Estancia Times Documentary Policy Document

Editorial & Journalism Standards

Our Commitment

Estancia Times Documentary is committed to responsible, accurate, fair, transparent, and independent journalism and documentary work.

We aim to serve the communities of Estancia and Northern Iloilo by documenting and reporting local news, history, culture, community issues, people, places, events, and everyday life.

Our goal is not simply to publish information, but to create a useful and trustworthy record of the communities we serve.

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1. Accuracy and Fact-Checking

We make reasonable efforts to verify information before publication.

Important facts should be checked against reliable sources, official records, documents, direct interviews, field observations, or other credible evidence.

When information cannot be independently verified, we should make that clear to our readers.

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2. Documentary and On-the-Ground Material

As a documentary-focused publication, some of our posts, photographs, videos, recordings, and other materials are intended to document actual scenes, conditions, events, places, or circumstances observed or recorded at or around the time the material was produced or published.

Such material may be presented to preserve a record of what was happening at a particular time and place.

The publication date or recording date should be considered when interpreting documentary material. A photograph or video may accurately show what was observed at the time of recording without necessarily representing the situation at a later date.

Where appropriate, we will provide the date, location, context, and source of documentary material so that readers can better understand what it represents.

Documentary photographs and videos should not be deliberately altered or presented in a way that creates a misleading impression of the original scene.

When material is archival, illustrative, reconstructed, staged, or otherwise different from ordinary documentary recording, this should be clearly identified when necessary.

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3. Sources

We identify our sources whenever possible.

Our sources may include:

- Government records and official statements

- Public documents and data

- Interviews with relevant individuals

- Academic and historical sources

- Other reputable media organizations

- Direct observations and field reporting

- Photographs, videos, recordings, and archival materials

- Other credible documentary and research materials

When appropriate, we provide links or references so readers can examine the original information themselves.

When information from another media organization contributes substantially to a story, that organization should be properly credited.

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4. Fairness and Right of Reply

When a story involves allegations, disputes, criticism, or claims concerning a person or organization, we make reasonable efforts to give the relevant parties an opportunity to respond.

A person's response should be presented fairly and in proper context.

We aim to avoid presenting an allegation as an established fact when it has not been independently established.

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5. News, Analysis, Documentary, and Opinion

We distinguish factual reporting from analysis, commentary, and opinion.

Readers should be able to understand whether a published piece is:

- News reporting

- Documentary or historical material

- Analysis or an explainer

- Opinion or commentary

- Interview or personal account

- Archival or documentary material

Different forms of publication may have different purposes, but they should not intentionally mislead readers about what type of material they are viewing.

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6. Corrections and Updates

If we publish a significant factual error, we will correct it as soon as reasonably possible.

Corrections should be clearly identified rather than silently changing important information.

When a developing story changes, we may update the article and indicate the date and, when appropriate, the time of the update.

Older documentary material may remain available as part of the historical record even when circumstances have subsequently changed.

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7. Anonymous Sources

Anonymous sources should be used only when there is a legitimate reason to protect the person's identity.

When anonymity is necessary, we will provide as much information as reasonably possible about the source's relevance without revealing their identity.

Anonymous information should be treated carefully and, where possible, corroborated through additional evidence.

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8. Conflicts of Interest

We aim to avoid situations where personal, financial, political, organizational, or other interests could compromise our reporting.

When a relevant conflict exists, we will disclose it to readers when appropriate.

Editorial decisions should be based on journalistic relevance, evidence, and public interest rather than personal or financial interests.

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9. Privacy and Respect

We respect people's privacy and dignity.

We avoid publishing unnecessary personal information, particularly when it does not contribute meaningfully to public understanding of a story.

Special care should be taken when reporting on children, victims, vulnerable individuals, and sensitive situations.

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10. Photographs, Videos, and Digital Material

We aim to accurately represent photographs, videos, recordings, and other visual material.

Documentary material should retain the context in which it was recorded.

Material should not be manipulated in a way that creates a false or substantially misleading impression of an event or scene.

When photographs or videos are archival, illustrative, reconstructed, staged, or otherwise different from ordinary documentary recording, this should be made clear when necessary.

Captions and descriptions should accurately identify what is known about the material.

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11. Artificial Intelligence

AI tools may be used for limited supporting tasks, but journalists remain responsible for the accuracy and integrity of published material.

AI-generated information must not be treated as automatically true.

Important facts, names, quotations, dates, statistics, and other claims should be independently verified before publication.

AI-generated images, audio, video, or other material should not be presented as authentic documentary evidence of a real event.

Where significant AI-generated or AI-assisted material could affect a reader's understanding of a story, its use should be disclosed when appropriate.

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12. Use of Other Media Sources

When information from another news organization contributes substantially to a story, we identify and credit that organization.

We do not present another organization's reporting as our own.

Whenever possible, we seek the original source or primary document rather than relying solely on another publication's summary.

Other media reports may be used for comparison, verification, context, or further investigation, but they should not automatically be treated as proof of a claim.

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13. Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions should be based on journalistic relevance, evidence, and public interest.

Editorial decisions should not be controlled by advertisers, sponsors, donors, political groups, businesses, organizations, or individuals providing financial or other support.

Advertising, sponsorship, or promotional material should be distinguishable from independent editorial content.

Financial or personal relationships that could reasonably affect a story should be disclosed when appropriate.

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14. Funding and Financial Independence

Estancia Times Documentary may be supported through advertising, voluntary donations, sponsorships, grants, partnerships, and other lawful sources of financial support that help sustain its operations, reporting, documentary work, equipment, and digital platforms.

Financial support should not determine or control the editorial content, reporting decisions, documentary work, or journalistic position of Estancia Times Documentary.

Advertisers, donors, sponsors, partners, and other supporters do not receive editorial control in exchange for financial support.

Paid, sponsored, or promotional material should be clearly identified when appropriate so that readers can distinguish it from independent editorial content.

Estancia Times Documentary aims to maintain its editorial independence, transparency, and integrity regardless of its source of financial support.

All financial arrangements should comply with applicable laws and regulations and should not be used to compromise the publication's independence or credibility.

Where appropriate, Estancia Times Documentary may disclose significant financial relationships or sources of support to promote transparency and public trust.

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15. Reader Corrections and Feedback

Readers who believe an article contains a significant factual error may contact the editorial team.

Credible correction requests should be reviewed fairly and in good faith.

When a correction is warranted, the publication should correct the information and, when appropriate, explain what was changed.

Readers may also provide additional information, documents, or evidence that may help improve the accuracy of a story.

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16. Editorial Responsibility

Those responsible for researching, writing, filming, editing, publishing, and managing Estancia Times Documentary share responsibility for maintaining these standards.

Major or sensitive stories should, whenever reasonably possible, receive additional editorial review before publication.

The size of a publication does not remove the responsibility to strive for accuracy, fairness, transparency, and accountability.

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Our Standard

Our goal is not simply to publish quickly.

Our goal is to document and present information that is accurate, properly sourced, fair, transparent, and faithful to the time and circumstances in which it was documented.

As a local news and documentary publication, Estancia Times Documentary aims to preserve a meaningful record of the people, places, events, conditions, history, culture, and everyday life of Estancia and Northern Iloilo.

We recognize that journalism and documentary work are continually changing with technology, society, and the ways people access information. These standards may therefore be reviewed and updated as appropriate.

Estancia Times Documentary

Local News • History • Culture • Documentary