Editorial Standards

Sources and verification

Every article record must include at least one named source URL. Articles should distinguish facts stated by a source from First Coast Observer's own explanation or local context. A source link lets readers inspect the underlying material; it does not make every statement automatically correct.

Material claims should be checked against the issuing agency, original record, official data, or another appropriate primary source when one is available. Unsupported claims are removed rather than filled with plausible language.

Automated assistance

Automated tools may assist with source monitoring, topic filtering, draft preparation, duplicate detection, and image selection. They are not credited as authors. The owner and publisher remains accountable for the decision to publish.

A source release rewritten in different words is not enough by itself. Articles should add useful local context, comparison, explanation, source access, or another clear reason for the reader to use the page.

Bylines and roles

A byline identifies the person accountable for publication. Titles and biographies must describe real roles and must not invent reporting credentials. Sam Avanessov is identified as owner and publisher, not as a reporter.

Political and divisive content

First Coast Observer does not use party-versus-party conflict, outrage, or divisive identity framing as a content hook. When an elected official sponsors a bill, approves funding, changes a rule, or takes another newsworthy action, coverage focuses on the action, evidence, and local impact.

Party affiliation is omitted unless it is necessary for readers to understand the facts. Praise or criticism is based on the documented action and its effects, not the person's party.

Conflicts, ownership, and commercial coverage

If the publisher or an affiliated business has a material financial or ownership interest in the subject of an article, that relationship must be disclosed prominently. Local Business Profiles must provide genuine reader value and cannot disguise advertising or self-promotion as independent coverage.

Paid, sponsored, affiliate, or materially supported content must be labeled clearly. It must not be represented as independent editorial coverage.

Images and credits

Source-provided, licensed stock, and original images must be credited accurately when a credit is available. A stock or third-party image must not be represented as a photograph of the specific event, person, business, or project unless it actually depicts that subject.

Dates, updates, and corrections

Publication dates record the original publication time. An “Updated” date is used only after a meaningful reviewed change, not after a build, deployment, formatting edit, or metadata change.

Factual corrections appear on the affected article with a dated note explaining the correction. Requests may be sent to sam @ realtorinjax.citysam at realtorinjax dot city. Remove the spaces around the @ before sending.