Image Sourcing Policy

Last updated: May 26, 2026

This page explains where the images on VTScout come from and how we decide whether to publish a particular photograph or illustration. It exists because image choice in news carries real consequences for the people depicted, and we believe our practices should be visible to readers.

Sources we use

Federal public-domain works. Images released by federal agencies (National Weather Service, USGS, FEMA, CPSC, NHTSA, federal courts) are in the public domain and used freely.
State and municipal press releases. Photos distributed by Vermont State Police, county sheriffs, municipal police, the Vermont judiciary, and town offices are used in accordance with each agency’s licensing terms.
Original photography. Photos taken by VTScout reporters and freelancers are credited by name and licensed to VTScout.
Licensed stock photography. Where a stock photo is appropriate (generic illustration of a topic) we use sources with clear license terms.
Submitted photos. Photos submitted by readers via the tip form or directly are used only with explicit permission, credited where requested, and removed on request.
AI-generated illustrations. See the AI section below.

Sources we do not use

Social-media photos of private individuals in crime contexts. We do not scrape Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, or other personal profiles for images of named individuals connected to criminal allegations.
Mugshots in routine cases. We do not publish booking photos in routine crime coverage. Exceptions are rare and require senior editorial approval (typically only in active manhunt scenarios where the agency has specifically released the photo for public safety).
Images of minors in connection with criminal allegations, except where the minor has been charged as an adult and the photo is already public.
Sexual-assault victims. We do not publish photos of sexual-assault victims, including images that could allow them to be identified through context.

AI-generated images

When no appropriate documentary photo is available — for example, a single-vehicle crash where releasing a scene photo would identify the people involved — we sometimes use AI-generated illustrations. These are always:

Visibly labeled with “AI-generated illustration — not a documentary photograph” on the page.
Accessible to screen readers via role=note markup.
Tagged in our system with metadata (_vts_ai_generated=1) so the disclosure can be enforced consistently.
Generic — they do not depict real, identifiable individuals. We never generate a synthetic image of a named person.

Credits and corrections

Every photo carries a credit line. If you believe a photo on VTScout is unattributed, miscredited, or used without permission, email [email protected] with the article URL. We fix credit errors quickly. For copyright concerns specifically, see our DMCA page.

Right of publicity

We are mindful of right-of-publicity considerations, particularly for non-public figures. We do not use a person’s image for commercial purposes (advertising, sponsorship promotion) without permission. Editorial use of newsworthy images is consistent with Vermont law and First Amendment protections.