Our ethics and standards
Fremont Neighbor is an independent publication dedicated to the people, places, and stories that make Fremont what it is. We cover everything from neighbor profiles and local history to community events and the occasional issue that affects where we all live.
A note on “we”: Fremont Neighbor is mostly one person, founder Alyson Teeter, with help from freelancers and a lot of neighbors who send tips, photos, and ideas. “We” includes all of them.
We’re factual. We work to verify facts before publishing. When we’re not certain about something, we say so. If we make a mistake, we correct it prominently and explain what changed.
We’re fair. If a story reflects critically on a person, business, or organization, we give them a genuine opportunity to respond before we publish. We don’t take quotes or clips out of context, and we don’t sensationalize.
We’re transparent. We’re clear about who we are and what a story is about, and we tell sources how their information will be used. We work with sources upfront if they want something kept private or off the record. We are responsive if sources have concerns after publication.
We’re independent. Our editorial judgment belongs to us alone. No partner, sponsor, or supporter influences what we cover or how we cover it, and none of them preview stories before publication. We don’t accept free goods, meals, or services in exchange for coverage. When a story involves a personal connection, like a friend, an organization we belong to, or an event we’re helping organize, we say so in the story or step back from covering it.
We’re open about our funding. Fremont Neighbor is a small, independent LLC, veteran-owned and woman-owned. We’re funded primarily by the founder and her family, with support from readers through Patreon and Venmo. We’ll name any grant funders or business partners who support our work.
We label what’s paid. When we work with local business partners, whether in print or online, paid placements are always clearly labeled and look different from our editorial content. Partnering with us doesn’t buy coverage, and it doesn’t protect anyone from it.
We’re resourceful. We’re a small operation, and we use AI tools as part of our workflow, including help with drafting. How much varies by story. Every piece is grounded in our own reporting and verified sources, and every piece is fact-checked and reviewed by a human before it’s published. We stand behind everything we publish.
We treat people with care. We’re mindful that being written about can feel exposing. We’re especially careful with people who aren’t used to talking to reporters. We don’t pursue details that would cause harm without serving any real public interest.
We’re accountable. Readers can reach us directly with concerns about accuracy, fairness, or how we handled a story. We take those seriously and respond.
We’re your neighbors. We live here too. That’s the Fremont state of mind, and it shapes everything about how we do this work.
Questions or concerns? Reach us at editor@fremontneighbor.com.