Editorial Policy
THE FORT ATKINSON INDEPENDENT REPORTER
Plain language information for the public
The Fort Atkinson Independent Reporter (FAIR) provides continuous news coverage on civic and business affairs for the purpose of advancing an informed community. We connect with credible information sources to help our readers more clearly understand the goings-on in and around the community, county, region, and state where relevant.
What we cover
Our news focus extends to such areas as (but not limited to) city council, school board, and county board; community health care; public safety; and the activities of local business and commerce groups, as well as the many civic groups contributing to our quality of life. We are also mindful of the maxim that “all politics is local.” Issues which at first glance seem to be of state or national relevance often find their way back to our local community. We watch for those kinds of impacts and make every effort to explain relevance with clarity.
Professional standards
Fort Atkinson Independent Reporter exemplifies the highest standards of integrity, fact-based objectivity, and nonpartisan reporting. We do not endorse political candidates. We do not advocate for partisan causes. Our funding comes from private capital and advertising - not a dime from public grants or other sources that would jeopardize our objectivity.
FAIR is a member of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), the world's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to broadcast and digital journalism. We join with RTDNA’s mission to promote and protect responsible journalism by fully conforming to the RTDNA Code of Ethics as to journalistic truth and accuracy, independence and transparency, and accountability for consequences.
As stated in the RTDNA Code of Ethics Preamble, “Journalism’s obligation is to the public. Journalism places the public’s interests ahead of commercial, political and personal interests. Journalism empowers viewers, listeners and readers to make more informed decisions for themselves; it does not tell people what to believe or how to feel.”
Ethical decision-making should occur at every step of the journalistic process, including story selection, news-gathering, production, presentation and delivery. Practitioners of ethical journalism seek diverse and even opposing opinions in order to reach better conclusions that can be clearly explained and effectively defended or, when appropriate, revisited and revised.
Politics vs. partisanship
Community journalism often involves political features of events or issues. It is vital to understand the difference between politics and partisanship. They are not the same; they are not interchangeable. “Political” refers to the art of reconciling the diverse and often conflicting interests that inevitably arise in a community where public policy is a central part. In contrast, “partisan” refers to arguments along party lines, where discourse may become closed-off to other outlooks or opinions, or where there is little or no ability to tolerate opposition; where there is a rooted antagonism to all conciliatory gestures. In the spirit of civil society, we honor the broad spectrum of public opinion; but equally, we ask that our readers respect diverse and conflicting interests which they may not share.
Citizen reporting & opinion
Fort Atkinson Independent Reporter encourages citizen news reporting. Readers should feel free to submit news tips, ideas and suggestions via fortatkinsonreporter@gmail.com. All such submissions are subject to our regular editorial policy. Letters to the Editor are welcomed. Publication is at the discretion of the Managing Editor where publishing decisions reflect professional standards of this Editorial Policy. Contributors may email letters to the Managing Editor, fortatkinsonreporter@gmail.com, or mail to: Managing Editor, Fort Atkinson Independent Reporter, Post Office Box 632, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin 53538.
Advertising
Classified and in-column display advertising is welcomed. Contact us for advertising policies and rates via email at fortatkinsonreporter@gmail.com, or call our office at 920-397-7276.
We look forward to serving you!
The Fort Atkinson Independent Reporter is an initiative of Citizen Leadership Forum/CLF News Agency, Inc. for the purpose of advancing an informed community. Please feel free to contact us with questions or comments. Thank you.
John Donohue, MADB, MSW, MPA
Managing Editor