The Southbury Record

The Southbury Record’s Ethics & Editorial Values

A living guide for how we report, engage and stay accountable to the community we serve.

We’re not trying to be everything for everyone. We’re trying to be a resource that is useful, fair and honest for Southbury.

Unlike regional legacy papers that stretch coverage across dozens of towns, The Southbury Record exists for one place: this one. That means our relationship with our readers — your trust — is everything. We’re building this in real time, with you. And that means we need clear principles.

1. Truth Comes First

We’re not here to sensationalize or chase clicks. We value facts, context and nuance. We take extra care when reporting on our neighbors.

  • We verify before we publish. No rumors. No anonymous Facebook drama passed off as reporting.
  • We add context, not just quotes. We don’t just “he said/she said” and walk away. We explain what’s at stake.
  • We slow down if it means getting it right.
2. We Cover What’s Here, Not Just What’s Easy

In a small town, access and trust matter. But so does independence. Just because someone’s well-known, elected or liked doesn’t mean they’re off-limits.

  • Everyone gets a chance to respond. We don’t publish one-sided attacks.
  • We won’t look away from difficult stories, but we’ll report them with care, especially when they involve youth or vulnerable people.
  • We prioritize coverage that matters to residents’ day-to-day lives: schools, budgets, land use, politics, businesses and the environment.
3. We Are Not Pay-to-Play

Sponsored content will always be clearly marked. No one gets to buy a flattering feature or shape editorial direction.

  • Ads are ads. They help us keep the lights on. They do not impact our reporting.
  • We don’t accept gifts or favors from the people or organizations we cover.
  • We’ll disclose partnerships.
4. Corrections Are Part of the Job

We’ll mess up sometimes. But we will own it, clearly and publicly.

  • Minor edits (typos, clarifications) will be noted at the bottom of stories when relevant.
  • Factual errors will be corrected and time-stamped. We’ll clearly mark what changed and why.
  • Corrections inbox: If you see something wrong, email us at news@southburyrecord.com. We’ll aim to respond within 24-48 hours.
5. We Respect Privacy, But Not at the Cost of Accountability

We don’t publish mugshots. We don’t name minors accused of crimes. We don’t chase after sensational police blotter stories just to feed the rumor mill.

Local crime reporting needs a reset.

The way crime has traditionally been reported, especially by legacy outlets, is broken. It’s often little more than police stenography or doxxing, designed to stoke fear among communities like ours. It gives the illusion of safety by “othering” people who are often already marginalized.

We don’t participate in that.

Instead, we approach public safety coverage with these priorities:

  • We focus on systems, not just incidents. If there’s a pattern or trend of policing, policy failure, or lack of accountability, we’ll dig into it.
  • We investigate who holds power, and how it’s used, misused, or ignored. That includes town officials, town boards, landlords, and public agencies.
  • We report on harm with care, especially when it impacts vulnerable people, like victims of domestic violence, overdose or poverty.

    We believe the public deserves transparency from those who govern and enforce laws. But transparency does not require fear-mongering. It means asking harder questions, not repeating press releases.
6. Feedback Is Not Just Welcome, It’s Part of the Process

If you think we got something wrong, missed a story, or need to do better, we want to hear from you.