The Muwekma Times is an advocacy newspaper with a clear point of view. That makes our obligation to accuracy greater, not smaller. These are the standards we hold ourselves to.
Accuracy and sourcing
We report what we can verify. We rely on primary sources whenever possible, including court filings, Federal Register notices, legislation, government records and on-the-record interviews, and we link to them so readers can check our work. We attribute information to its source. We do not publish rumors as fact.
News and opinion
News articles report facts and context. Editorials, commentary and op-eds are published in our Opinion section and labeled as opinion. Analysis and explainers are labeled as such. Op-eds by tribal leaders and other contributors run under the author’s own name. They represent the author’s views.
Our advocacy, disclosed
The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe founded the Muwekma Times, and we support the restoration of the Tribe’s federal status. We tell readers that openly (see About the Muwekma Times), and we expect to be judged on the accuracy of what we publish.
Fairness and the right of reply
When we report criticism of a person or institution, we make a good-faith effort to reach them for comment before publication, and we give them reasonable time to respond. If they decline or do not answer, we say so.
Anonymous sources
We prefer named sources. We grant anonymity only when the information is important and cannot be obtained on the record, and when the source could face real harm, such as retaliation, for speaking. The Muwekma Times knows the identity of every anonymous source we cite, and we explain to readers why anonymity was granted.
Protecting tipsters
People who send us tips through our tip form or by email may remain anonymous. We will not reveal a confidential source’s identity without their permission.
Images
We use photographs and artwork that we have the right to publish, including licensed stock images, public-domain and government images, freely licensed works, and images provided by their owners. We credit them. We do not treat a photo as free to use simply because it appears on social media.
Cultural protocols
We do not publish images of ancestral remains or of sacred objects. We do not publish ceremonies or sacred sites in ways that tribal communities have asked us not to. We use the names that tribes and Native people use for themselves.
Corrections policy
We correct errors of fact promptly and transparently. When we correct an article, we add a dated correction note at the end of it explaining what was wrong and what is right. When an error is significant to the story, we note the correction at the top. We do not quietly rewrite facts. Minor fixes of spelling, grammar or style may be made without a note.
To report an error, email times@muwekma.org with “Correction” in the subject line, or use our contact form. Please include the article link and the specific error.
Updates and unpublishing
When a developing story changes, we update the article and note the update. We do not remove published articles except in rare cases involving legal requirements or a serious risk to someone’s safety.
Contact
Questions about our standards can be sent to times@muwekma.org.