Organization policies
Editorial policies
Editorial independence
OAJ publications and projects maintain strict editorial independence. Our publications will:
- Uphold the principles of the First Amendment.
- Report news in a transparent manner.
- Report the news free from political, commercial, and personal influence.
- Report the news with accuracy and fairness.
- Report facts of an issue. This may not always include “both sides” or “all sides.” In some cases, there are facts and deniers of facts, or there are facts and opinions. We aim to stick with fact.
Editorial process
To ensure OAJ’s publications and projects offer the highest quality journalism to our audiences, our editors and reporters will:
- Treat sources and information with an open mind as well as skepticism.
- Seek to give a better understanding of complex issues through the principles of solutions journalism, investigative journalism, and watchdog journalism.
- Fact-check sources and information.
- Ask sources to clarify information and quotes when necessary.
- Treat communities and individuals with respect.
- Be aware of people who need accommodations for interviews, such as interpreters or closed captioning, and provide those when necessary.
Editorial transparency
OAJ’s publications seek to demystify the news gathering, reporting, and publishing process by:
- Being transparent in reporting information.
- Being transparent in its use of technology.
- Being open and responsive to corrections.
- Avoiding conflicts of interest between staff and sources.
- Including an editor’s note and other clarifications if a conflict of interest is unavoidable.
- Identifying sources of information. OAJ will not use information attributed to “an anonymous source.” While on occasion a source’s name must be protected for their physical safety, OAJ publications in those cases will use an alternate name such as a middle name or commonly used pseudonym. These instances include when a source’s life or safety may be threatened by revealing their identity, such as for whistleblowers, refugees, or others whose safety is at risk.
Corrections, feedback, complaints, and removal of content
OAJ’s publications always strive for factual accuracy, but mistakes and disagreements do happen.
- If OAJ’s editors or reporters become aware of a factual error, corrections will be made in a timely manner and a time-stamped note will be added to the story.
- To report a factual error, email the editor of the publication.
- OAJ is open to feedback on our reporting. Our audience has the right to agree or disagree with OAJ’s reporting.
- Complaints, such as ethical violations, legal violations, or negligence, will be handled with the utmost seriousness and fully investigated by OAJ leadership. If necessary, OAJ leadership will involve legal counsel, law enforcement, and other appropriate third parties. To file a complaint, contact the managing editor or chief editorial officer.
- On occasion, OAJ publications may need to remove content for legal or ethical reasons. In such a situation, the page or location of the content will be replaced with an editor’s note explaining the removal.
Financial policies
Funding
Accessible Journalism, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation registered in Delaware. OAJ’s tax employee identification number (EIN) is 99-0687038.
OAJ relies on donations, grants, gifts, foundation funding, and sponsorships to operate, and accepts other philanthropic support. OAJ must maintain a minimum of 10 percent of funding from public donations.
Fiscal sponsorship
OAJ is fiscally sponsored by Alternative Newsweekly Foundation (ANF) under a Type C fiscal sponsorship agreement.
- ANF is a 501(c)(3) public charity incorporated in the District of Columbia.
- ANF’s federal EIN is 30-0100369.
- Donations to OAJ will be accepted by ANF on behalf of OAJ. Donations can be made by check, money order, stock, corporate matching, and as in-kind donations. Checks should be directed to ANF at 253 Tennessee Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 with a memo noting a directed donation for OAJ.
Financial independence
Although OAJ relies on philanthropic funding to operate, the editorial department maintains strict independence from all funding decisions and donor relations.
Acceptance of donations, grants, or sponsorships are not an endorsement of those donors, foundations, or sponsors. OAJ does not endorse products, corporations, organizations, people, politics, or positions.
AI and emerging technology policy
Defining artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is a broad term applied to a vast array of technology, including but not limited to machine learning, language learning, and deep learning. OAJ understands that as AI has grown in use, employees and those associated with OAJ will interact with various forms of AI in many ways.
OAJ seeks to adhere to our mission in the way it uses and interacts with AI on an ongoing basis to create accessible news and accessible jobs. This policy was established with input from volunteers on an AI policy advisory committee.
Use of AI as augmentative and assistive communication(AAC) and adaptive tools
OAJ recognizes that individuals have a variety of ways in which they communicate. Augmentative and Assistive Communication (AAC) includes ways people communicate other than talking, such as:
- Communication boards or tablets
- Generative speech devices and apps
- Other technology
Adaptive technology for disabled people also includes screen readers, voice typing features, Braille translators, and other technology. Increasingly, AAC tech uses language learning models, a form of AI. We encourage individuals working for and associated with OAJ to use the technologies that best suit their needs.
Use of AI as personal assistive tools
AI can be useful in assistive tools and technology, including creating workflows, reducing repetitive tasks, and assisting with minor program functions. Employees may find AI useful in everyday tasks such as transcribing interviews, assembling data, scheduling interviews, and acting as a virtual assistant. If the use of AI is assistive and helpful, does not replace the employee, and is verified by the employee themselves, we encourage its use.
Use of AI in research, fact checking, spell checking, and grammar checking
OAJ believes AI has merits in research and working with data. While OAJ permits and encourages the use of AI tools in research, data computations, fact checking, spell checking, and grammar checking, all credibility lies with the journalists and editors. All work requires final human verification and approval.
Use of AI and other technology in accessibility for end users
OAJ may employ AI and other technology to provide accessible content, including web site integrations, pre-recorded AI audio readouts of text, closed captioning of video made by AI, and AI transcribing of audio. When OAJ uses AI to create transcripts, audio readouts, captioning, or similar content, the end product must be edited by staff before distribution, and a note will be included that the product was made using AI.
Use of AI in original content for publication
OAJ strictly prohibits the use of generative AI and large language models in:
- Authorship of original copy, such as articles, headlines, summaries, photo captions, pullouts, etc.
- Creation of original graphics
- Manipulation of photographs, video, or audio
Use of OAJ content in language learning models
OAJ does not approve sharing or entering original journalistic content into any language learning models or other AI models for training or consumption. If OAJ is approached for a relationship to train an LLM or other AI model on its content, the chief of editorial will consider specific exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
Policy updates
As technology changes, the chief of operations and chief of editorial may update this policy. At such a time, an AI policy advisory committee will examine the policy and changes in the AI and technology landscape, then present findings with a recommendation to revise the policy if necessary.
Security policy
OAJ encourages employees to avoid sharing personal data outside of OAJ-approved technological environments for work-related purposes and to avoid entering such data into any non-OAJ-approved AI environment.
Your data and information
OAJ seeks to limit the amount of data it collects from its audience. OAJ or third parties may collect data in some instances:
- Data such as name, email address, and phone number may be collected when filling out a contact form or signing up for newsletters.
- Data such as name, email address, and credit or debit card information will be collected by GiveButter when making a donation. Please see GiveButter’s privacy policy for more information.
- Additional questions may be directed to info@accessiblejournalism.org.
Our data and information
Accessible Journalism, Inc. retains all rights to all original content published by OAJ and its publications and projects. To republish OAJ content, please credit and link to the original OAJ content.
Our content is intended to inform and educate the public. While our content is prepared with a wide audience in mind, not all content is appropriate for children. Parents should be advised to read and discuss content with their children for the best possible understanding.
Accessibility policy
At OAJ, accessibility is at the core of our mission. We believe accessibility for both our audience and our employees comes first. We are building our website with the newest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) in mind, using both universal design and inclusive technology.
However, several things remain true:
- We are humans trying to achieve the goal of accessibility.
- Accessibility is an infinite endeavor.
- Infinite accessibility allows us to continue to innovate.
- Innovation may lead us to make errors.
While we will always seek guidance from experts and community, as well as test and edit our products before releasing them to the public, if our efforts to make a more accessible product go awry, please let us know at info@accessiblejournalism.org.