Editorial Policy
Last updated: 10 June 2026
This document explains how AkronScore decides what to cover, how stories are reported and written, and who is accountable for what appears on this site. We publish it so readers can hold us to a written standard rather than a vague promise. It works alongside our Fact-Checking Policy, Corrections Policy, and Ethics Policy.
What we publish
AkronScore publishes news reporting, explainers, and occasional analysis across business, technology, science, sports, and entertainment. Story selection is driven by one question: does this matter to our readers? We do not chase outrage, we do not inflate minor stories for clicks, and we do not publish content whose only purpose is to rank in search engines.
Sourcing standards
Every story must rest on sources a reader could verify. In practice that means:
- Primary sources first. Official statements, court filings, regulatory documents, financial reports, scientific papers, and on-record interviews outrank everything else.
- Named and linked. When our reporting builds on work by another outlet, we name that outlet and link to the original story. Passing off someone else’s reporting as our own is plagiarism, and it is a firing offense here.
- Anonymous sources are rare. We use unnamed sources only when the information is significant, the source has direct knowledge, and there is a genuine reason they cannot be named. The story will always say why.
- No rumor as fact. Unconfirmed information is either left out or clearly labeled as unconfirmed. Social media posts are leads to verify, not sources to quote.
Verification before publishing
Before any story goes live, we check:
- Names, titles, and organizations
- Numbers, dates, and statistics against the original document or dataset
- Quotes against the recording, transcript, or published source
- Claims of fact against at least one primary or highly credible source
- That the headline is fully supported by the body of the article
Our complete process, including how we handle breaking news, is described in the Fact-Checking Policy.
Headlines and framing
Headlines must be accurate on their own, without relying on the article to walk them back. We do not use bait headlines, manufactured cliffhangers, or questions whose honest answer is no. If a story is about an allegation, the headline says it is an allegation.
News, analysis, and opinion
These are different things and they are labeled differently:
- News reports what happened, with sources
- Analysis explains what it means, clearly marked as analysis
- Opinion, if we publish it, carries an opinion label in the headline or category and represents the view of its author
Corrections
We correct factual errors quickly and visibly, with a dated note on the article explaining what changed and why. We do not silently rewrite mistakes. The full procedure, including how to request a correction and our response timelines, is in the Corrections Policy. The short version: email support@akronscore.org with “CORRECTION” in the subject line and we will review it within 48 hours.
Use of AI tools
We use AI tools the way we use spellcheckers and search engines: as assistants, not authors. AI may help with research, background gathering, and draft editing. It does not decide what we cover, it does not publish anything on its own, and nothing goes live without a human editor verifying every factual claim and taking full responsibility for the result.
Editorial independence
Editorial decisions are made by the editor alone. Advertisers, sponsors, sources, and subjects of coverage have no input into what we publish or how we frame it. Sponsored content, if it ever appears, is clearly labeled and kept visually distinct from news. The complete rules are in our Ethics Policy and on the Ownership and Funding page.
Accountability
Final responsibility for everything published on AkronScore rests with the editor, Ethan Caldwell. Questions, complaints, and challenges to this policy are welcome at support@akronscore.org.
Review of this policy
This policy is reviewed twice a year and whenever our practices change. Material changes are noted with an updated date at the top of this page.
