Editorial Independence

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 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 donor support.

Our organization may consider 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.

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

Donor and Financial Transparency

We are 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 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 $5,000 or more per year. As a news nonprofit, we avoid accepting charitable donations from anonymous sources, government entities, political parties, elected officials or candidates seeking public office. We will not accept donations from sources who, deemed by our board of directors, present a conflict of interest with our work or compromise our independence.

Editorial Collaboration Policy

Baltimore Beat is committed to editorial independence and transparency in all of our reporting. As such, any collaboration with external partners must align with our mission and uphold our commitment to editorial excellence.

We approach editorial collaborations with the following guidelines in mind:

• All collaborations must be disclosed to our readers, including the names of any partners and the nature of the collaboration. This disclosure will be made in a prominent location, such as the top of the story or on a dedicated page on our website, and will be clearly labeled as a collaboration. Any financial support for a collaboration will also be prominently disclosed.

• Our editorial staff maintains full control over the content produced by our outlet as part of the collaboration. This includes maintaining control over the reporting, writing, editing, and fact-checking of all content produced as part of the collaboration. If there is disagreement on the final versions of stories any participant has the right to not publish a story that has been created from a collaboration.

• We will not enter into collaborations that compromise our ethical, content, and reporting standards or that would give the appearance of a conflict of interest. This includes collaborations with partners that have a financial interest in the outcome of the story or that have a history of attempting to influence our reporting.

In addition to these guidelines, we also have the following proactive measures in place to ensure the integrity of our collaborations:

• We will establish clear guidelines and expectations with partners before entering into a collaboration, and pursue only those projects that advance our editorial mission. This includes discussing and agreeing upon the goals and objectives of the collaboration, as well as the roles and responsibilities of each party. Collaboration partners will be expected to fact check their own pieces and to adhere to the highest journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.

• We will review the work produced as part of the collaboration before it is published to ensure that it aligns with our standards and practices.

• We will have an open line of communication with partners throughout the collaboration to address any issues or concerns that may arise.

By adhering to these guidelines, we ensure that our collaborations enhance our reporting and serve the public interest.

Correction Policy

At Baltimore Beat, we are committed to maintaining the highest journalistic standards, including accuracy, transparency, and fairness in our reporting. We understand the importance of trust in the relationship with our readers and the communities we serve. To uphold this trust, we have established the following correction policy:

Reporting Errors:

1. Acknowledgment: When an error is identified or brought to our attention, either by our team, readers, or external sources, we will promptly acknowledge and assess the claim.
2. Verification: Our editorial team will investigate the claim thoroughly to verify the accuracy of the reported error.

Making Corrections:

1. Timeliness: Once an error is confirmed, we will correct it as quickly as possible.
2. Transparency: Corrections will be clearly identified and distinguished from the original content. We will provide a clear explanation of the error and the correction made.
3. Consistency: Corrections will be made across all platforms where the erroneous information was published, including our print edition, digital content, and social media.

Types of Corrections:

1. Factual Errors: Corrections will be made for factual inaccuracies. This includes errors related to names, dates, locations, and any other factual information.
2. Contextual Errors: If a piece is found to be lacking in context or presenting information in a misleading way, we will update the content to ensure accurate representation.
3. Typographical Errors: While minor typographical errors that do not alter the understanding of the content may not warrant a formal correction, we will correct them in the digital version of our publication.

Reader’s Role:

1. Reporting Errors: We encourage our readers to report any potential errors for review. Contact information for such reports will be made easily accessible.
2. Feedback: We welcome feedback on our correction process and will use it to improve our practices.

Record of Corrections:

1. Archive: We will maintain an archive of all corrections made for transparency and accountability.
2. Annual Review: We will review our corrections annually to identify recurring issues and address them systematically.

At Baltimore Beat, we strive for accuracy and honesty in our reporting. This correction policy is part of our ongoing effort to maintain journalistic integrity and accountability to our readers and the communities we serve.

Our Conflict of Interest Policy for our Board and Officers

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Article I – Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to protect the interests of Baltimore Beat when contemplating transactions or arrangements that might benefit the private interest of a director, officer, or key employee. This policy supplements applicable state and federal laws governing conflicts of interest and related party transactions for nonprofit organizations. It also identifies “independent” directors.

Article II – Definitions

Conflict of Interest: A “conflict of interest” or a related party transaction involves an “interested person.” Any director, officer, or key employee with a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is considered an interested person.

Financial Interest: A person has a financial interest if they have, directly or indirectly, through business, investment, or family:

• An ownership or investment interest in any entity with which Baltimore Beat has a transaction or arrangement,
• A compensation arrangement with Baltimore Beat or with any entity or individual with which it transacts,
• A potential ownership or investment interest, or compensation arrangement, with any entity or individual with which Baltimore Beat is negotiating.

Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration and substantial gifts or favors. A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest exists only if the Board decides so, following this policy.

Independent Director: A director is “independent” if they meet the criteria set forth in the IRS Form 990 instructions and:

• Have not been an employee or have a relative who was a key employee of Baltimore Beat or its affiliates in the past 3 years,
• Have not received, or have a relative who received, $10,000 or more in direct compensation (excluding expense reimbursements) from Baltimore Beat or its affiliates in the past 3 years,
• Are not a current employee, nor have substantial influence in an entity that made or received substantial payments from Baltimore Beat in the last 3 years,
• Do not have a relative who is a current officer or with a substantial interest in an entity making or receiving similar payments from Baltimore Beat in the past 3 years,
• Are not employed as an executive where any of Baltimore Beat’s officers or employees serve on that corporation’s compensation committee.

Article III – Procedures

Duty to Disclose: Interested persons must disclose any actual or possible conflict of interest, including all material facts to the Board.

Recusal and Influence: Any director, officer, or key employee shall recuse themselves from decisions or discussions where they have a potential conflict of interest and shall not attempt to influence the deliberation or voting on such matters.

Determining Conflicts of Interest: After disclosure, the interested person shall leave the Board meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon.

Procedures for Addressing Conflict of Interest

1. An interested person may present at the Board but must leave during the discussion and vote on the transaction or arrangement.
2. The Chairperson may appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement.
3. The Board, after due diligence, will decide if a more advantageous transaction not presenting a conflict of interest is available.
4. If not, the Board, by a majority vote of disinterested directors, decides if the transaction is in Baltimore Beat’s best interest and fair and reasonable.

Violations

The Board will take appropriate action if a member fails to disclose an actual or possible conflict of interest.

Article IV – Records of Proceedings

The minutes of the Board will record all disclosures of financial interest and the Board’s decision-making process regarding conflicts of interest.

Article V – Compensation

A Board member who receives compensation from Baltimore Beat must recuse themselves from any decisions about their compensation.

Article VI – Periodic Reviews

Periodic reviews will ensure Baltimore Beat’s operations align with charitable purposes and not jeopardize its tax-exempt status.

Article VII – Use of Outside Experts

Baltimore Beat may use outside advisors for periodic reviews but retains responsibility for conducting these reviews.

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This policy ensures Baltimore Beat operates with integrity, transparency, and in compliance with legal and ethical standards, reinforcing our commitment to our mission and the communities we serve.