The Sopris Sun prioritizes the highest standards of ethical journalism, upholding principles that guide our commitment to serving the community. Our mission revolves around providing accurate, fair, and unbiased news coverage to the residents of Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin, and Gunnison counties. We are a 501(c)(3) community supported nonprofit, governed by a volunteer board of directors. We publish Sopris Sun and Sol del Valle in print and online. Our ethical guidelines are as follows:
- Precision and Truthfulness: We strive for accuracy and truthfulness in all our reports. Our dedication to truth ensures that our information is factual, verified, and presented in context.
- Fairness and Impartiality: Presenting all facets of a story without bias is our aim. We report impartially, allowing diverse perspectives to be heard, respecting differing opinions, and ensuring fairness in our coverage.
- Integrity and Transparency: Maintaining the utmost integrity in reporting is fundamental. We are transparent about our sources, conflicts of interest, corrections, and any relevant information affecting the accuracy or fairness of our reporting.
- Independence and Editorial Freedom: We operate independently, making editorial decisions based on journalistic merit and the public interest, free from external influence or pressure. Our organization is structured so that our revenue staff and editorial staff act independently and each directly report to our Board of Directors.
- Respect and Sensitivity: Our reporting is conducted with respect for individuals and communities, following ethical guidelines on privacy, sensitivity, and cultural diversity. We aim to minimize harm when addressing sensitive topics.
- Accountability and Corrections: We hold ourselves accountable for our reporting. If errors occur, we promptly correct them, ensuring clear and visible corrections to maintain the trust of our readers.
- Community Engagement: Actively engaging with our community helps us understand its concerns, interests, and needs. This engagement ensures that our reporting aligns with the most significant issues for our readers.
- Ensuring journalist safety: Ensuring the safety of our freelancers and staff is crucial for maintaining our publications and a primary concern for the Board of Directors in all we do.
By adhering to these principles and continually integrating them into our practices, The Sopris Sun reaffirms its commitment to ethical journalism and serving the community.
More about our Standards:
The Sopris Sun is a proud member of the following journalism and media organizations. The standards outlined above are highlights that we have adopted by being members of these organizations. We encourage you to visit their websites for more detailed descriptions of the journalistic and editorial standards and training we have adopted as a member organization:
The Sopris Sun Board of Directors is responsible for our guidelines, or adhere to an external set of guidelines, for journalistic content, distribution and conduct to which its journalistic operations comply. For more information contact board@soprissun.com.