Editorial Policy, Ethics Statement, and Corrections Policy

Editorial Policy & Standards – Published and Revised in September 2026

Dairyland Sentinel is dedicated to independent, investigative journalism and sharp commentary on Wisconsin government, education, public policy, and state leadership. Our mission is to inform the public, expose administrative overreach, and hold government officials and institutions accountable to the taxpayers they serve.

Separation of Reporting and Commentary We maintain a strict boundary between hard news reporting and analytical commentary.

News Reporting: Objective, primary-source-driven reporting focused on facts, public records, and verifiable evidence.
Commentary / Opinion: Analytical columns, op-eds, and editor’s notes offering perspective, critique, or argument. All non-reporting content is explicitly tagged with a Commentary badge at the top of the article and listed under dedicated commentary categories to ensure readers and search aggregators can distinguish analysis from hard news. Note: We are in the process of updating items posted prior to July 2026 to more clearly make this distinction.

Sourcing and Documentation Our reporting relies heavily on primary documentation, public records requests, state budget documents, official transcripts, and verified data from credible research institutions. Anonymous sources are used sparingly and only when necessary to protect individuals from administrative or professional retaliation, and only after independent corroboration by our editorial staff. As much as practicable, we link to the source documents within the body of the article.

Ethics Statement & Integrity Standards

Dairyland Sentinel operates under strict principles of editorial independence and transparency.

Editorial Independence: Our coverage is never influenced by outside entities. We do not accept payment in exchange for favorable coverage, and we do not run sponsored content disguised as news or commentary.
Conflicts of Interest: Our writers and editors disclose any personal, financial, or political conflicts of interest relevant to their coverage. When a potential conflict exists, it is disclosed within the text of the article.
Fact-Checking & Verification: All statements presented as fact undergo rigorous internal review. Data, quotes, and references to legislative actions or administrative decisions are verified against official records prior to publication. We value facts over “First!”
Respect for Readers: We strive to deliver candid, grounded journalism without misleading headlines, outrage farming, or manipulative clickbait.

Corrections Policy

Accuracy is fundamental to our work. When we make a factual mistake, we correct it quickly, transparently, and directly.

Correction Procedures

Factual Errors: If an article contains an incorrect statement of fact (e.g., wrong spending total, misquoted transcript, incorrect name or title), the text is updated, and a formal Correction note is added to the top or bottom of the article explaining what was changed, why, and when.
Clarifications: If an article is factually accurate but lacks necessary context that could mislead readers, we update the text and attach a Clarification note explaining the addition.
Typographical Errors: Minor spelling or grammatical edits that do not alter the facts or meaning of an article are corrected silently without a formal note.

How to Request a Correction We encourage readers to hold us accountable. If you believe you have identified a factual error or misrepresentation in any Dairyland Sentinel article, please contact us through our official editorial desk with the following details: