How We Work
The rules we follow. No exceptions.
Get It Right
We verify before we publish. Multiple sources when possible. Primary documents over secondhand accounts. If we can't confirm it, we say so.
Be Fair
Everyone gets a chance to respond before we publish criticism. We present multiple perspectives. We don't do gotcha journalism.
Stay Independent
No corporate owner. Advertising is labeled and kept separate from news. Our reporters don't take gifts from sources.
Fix Mistakes
We correct errors quickly and clearly. Corrections are noted on the article. We don't quietly edit and pretend nothing happened.
On Accuracy
We use primary sources—official documents, court records, firsthand witnesses—as the foundation of our reporting. When we rely on secondhand accounts, we attribute them clearly.
We distinguish between what we know and what we think. Facts are stated as facts. Analysis is labeled as analysis. Opinion is confined to opinion pieces.
When information cannot be independently verified, we tell readers. We don't present rumors or speculation as established fact.
On Sources
We prefer on-the-record sources. Names attached to claims. When we grant anonymity, it's because the source faces real risk—professional, legal, or personal—and the information matters enough to justify it.
Anonymous sources are approved by editors, not granted casually by reporters. We verify the source's credibility and the information independently when possible.
We protect confidential sources. Period.
On Corrections
We fix errors as soon as we confirm them. The correction appears on the article with a note explaining what changed and when. For significant errors, the correction goes at the top.
Typos and minor grammatical fixes may be corrected without notice. Substantive changes—to facts, quotes, or meaning—always get a correction notice.
Found an error? Email [email protected] with the article URL and details.
On Independence
Jersey Ledger is independently owned. No newspaper chain. No hedge fund. No corporate parent dictating coverage from a tower somewhere.
Advertising is clearly marked and kept separate from editorial.
Our reporters don't accept gifts, meals, or travel from sources or subjects of coverage. Conflicts of interest are disclosed to editors and, when relevant, to readers.
These standards are reviewed annually. Last updated January 2026.