accurate, fair, and timely news. We are committed to serving as a local watchdog, promoting civic engagement, and delivering high-quality journalism that reflects the diverse voices of the Tar Heel State.
2. Editorial Standards
Accuracy: We strive for 100% factual accuracy. All information is verified through multiple primary or authoritative sources before publication.
Fairness and Objectivity: We report the news without bias. When covering controversial topics, we make every effort to include multiple perspectives and provide the subjects of criticism a fair opportunity to respond.
Attribution: We do not plagiarize. All information obtained from other news outlets, press releases, or official documents will be clearly cited and linked where possible.
Independence: Our editorial decisions are made independently of our advertisers, donors, or political affiliations. Funding sources do not influence our coverage.
3. Ethics & Integrity
Conflicts of Interest: Our journalists do not accept gifts, favors, or compensation from sources or organizations they cover. Any potential conflict of interest (e.g., a reporter’s family member working for a company in a story) must be disclosed to the editor.
Anonymous Sources: We avoid anonymous sources unless the information is vital, the source is reliable, and they face a credible threat of retaliation. The reason for anonymity will be explained to the reader.
North Carolina Shield Law: In accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8-53.11, we protect the confidentiality of our sources and newsgathering materials to the fullest extent permitted by law.
4. Corrections & Transparency
Corrections Policy: When an error is identified, we will correct it promptly and transparently. A “Correction” or “Clarification” note will be added to the article explaining what was changed and the date of the update.
Opinion vs. News: All opinion pieces, editorials, and sponsored content will be clearly labeled to distinguish them from objective news reporting.
5. User-Generated Content & Comments
Civility: We encourage public discourse but will not tolerate hate speech, harassment, or threats.
Moderation: We reserve the right to remove comments that are libelous, profane, or promotional (spam).
Privacy: Users are encouraged to use their real names. We will not share user data with third parties except as outlined in our Privacy Policy.
6. Image & AI Policy
Visual Integrity: Photographs and videos will not be digitally altered in a way that misleads the viewer. Standard cropping and color balancing are permitted.
AI Usage: Any content or imagery generated by Artificial Intelligence will be clearly labeled. AI is used as a tool for efficiency, but all final copy is reviewed and fact-checked by a human editor.
7. Legal Compliance
Copyright: We respect the intellectual property of others. Use of third-party content (photos, videos, quotes) follows “Fair Use” guidelines or is done with express permission.
Privacy Law: We adhere to North Carolina’s privacy and libel laws, ensuring we do not intrude on private matters without a legitimate public interest.consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.