Blunt Force Media is committed to truthful, fair, and responsible reporting that serves the public interest, minimizes harm, and maintains the trust of our audience.
We seek the truth and are diligent in the pursuit of accuracy in all reporting, prioritizing getting the facts right over being first to publish.
We make a good‑faith effort to reach all relevant parties, present their perspectives, and keep personal views from shaping news judgment or script writing.
We make a good‑faith effort to reach all relevant parties, present their perspectives, and keep personal views from shaping news judgment or script writing.
We rely on evidence, documents, and on‑the‑record sources whenever possible, and we explain our newsgathering methods to our audience when doing so is in the public interest.
We recognize that our reporting affects real people, so we weigh the public’s need to know against potential harm, particularly in coverage of victims, survivors, and minors.
We comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including broadcast rules and court orders, while still asserting and protecting press freedoms where warranted.
We rely on verifiable documents, records, and first‑hand accounts, and we independently confirm information before it appears in any script, article, or segment.
All scripts, articles, and segments must be built on verifiable information: public records, court filings, law‑enforcement documents, direct interviews, or reputable on‑the‑record sources.
Anonymous or unnamed sources are used sparingly, only when the information is critical to the public interest and the source faces a significant risk; their identity must be known to the assigning editor.
Claims from social media, third‑party content creators, or advocacy organizations must be independently confirmed before inclusion in news pieces.
Visuals (photos, video, screen captures) must be sourced, time‑stamped, and labeled accurately; altered or composite imagery is prohibited in news unless clearly disclosed as illustrative.
Editorial leaders are responsible for enforcing these standards, reviewing sensitive stories, and creating workflows that ensure rigorous, consistent quality control.
Blunt Force Media will maintain written news guidelines that are reviewed regularly and shared with all staff who create or manage content.
News leadership (news director, executive producer, or equivalent) is responsible for enforcing standards, approving sensitive stories, and ensuring workflows that support strong editorial review.
High‑risk stories—breaking crime coverage, exclusive investigations, and stories with major legal exposure—require at least one additional editorial and legal review before publication when feasible.
Staff must immediately elevate concerns about potential conflicts of interest, legal issues, safety risks, or ethical dilemmas to a supervisor for documented resolution.
When we discover errors or new facts, we correct or update our work promptly and transparently so audiences can see what changed and why.
When we discover a factual error, we correct it promptly, clearly, and in the same or comparable format and platform where the original piece appeared.
Corrections and editor’s notes should explain what was wrong, what has been changed, and the date of the correction, without obscuring the original mistake.
For developing or breaking stories, we label early information as preliminary and update scripts, articles, and social posts as new facts are verified, rather than silently editing in ways that alter the record.
If a story is found to be fundamentally flawed, we will retract it and publish a transparent explanation of what happened and what safeguards we are implementing to prevent a recurrence.
Our newsroom makes coverage decisions free from outside pressure, keeping news content separate from business, political, and promotional interests.
Blunt Force Media journalists at every level must maintain editorial independence from owners, advertisers, political campaigns, and other outside interests.
Business, sponsorship, and promotional considerations must not dictate story selection, framing, or tone; any sponsored or branded content must be clearly labeled so audiences can distinguish it from news.
Staff may engage in advocacy or opinion work only in formats that are clearly identified as commentary and must not allow such work to compromise the fairness and accuracy of straight‑news reporting.
Any attempt by external actors to exert improper influence over coverage—through pressure, threats, or incentives—must be reported to leadership, documented, and resisted in line with our commitment to independent journalism.
The Press Box is a collaborative meeting hosted by Blunt Force Media, bringing together journalists, agencies, and case parties to discuss critical developments in ongoing cases.
This platform provides an opportunity to review new details, address questions, and issue statements, ensuring transparency and alignment while maintaining the integrity of sensitive investigations.
Designed to foster collaboration and informed reporting, the Press Box supports impactful storytelling and advocacy for victims and their families.
For additional help or information, contact press@bluntforcemedia.com.
Confidentiality
We take the confidentiality of our tipsters seriously. Personal information provided will be kept confidential and will not be shared without explicit consent, except as required by law.
