Our Policies and Guidelines

The Weston Observer is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop and deliver independent and trusted journalism that keeps the entire Weston community connected, well-informed and engaged with thorough, accurate and fair coverage of topics affecting life in our town. 

With the goal of fulfilling our mission with unquestioned integrity, the Board of Directors of the Weston Observer has adopted the following policies and guidelines. (If you have any questions about our policies, please contact us at board@WestonObserver.org).

Donor Transparency
Editorial Independence
Corrections
Conflict of Interest
Advertising
Journalism Code of Ethics

Donor Transparency Policy (Amended and Approved 3/12/25)

The Weston Observer is committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization.

Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services, or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants, and sponsorships from individuals, organizations, and foundations to help with our general operations, coverage of specific topics, and special projects. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a public trust, we do not pay certain taxes. We may receive funds from standard government programs offered to nonprofits or similar businesses.

Our news judgments are made independently — not based on or influenced by donors or any revenue source. We do not give supporters the rights to assign, review, or edit content. We make public all revenue sources and donors who give a total of $5,000 or more per calendar year. As a news media nonprofit, we do not accept donations from government entities, political parties, or candidates actively seeking national, state, or local public office. Although we accept donations from most town-wide elected officials, we do not accept donations from any sitting member of the Weston Select Board or their immediate household. Additionally, we prefer not to accept charitable donations from anonymous sources; however, if we do receive anonymous funding, we ensure that the total of all anonymous funding comprises no more than 15% of total annual revenue. Additionally, the Board of Directors must approve acceptance of all anonymous donations. Regardless of the source of any donation, our editorial independence will never be compromised.

The Board of Directors reserves the right to refuse any advertisement or donation and will not accept donations from sources that are deemed to present a conflict of interest with our work or compromise our independence.

Donors and advertisers have no editorial input on our journalism.

Editorial Independence Policy (Approved 3/12/25)

The Weston Observer subscribes to standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN):

Our organization retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors, sponsors, or advertisers, or their products, services, or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants, and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of financial support.

We make public all revenue sources and donors who give a total of $5,000 or more per calendar year. We will accept anonymous donations for general support only if it is clear that sufficient safeguards have been put into place to ensure that the expenditure of that donation is made independently by our organization and in compliance with INN’s Membership Standards.

Our organization may consider receiving donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.

We include disclaimers at the bottom of stories about any company, organization, or public issue in which a director, executive, or editorial staffer has a business or personal interest.

We disclose our policies and practices for acceptance of government funding, if any, in our Donor Transparency Policy.  We may collaborate with the Weston Media Center, a non-governmental non-profit, which receives funds from the local cable service providers (via payments passed through the Town of Weston) and local donors. We are editorially independent from the Weston Media Center. There is no government or cable company influence in news coverage.

Corrections Policy (Approved 3/12/25)

When we make an error, we publish a correction online as soon as we learn of the error and in print in the next edition.

Conflict of Interest Policies (Approved 11/21/24 and 8/5/25)

Conflict of Interest Policies were adopted by the Board to be reaffirmed on an annual basis by Employees, Volunteers and Board Members.

Conflict of Interest Policy – Board (PDF)

Conflict of Interest Policy – Employees and Volunteers (PDF)

Advertising Policy (Effective 8/11/25)

The Weston Observer is an independent, nonprofit community newspaper in Weston, MA supported in part by paid advertising. We strive to ensure that the advertisements we publish whether in print or digitally, are accurate and consistent with our mission and values as a trusted source of local news and comply with all laws and regulations including those pertaining to 501(c)(3) corporations.

Editorial Independence

We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of sponsors or advertisers, or their products, services, or opinions. Advertisements will be clearly differentiated from editorial content, and sponsored content, if any, will include a disclaimer to clearly identify it as non-editorial content.

What Are Acceptable Advertisements?

We welcome advertisements from businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations offering legitimate goods, services, or public information. All advertisements must:

  • Be truthful and not misleading
  • Comply with local, state, and federal laws
  • Be appropriate for a general audience
  • Clearly identify the source

 What May Need Further Review?

We reserve the right to require additional information or documentation or seek further review of certain advertisements to ensure the accuracy of the advertiser’s identity or claims. Some examples of categories of advertisements which may require additional review include:

  • Financial, legal, or health-related services
  • Job postings or recruitment
  • Contests, time-limited offers, or claims of guaranteed outcomes

Please note, advertisements for insurance, financial instruments, and travel entities must be coordinated through the advertising manager and will have restrictions applied because of United States Postal Service regulations relating to our mailing costs as a nonprofit. 

 What Are Unacceptable Advertisements?

We do not accept advertisements that:

  • Contain false, misleading, deceptive, or unverifiable information
  • Promote scams, predatory financial services, or multi-level marketing schemes
  • Include hateful, offensive, or sexually explicit content
  • Incite harassment, discrimination, or violence
  • Imitate the style or tone of news content
  • Target vulnerable groups with exploitative messaging
  • Disparage individuals, groups, or other businesses

 We reserve the right to reject or remove any advertisement at our discretion if it violates these standards or otherwise does not align with the values of the Weston Observer.

Political Advertising

To comply with nonprofit regulations and uphold our standards of editorial independence, the Weston Observer does not accept any political advertisements including:

  • Advertisements from political candidates or their campaigns
  • Advertisements advocating for or against ballot measures, referendums, or legislation

 We may accept advertisements from elected officials sharing non-campaign, public service information such as office hours or community updates. These ads:

  • Must not include campaign slogans, endorsements, or appeals for votes or contributions
  • May be paid for with campaign funds but must be nonpartisan and informational
  • Are subject to review and potential blackout periods

 Acceptance of any advertisement or sponsorship does not imply endorsement by the Weston Observer.

Community Feedback

We value feedback from our readers. If you have a concern about an advertisement, please contact us at advertising@westonobserver.org. We take all inquiries seriously and will review them promptly.

Advertiser Agreement

By submitting an advertisement, the advertiser agrees to abide by this Policy. The advertiser further warrants the right to all content submitted and agrees to hold the Weston Observer harmless from any claim related to its advertisement.  The Weston Observer reserves the right to revise this Policy as needed.

Journalism Code of Ethics (9/3/2025)

The Weston Observer will adhere to the highest ethical standards in journalism as set forth in the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics. Our goal is to ensure a free exchange of information that is accurate, fair, and thorough. The reporters and editorial staff of the Weston Observer strive to adhere to these pillars of ethical journalism:

  • Seek truth and report it
  • Minimize harm
  • Act independently
  • Be accountable and transparent

The Weston Observer is non-partisan and non-profit with a mission to develop and deliver independent and trusted journalism that keeps the Weston community connected, well-informed, and engaged with thorough, accurate and fair coverage of topics affecting life in our town. It does not endorse candidates nor favor any candidate for public office in coverage or other action. Our goal is to inform and educate, leaving it to the news consumer to determine their own position.

We approach all interviews and stories with the recognition of the need to balance the public’s right to know with respect for individuals involved. When we report on traumatic situations, our aim is to minimize harm.

We will seek out the facts from multiple perspectives, and strive to include a diversity of voices to provide background and subject area expertise.

Journalistic Independence

Our journalists avoid conflicts of interest and do not accept payment, gifts, free tickets, or other perks from sources. While our journalists do not accept free tickets, reporters who cover events where admission is charged may accept press passes or tickets customarily made available. A reporter or editor will not accept payment from any person, company, or organization that is the subject of their reporting. Our journalists do not participate in partisan political activities relating to the Weston community. In gathering news, journalists introduce themselves as journalists for the Weston Observer and do not misrepresent their identities or their occupations.

Our journalists should:

  • Encourage a civil dialogue with the public about journalistic practices, coverage, and news content.
  • Respond quickly to questions about accuracy, clarity and fairness.
  • Acknowledge mistakes and correct them promptly. Explain corrections and clarifications carefully and clearly.
  • Expose unethical conduct in journalism, including within their organizations.

Advertising Policy

The Weston Observer does not accept political advertisements.

Editorial and Reporting Policies

The Weston Observer will adhere to strict editorial quality measures.

Content

  • We must be transparent about what we saw firsthand and what we gleaned from other media or external sources.
  • If we publish press releases or other content distributed by community members or businesses, such content is clearly labeled to help the public differentiate it from news coverage.
  • Ideas for content can be sent to editor@westonobserver.org
  • We will allow labeled Opinion content in the form of Letters to the Editor, with associated guidelines, and Opinion Columns, as vetted by the editorial staff.
  • AI technology is not used to write articles for the Weston Observer but may be used for general research on a subject area or for suggestions involving copyediting and Search Engine Optimization.
  • Reporters must provide attributions and ensure compliance with all copyright laws.
  • We include disclaimers (usually parenthetically within a story) about any company, organization, or public issue in which a director, executive, or editorial staffer has a business or personal interest.

Sources

  • Our journalists will seek sources from different perspectives on a subject, including both decision makers and the people affected by a decision. We strive to get a wide diversity of sources to provide background and subject area expertise.
  • The Weston Observer will not use anonymous sources except in the rare occasion that the source could be in danger or face retribution, if named. The identity of the source will be known to the reporter and editor. We avoid using pseudonyms. If a source wishes to remain anonymous, we try to find another source to verify the information. We endeavor to have at least two sources for a story. A source could be a relevant document.
  • Weston Observer reporters do not assume that sources know they are on the record. Reporters will identify themselves as journalists and inform a source that what they say could be published. If a source asks to be off the record, reporters ensure that both the reporter and the source have the same understanding of what this means. For example, a source may confirm whether information can be used but not attributed to that person. Or a source may only be willing to speak on deep background. Reporters do not agree to deep background without consulting with an editor.
  • Sources do not decide what quotes are published. We do not permit sources to read articles before publication. In cases of complicated technical language, a reporter can read relevant paragraphs to the source to confirm accuracy.

Language and Images

  • Profanity and other offensive language or graphic images will not be used unless such language or images are integral to a story. In that context, language and images are published with a content warning.
  • We will not alter or digitally manipulate the content of a photo or video, with the exception of minor adjustments such as cropping or conversion to grayscale.
  • Photos of people including minors in public places can be used for editorial purposes, such as a story about an event on the Weston Town Green. Consent is not required for photos taken in public places.
  • Photos of victims of crime, accidents, or emergencies will not be used without consent.

Social Media and the Digital Space

  • Social media platforms will be used to extend the Weston Observer’s reach and find sources for reporting. We verify the accuracy of social media posts before inclusion in a story.
  • Reporters and editors should not share personal opinions on social media nor “like” or boost anything that would compromise their role as an unbiased reporter. Further, no post should be made that could be seen as promoting a particular product, business, political party, or ideology.
  • Our reporters should behave respectfully and professionally on social media and not engage in personal attacks or use offensive language.
  • In general, links to external websites will not be used unless they are to relevant documents or prior reporting. Journalists should not post links to illegal or offensive activity even if it may be relevant to the story.
  • Reporters will be mindful of copyright laws and not post copyrighted content without permission.