Ethics and Corrections Policy
Gilroy Dispatch
Effective August 1, 2026 | Last reviewed August 1, 2026.
New SV Media Inc. publishes community newspapers, magazines and digital news services in San Benito County, South Santa Clara County and Southern Monterey County, California. Our readers’ trust is our most important asset. This policy explains the standards that govern our journalism, how we handle mistakes and how readers can hold us accountable. It applies to all Weeklys publications in print, online, in newsletters, on social media and elsewhere.
Our newsrooms follow the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics: seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently and be accountable and transparent.
Accuracy and Verification
We strive to get it right the first time. Reporters verify facts with primary sources whenever possible, seek comment from people and organizations who are the subject of critical coverage and attribute information clearly so readers know where it comes from. We do not publish rumors as fact. When facts are in dispute, we say so.
Corrections
We correct errors of fact promptly, prominently and transparently, no matter how small and no matter how long ago the error was published. When we’re wrong, we say so.
How we handle errors
- Corrections fix errors of fact — a wrong name, date, figure, title or attribution. Corrections state what was wrong and provide the accurate information.
- Clarifications address language that was factually accurate but incomplete, imprecise or open to misinterpretation.
- Updates add new information to a developing story. An update is not a correction and is labeled as an update.
Where corrections appear
- Online, we correct the article itself and append a correction note stating what was changed and when. We do not silently edit published stories to fix factual errors.
- In print, corrections run in a consistent location in the next available issue.
- If an error appeared in a newsletter, push alert or social media post, we correct it on that platform as well.
We do not remove a correction note once posted. Fixing typos, grammar or formatting that does not change meaning does not require a correction note.
Requesting a correction
Anyone who believes we have published an error can contact the editor of the publication at ed****@************ch.com or 408.709.3963. Please include the article headline, publication date and a description of the suspected error. An editor reviews every request. If we conclude no error occurred, we will explain why. Correction requests are reviewed and approved by an editor, not solely by the reporter involved.
Unpublishing Requests
We treat our published archive as a record of the community. We do not unpublish accurate stories because a subject finds them embarrassing or inconvenient. In rare cases — a demonstrated threat to someone’s safety, charges that were dropped or expunged, or coverage of minors — an editor may update a story with new information, de-index it from search engines or, in exceptional circumstances, remove it. These decisions are made by senior editors, not reporters.
Sources and Attribution
We identify sources by name whenever possible. Readers deserve to know where information comes from.
We use unnamed sources only when the information is newsworthy, cannot be obtained on the record and the source could face retaliation or other harm for speaking. At least one editor must know the source’s identity and approve the use. We describe unnamed sources as specifically as possible without identifying them and we explain why anonymity was granted.
We do not fabricate sources, quotes or scenes. Quotes are what people actually said. We may trim verbal stumbles but we do not alter meaning.
Plagiarism and Fabrication
Plagiarism and fabrication are not tolerated. All work published under a staff or freelance byline must be original or clearly attributed. Material from wire services, syndicates or partner newsrooms is credited.
Independence and Conflicts of Interest
Our news judgment is not for sale. Advertisers, sponsors and business partners have no influence over news coverage, and coverage decisions are made by editors independent of the sales department.
Journalists must disclose to their editors any financial interest, family relationship, organizational membership or personal involvement that could compromise — or appear to compromise — their coverage. Editors reassign stories when a conflict exists. Newsroom employees do not accept gifts of more than nominal value from sources or subjects of coverage, do not run for public office and do not donate to or campaign for candidates or ballot measures they may cover.
Opinion, News and Sponsored Content
We label content so readers always know what they’re reading.
- News reports facts and is held to the standards above.
- Opinion, including editorials, columns and letters, reflects the views of the writer and is clearly labeled.
- Sponsored or paid content is produced for or paid for by an advertiser. It is visually distinct and labeled so no reasonable reader could mistake it for news coverage.
Artificial Intelligence
Our journalism is reported, written and edited by people. We may use AI tools for research assistance, transcription, data analysis or production tasks, always under human direction and review. We do not publish AI-generated news stories, images presented as real photographs or AI-generated quotes. Any substantive use of AI in producing published content is disclosed to readers. A human editor is responsible for everything we publish.
Photography and Visuals
News photographs and video are not staged or digitally manipulated beyond standard adjustments such as cropping, toning and color correction. Photo illustrations are labeled as such. Archival or file images are identified when their use could mislead.
Privacy and Minimizing Harm
Reporting sometimes causes discomfort, but we weigh the public’s right to know against the harm coverage may cause. We take particular care with minors, victims of crime and people experiencing tragedy. We generally do not name victims of sexual assault without their consent. We identify juveniles accused of crimes only in limited circumstances determined by senior editors.
Diverse Sourcing
Our publications serve entire communities. We work to reflect the full range of people in the areas we cover — across neighborhoods, incomes, ages, races and viewpoints — in our sourcing, story selection and images.
Social Media
Journalists represent our publications on social platforms. Standards of accuracy, fairness and independence apply to their professional accounts and to work-related posts on personal accounts. Errors posted to social media are corrected there.
Accountability
This policy is published so readers can hold us to it. Questions, complaints and feedback about our journalism can be sent to Michael Moore, Editor, at ed****@************ch.com. We review this policy annually and note the date of the most recent review above.
Ownership and Funding
New SV Media, Inc. is an independent, owner-operated company. The controlling interest is held by its founder and CEO, Dan Pulcrano. Our journalism is funded primarily by advertising, events and reader support. No investor, advertiser or political organization directs our coverage.
