📝 Editorial Policy

Authored by Dr. Kerry B. Lewis Effective Date: November 11, 2025

Purpose

This Editorial Policy establishes the ethical framework and professional standards that guide all editorial decisions, content creation, and public communications issued by the Edgewater Gazette. It reflects our unwavering commitment to truth, accountability, and the public interest.

Core Principles

  • Integrity First: All editorial content must be rooted in verified facts, sound reasoning, and intellectual honesty. We reject sensationalism, distortion, and bias in all forms.

  • Independence: Editorial decisions are made free from influence by advertisers, political entities, or special interest groups. Our allegiance is to the public we serve.

  • Transparency: We disclose sources, conflicts of interest, and editorial processes wherever relevant. Corrections are issued promptly and prominently when errors occur.

  • Civic Responsibility: We recognize the press as a cornerstone of democracy. Our editorial voice will promote informed citizenship, uphold civil discourse, and challenge injustice.

  • Diversity of Thought: We welcome a plurality of perspectives. Editorial content will reflect the complexity of our community and the diversity of its experiences.

Editorial Oversight

  • The Editorial Board, chaired by Dr. Kerry B. Lewis, holds final authority over all opinion pieces, endorsements, and editorial campaigns.

  • All contributors must adhere to this policy and submit to editorial review prior to publication.

  • Anonymous editorials are prohibited unless justified by extraordinary circumstances and approved by the Board.

Ethical Standards

  • No Plagiarism: All content must be original or properly attributed.

  • No Fabrication: Quotes, data, and events must be accurately represented.

  • No Defamation: Editorial content must be fair, factual, and legally sound.

  • No Retaliation: We protect whistleblowers, dissenting voices, and vulnerable sources.

Public Engagement

  • Readers are encouraged to respond to editorials through letters, forums, and public dialogue.

  • The Gazette will publish a representative selection of reader responses, subject to editorial standards.

Enforcement