San Bernardino American News Ethics and Corrections Policy
Our Commitment
The San Bernardino American is committed to providing accurate, fair, independent, and accountable journalism that serves the residents of San Bernardino County and the surrounding Inland Empire areas. We believe that public trust is earned through transparency, integrity, and a willingness to correct mistakes promptly.
Editorial Independence
Our newsroom operates independently of advertisers, sponsors, political organizations, and outside interests.
Editorial decisions are made solely by the editorial staff based on newsworthiness, public interest, and journalistic standards. Advertising and sponsored content will always be clearly identified and will not influence news coverage.
Accuracy
The San Bernardino American strives to:
- Verify information before publication using reliable sources.
- Attribute information to identifiable sources whenever possible.
- Distinguish clearly between verified facts, analysis, and opinion.
- Seek comment from individuals or organizations who are the subject of critical reporting whenever practical.
- Avoid speculation or presenting rumors as facts.
If facts cannot be independently verified, we will clearly state what is known, what remains unconfirmed, and why.
Fairness
We seek to report stories fairly and in context by:
- Including relevant perspectives.
- Avoiding unnecessary bias or loaded language.
- Providing subjects a reasonable opportunity to respond to significant allegations.
- Correcting misleading impressions even when technically accurate.
Independence and Conflicts of Interest
Employees, contributors, and editors must avoid conflicts of interest that could compromise—or appear to compromise—their reporting.
Staff members should:
- Disclose potential conflicts to editors.
- Refrain from covering organizations or individuals with whom they have close personal, financial, or political relationships.
- Decline gifts, favors, or compensation that could influence coverage beyond items of nominal value.
Anonymous Sources
Anonymous sources are used only when:
- The information is of significant public interest.
- The source faces legitimate risk of retaliation.
- The information has been independently verified whenever possible.
- An editor approves the use of anonymity.
We will explain why anonymity has been granted whenever appropriate.
Opinion and News
Opinion pieces, editorials, and guest commentaries will be clearly labeled and kept separate from news reporting.
Opinion writers are responsible for their viewpoints, while factual claims remain subject to editorial review.
Diversity and Respect
The San Bernardino American is committed to treating all individuals with dignity and respect.
We avoid language or imagery that unfairly stereotypes people based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, nationality, or socioeconomic status unless such information is directly relevant to the story.
Privacy
We recognize that news reporting sometimes requires balancing the public’s right to know with individual privacy.
We will carefully consider:
- Whether publication serves a legitimate public interest.
- The potential harm caused by publishing personal information.
- The privacy of crime victims, minors, and vulnerable individuals unless identification is clearly warranted.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence tools may assist with research, transcription, formatting, or other newsroom tasks.
Journalists remain responsible for verifying all facts, editing all content, and ensuring that AI-generated material meets the same editorial standards as any other reporting. AI-generated images or illustrations will be clearly labeled when used.
Corrections Policy
Accuracy is essential to our mission. When we make mistakes, we will correct them openly and promptly.
Minor Corrections
Minor typographical, grammatical, formatting, or stylistic errors that do not affect the meaning of an article may be corrected without a formal correction notice.
Substantive Corrections
Errors involving facts, names, dates, quotations, locations, statistics, or other material information will be corrected as soon as they are confirmed.
When appropriate, we will add a correction note at the end of the article explaining:
- What was incorrect.
- What has been corrected.
- The date of the correction.
Clarifications
If an article is technically accurate but could reasonably mislead readers, we may publish a clarification to provide additional context.
Retractions
Retractions are rare and reserved for circumstances where a story is fundamentally inaccurate, fabricated, or no longer meets our editorial standards.
Retractions will remain publicly accessible with an explanation of why the article was removed or retracted.
Reader Feedback
We welcome readers who identify possible errors or wish to provide additional information.
Requests for corrections should include:
- The article headline or URL.
- The specific information believed to be incorrect.
- Supporting documentation when available.
Send correction requests to the editor at CliftonB@SB-American.com or call 909-889-7677. Every correction request will be reviewed by an editor.
Transparency
When significant updates are made after publication, we will note that an article has been updated and explain the nature of the changes whenever appropriate.
We will not quietly alter substantive factual information without acknowledging the revision.
Ethical Standards
The San Bernardino American follows the principles of:
- Accuracy
- Fairness
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Independence
- Public Service
- Respect for Human Dignity
We recognize that journalism is a public trust. Our responsibility is to provide truthful, responsible reporting that informs our community and strengthens civic life.
