JeffcoWest and JeffcoNow connects and empowers local audiences, contributors and businesses with the goal of helping people everywhere live safer, more vibrant, more truly-connected lives. We provide communities access to accurate information so they can make important decisions about their lives. Our Contributors are a big part of our effort to inform and inspire communities by providing them credible and trustworthy information about the world around them.
Because we place a premium on quality, JeffcoWest requests each of its Contributors that are distributed widely on the platform to comply with Editorial Standards and Guidelines in order to ensure the safety of our community. Our Contributors have a variety of backgrounds, expertise, and viewpoints, but we hold all to the Editorial Standards and Guidelines outlined below to be broadcast widely on the platform.
We have three levels of Contributors who are distributed widely on JeffcoWest:
• Journalists
• Subject Matter Specialists
• Community Voices
Our Contributor Editorial Standards & Guidelines apply to all Contributors on JeffcoWest that submit original content. Failure to comply with these guidelines can lead to disciplinary action such as restricting distribution . Contributor’s content may be removed if they do not comply with JeffcoWest’s Editorial Standards & Guidelines.
Accuracy & Fact-Checking
The United America takes the accuracy of content on its platform very seriously. The United America prohibits the publication of rumor, hearsay or unvetted information. Attempts to deliberately mislead or introduce misinformation are grounds for account termination. The introduction of provably false information into stories is also grounds for account termination.
All Contributors are responsible for fact-checking their own stories. Our internal editorial team may remove stories that do not appear to be properly fact-checked, but it is the responsibility of the Contributor to submit verified and accurate information for publication.
We believe it’s important to present all relevant sides of a story. Contributors should not intentionally omit information that helps provide the whole picture or adds vital context to understanding a story. That said, it’s equally important not to draw a false moral equivalency where none exists. Contributors should be motivated to get as close to the truth as they can.
Contributors should only refer to the race, gender, or sexuality of an individual if it is germane to the story.
Specifically for Journalist Contributors and/or those doing reporting in their pieces, a reasonable amount of time must be allowed for comment from organizations, officials and/or individuals mentioned in a story.
Contributors must attribute all facts that reasonably could be challenged (in other words, are not well-understood common knowledge). This includes information received first-hand from police, politicians, officials, victims, or any other entity providing the information. If a Contributor is quoting from a document (such as email or a press release), she should indicate so. Original reporting is preferred, but when citing others’ work, Contributors must attribute to the original source unless that source itself lacks credibility.
When referencing other reporting, it must be hyperlinked and video and tweets should be embedded unless those sources are not credible.
The use of unnamed sources in all storytelling is not allowed only when a source would put themselves in jeopardy by publicly revealing their name. We typically require three unnamed sources to confirm information before a story can be published.
In a non-news context such as advice or relationship columns, Contributors who are recounting experiences of others must never present the experience as their own. Contributors are therefore required to disclose that such an account was told to them by a third party. This disclosure must be made in text at the top of the article just below the headline.
The role of a Journalist Contributor is to remain impartial. Journalist Contributors should seek to avoid bias in their storytelling.
The Impartiality policy does not apply to Contributors who were brought onto the platform specifically to offer their opinions on local happenings, politics, restaurants, etc. But Journalists and Subject Matter Specialists should refrain from political or social commentary unless they have been expressly invited or approved to write commentary. In these cases, Contributors writing political commentary must disclose their political leanings in their The United America profile bio.
Fabrication
Fabrication of information presented as fact is strictly prohibited on JeffcoWest. Falsifying information presented as fact will result in immediate dismissal.
Contributors must accurately quote individuals, sources and/or documents and never take words or actions out of context. Where quotes have been shortened for length, Contributors should indicate that’s the case by using an ellipses.
The use of clickbait by Contributors is prohibited. JeffcoWest defines clickbait as a headline or photo that deliberately teases, misleads or omits key information in order to elicit clicks or where the headline does not accurately represent the article’s content.
We prohibit Contributors from sending stories to sources for approval prior to their publication. In some cases, a source may ask to see a copy of her quotes (fine) or a journalist may want to send an excerpt to a source to ensure accuracy (also fine). However, sources should never get final sign off on a piece before it is published.
To represent yourself or a person as an expert in areas of public health, medicine, academia, mental health, science or other professions, we require proven expertise in the topic area and the appropriate professional licenses where required in order for contributors to offer analysis. We do not permit providing specific medical or legal advice on or through JeffcoWest.
Pieces that express opinion or are satirical in nature must have "Opinion:" or "Satire:" at the beginning of the headline.
Written and/or video posts must be written/produced in legible, intelligible English. Poor grammar and/or syntax is not permitted.
The United America allows for the publication of fiction and/or satire but only when it is properly labeled as such and not presented as fact. These designations must be clearly labeled in the headline by the Contributor.
Information published that contains fiction or satire but is improperly labeled may result in immediate termination from the platform.
Contributors may edit video to improve technical quality for color correction or to add graphics in post production. Editorial manipulation of videos to deliberately mischaracterize an event or subject is strictly prohibited.
Contributors also may not edit video in such a way that content appears out of context and changes the meaning of the material.
JeffcoWest also prohibits the use of video captured surreptitiously with malicious intent or in any manner that violates law. This includes, but is not limited to, filming someone without their permission in an embarrassing or inappropriate environment. Surveillance video or doorbell camera footage does not fall within this category if it films property open or accessible to the public.
Deep fakes are prohibited unless it is the subject of the story itself and clearly labeled as such for the audience.
All editing of photos must be done in service of restoring their accuracy. Cropping and small adjustments to tone and color density are acceptable as long as it doesn’t alter the meaning of the photo. For example, cropping an individual out of a photo to intentionally be misleading is prohibited.
Contributors who airbrush or photoshop images must indicate that in the caption.
In photos or video, Contributors must blur faces of minors unless the child’s photo has been released by law enforcement to assist in investigation of the crime or Contributors obtain the parents’ permission. We also ask Contributors blur faces of alleged victims in certain circumstances such as stories about sexual assault where the accuser wishes to remain anonymous.
Contributors should avoid even the appearance of conflicts of interest to preserve the integrity of their storytelling and the credibility of the platform.
Contributors should avoid reporting on friends or family unless it is essential to the telling of a story. In such cases, these ties must be disclosed at the top of the story.
Contributors should not accept gifts from sources of coverage and if they do must disclose that conflict of interest in accordance with NewsBreak’s promotions policies.
For Contributors who receive goods or services in order to review them, they must disclose that they are the recipient of a free service at the top of the post.
Contributors should refrain from covering subject matter from which they would directly benefit. If unavoidable, the conflict must be cited at the top of the story.
For Contributors covering the stock market, they should be mindful of securities laws. For example, if a Contributor writes about a stock with the intention to inflate the price and sell the stock afterward, it could be considered fraud or insider trading.
The penalties for not complying with these Standards and Guidelines can result in strikes and anything leading up to account suspension or dismissal.
• Whether engaging with contributors, the audience, or members of the JeffcoWest team, we lead from a place of kindness, helpfulness, and good intent with each interaction. Bullying of any kind isn’t allowed.
• We treat the Contributor Network and its entities as professional spaces and expect all actions to align with sensible business conduct. You should have a solid understanding of our policies, including the JeffcoWest Contributor Network Terms of Service, JeffcoWest’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, Contributor Monetization Terms, etc, and abide by these at all times.
• JeffcoWest believes contributors are central to our mission and that we all succeed together. We empower one another as individuals and champion our wins. We are committed to learning, growing, and sharing together with the goal of helping everyone everywhere live safer, more vibrant, more truly connected lives.
All contributors approved for monetization are invited to join a dedicated community space that we host on a platform called Circle. All contributors are expected to uphold our Community Values and Guidelines across all spaces of this forum. If you believe a post/comment is not in compliance, please report it to the The United America Community team by using the “Report comment” option available within a circle.
We regularly host virtual events for our contributors. Each gathering is thoughtfully designed to help contributors learn, grow, and connect, as well as share feedback respectfully with our team. When you RSVP to an event, you are agreeing to abide by the rules and participation guidelines laid out in the event description including confidentiality terms and encouraged topics of conversation (as well as those we wish to avoid).
It is natural for contributor content published on JeffcoWest to receive comments and feedback from our audience. You should lead by example and engage thoughtfully, while also utilizing the resources available to you within your contributor portal to moderate in the manner you see fit.
Whether emailing our support team, participating in user research surveys, or having individual chats with members of the JeffcoWest team, you are expected to engage both professionally and kindly and we will do the same in return. We welcome feedback and criticism with the intent of helping us all improve, but will not tolerate cruel or derogatory language, nor harassment of team members whether on- and/or off-platform. Please be mindful that humans are on the other end of each piece of feedback we receive. Although we don’t always get it right, we operate in good faith and are eager to make improvements for our community.
We ask that all contributors take these guidelines seriously. JeffcoWest commits to upholding them fairly and transparently and will take swift action to remedy behaviors or actions that do not align with what has been set forth. As such, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts or remove content for any reason at any time, including if a contributor’s on- and/or off-platform behavior harms our users, community, employees, or ecosystem. If you attempt to evade suspension or termination by creating new accounts, we will terminate your new accounts.
If you believe a contributor is in violation of these guidelines or have any other concerns, please contact us at info@jeffcowest.com
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