Ethics Policy
VTScout’s reporting is governed by the standards on our Editorial Standards page and by the specific commitments below. Where this document and the Editorial Standards disagree, this Ethics Policy controls.
Independence from advertisers and sources
We do not accept payment, gifts, travel, or favors from anyone we cover. We do not allow advertisers to review, edit, or influence editorial decisions. Sponsored content, when it appears, is clearly labeled as such on the page and excluded from the news feed.
Conflicts of interest
Reporters and editors disclose financial relationships, political activity, family relationships, and prior employment with any subject of a story before they begin reporting. If a conflict cannot be resolved by reassignment, the story is reassigned. Editors review disclosures on a rolling basis.
Use of unnamed sources
Anonymity is granted only when a source faces a credible professional or physical risk and the information cannot be obtained on the record. Every unnamed source must be approved by a senior editor, and we tell readers as much as we can about why the source is anonymous and what their motivation is. See our sourcing standards for the full process.
Plagiarism and attribution
VTScout does not republish another outlet’s reporting as our own. When we build on another outlet’s work, we credit the original publication by name and link to it. AI tools are used for routine drafting, summarization, and proofreading only — every story is reviewed by a human editor and we are responsible for everything we publish.
Treatment of minors and crime victims
We do not name minors in connection with criminal allegations unless they have been charged as an adult and the information is already public. We do not publish the names of sexual-assault victims without explicit, informed consent. We avoid mugshots and other dehumanizing imagery in routine crime coverage.
Presumption of innocence
Criminal defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. We update stories when charges are dropped, dismissed, or result in acquittal. Readers can request a correction or update on the Corrections page.
Errors and corrections
When we get something wrong, we fix it promptly, label the correction, and timestamp it. See our Corrections policy for the public log and the labeling scheme.
Membership and affiliations
VTScout aims to adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. We will list specific press-association memberships here as they are formalized.
Contact
Concerns about an apparent ethics breach: [email protected]. Use the Corrections form for factual issues.