Editorial Independence Policy
The Chicago Reporter maintains unwavering editorial independence as the cornerstone of our journalistic integrity. As a nonprofit news organization, we adhere to rigorous standards that ensure our reporting remains free from external influence while maintaining transparency with our community.
Core Principles
We subscribe to standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News. The Chicago Reporter retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. This commitment extends to every aspect of our operations, from daily news decisions to long-term investigative projects.
Financial Firewall
A strict firewall exists between our newsroom’s coverage decisions and all sources of revenue. This separation guarantees that financial support never presents a conflict of interest for our journalism or compromises our editorial independence. While gifts, grants, and sponsorships from individuals and organizations help fund our nonprofit journalism, these contributions have no bearing on our news judgments.
Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors, their products, services, or opinions. We may consider donations to support coverage of particular topics, but our editorial staff determines what those topics are and maintains complete editorial control of the resulting coverage. We cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.
Transparency and Accountability
The Chicago Reporter will make public all donors who give a total of $5,000 or more per year. We accept anonymous donations for general support only when clear safeguards ensure that the expenditure of such donations is made independently by our organization and in compliance with INN’s Membership Standards.
Editorial copy is never shared with anyone, including donors, prior to publication. This policy protects the integrity of our reporting process and ensures that our journalism serves the public interest alone.
Professional Standards
Individual Chicago Reporter journalists do not accept gifts or favors of more than nominal value, nor any special treatment, from any person or entity that is or could be a subject of or source for our coverage, or otherwise have an interest in our reporting.
Members of our newsroom shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office, and service in community organizations if they create conflicts of interest or compromise journalistic independence and integrity. This ensures our reporters can cover any story without personal or professional entanglements that might cloud their judgment.
Prohibited Support
The Chicago Reporter does not accept donations from government entities, political parties, elected officials, or candidates actively seeking public office. This prohibition safeguards our ability to report critically and independently on political matters and government operations at all levels.
Through these policies, The Chicago Reporter demonstrates our commitment to producing journalism that serves Chicago’s communities with independence, integrity, and accountability.