POLICIES
Editorial Independence
Although Waterbury Roundabout is small in size and scale, we take our role as a hyper-local source of community journalism seriously and we strive to operate with integrity, accuracy, dedication to the truth, and respect for our sources and readers.
The editor oversees all published content. Contributors are identified with bylines, titles and taglines where appropriate. Edited press releases are labeled with a “Waterbury Roundabout” byline for example.
Waterbury Roundabout relies on contributions from individuals, grants, website advertising and sponsorship contributions. Editorial decisions are made in line with our mission, separate and independent of any source of financial support.
We aim to align with the Institute for Nonprofit News which holds high standards for editorial independence. Among INN’s tenants are commitments to retaining authority over editorial content and keeping news coverage decisions separate from influence by revenue sources.
Neither news sources nor financial supporters are allowed to assign, review or edit content that we publish.
Conflicts of Interest
All contributors to Waterbury Roundabout’s reporting — including its editor and regular correspondents and photographers — are expected to avoid potential conflicts of interest by not taking assignments that would pose a conflict. Donors, advertisers and anyone serving Waterbury Roundabout in an advisory capacity are not to use their role to influence news coverage.
Donor & Financial Transparency
Waterbury Roundabout is committed to transparency in funding our organization. Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services or opinions. Our news judgments are made independently – not based on or influenced by donors, advertisers, or any revenue source. Supporters do not assign, review or edit content published on WaterburyRoundabout.org.
We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals, organizations and foundations to help with our operations. As a Vermont nonprofit, we do not pay certain taxes.
We may receive funds from government programs offered to nonprofits or similar businesses. For example, in 2023, the Town of Duxbury made a contribution of $150 to Waterbury Roundabout in its annual donations to community nonprofit organizations.
We publish paid advertising in the form of employment listings, public notices and website advertisements.
We will make public all revenue sources and donors who give $5,000 or more per year. As of our most recent fiscal year, Jan-Dec 2023, we have not received $5,000 or more from any single source.
We do not accept donations from anonymous sources.
We will not accept donations from sources who may pose a conflict of interest with our work or compromise our independence.