The Brant Beacon is an independently-owned local news organization serving Brantford, Brant County, Six Nations of the Grand River and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Since launching in 2021, we have had an unwavering commitment to delivering quality, trustworthy, factual news.
The Brant Beacon adheres to the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Code of Journalistic Ethics which emphasizes accuracy, fairness, independence, integrity and respect. Our adoption of this code underscores our commitment to journalism that is in the public interest. As a reputable, trusted, news organization in a democracy, our purpose is to enable citizens to know what is happening and to clarify events through accurate, fair, and relevant stories told in a clear and compelling way.
The Brant Beacon is independent of commercial or political interests. We do not accept gifts in exchange for news coverage in order to avoid any conflict-of-interest or appearance thereof.
When we publish opinion pieces, The Beacon will clearly label those as “commentary” or “opinion” and ensure they do not misrepresent other points of view.
Diversity
The Brant Beacon aims to reflect diversity by recognizing that past and present social injustices, blatant prejudice and unconscious bias still exist within our country. We aim to embrace and accurately represent the rich perspectives and experiences that arise from racial, ethnic, socio-economic, sexual, gender, differently abled and religious diversity within our community.
We seek out diverse voices in our sources and stories and within our workforce. Corrections
The Brant Beacon strives to always be accurate. Our credibility depends on that. We will promptly correct significant errors of fact in our journalism once we determine that an error has been made. We stand by published information as accurate. If it’s not, we will change it as quickly as possible and be transparent with our readers about the error.
Stories are not considered inaccurate because there have been additional developments in a story after its original publication. The Brant Beacon will, however, consider new information to determine whether an update is necessary. In the case of an update, a specific notification will be posted through a time stamp that indicates an online update has occurred. In this digital age, our archive of material is very important, as is a permanent record of the information available at the time of original publication.
In exceptional cases, where material or parts of a story have been shown to be substantially wrong, we will review it and determine whether the original story should be revised or whether an update, clarification or correction should be published. The content of a significant
correction or clarification and its timing and placement is the responsibility of senior news management.
Since our material is available indefinitely and can be searched and retrieved online, we are sometimes asked to remove certain articles from our website. We do not, except in very narrow circumstances, unpublish articles. If someone changes their mind about being quoted, that is not a good enough reason to remove content from our archives.
We will only consider removal requests in rare circumstances and any decision to remove content in these instances must be weighed against the public’s right to know and the historical record – and only after consultation with senior news management, who will make the final decision.
However, if there is a change in circumstances, The Brant Beacon will review new information and consider whether it is warranted to update our story, or remove it completely. For example, if criminal charges were dropped after we had reported that a person was charged with an offence.
Verification/fact-checking standards
The Brant Beacon is committed to publishing accurate information. We take many steps to ensure this. Our newsroom directly investigates claims, confirms information with subject-matter experts, seeks to corroborate what sources tell us by talking with other informed people, and consulting documents. We question assumptions, challenge conventional wisdom, verify content, and make clear who is providing the information and why.
We guide our journalists to ask the following questions when they are seeking the truth and verifying information:
● How do you know?
● How can you be sure?
● Where is the evidence?
● Who is the source, and how does the source know?
● What is the supporting documentation?
● Could this have been faked?
Unnamed sources policy
Our objective is to get everything on the record because our readers deserve to know where we get our information, who our sources are and why such comments merit trust. We strive to attribute all comments and guard against those who wish to use anonymity as a means to hide the truth. When official sources choose not to respond to us, we will tell you this.
Sometimes, there are circumstances when permitting anonymity is necessary to obtain sensitive information vital to the public good. That is when the source might face harm, legal
jeopardy or loss of livelihood for speaking with us. When we believe these circumstances warrant anonymity, The Brant Beacon will be transparent with readers about our choice.
Additional news sources
Besides our own original, local journalism – which is the hallmark of The Brant Beacon and our reason to exist – we also publish material from our content partner CHCH News. CHCH News is an independently-owned multi-platform news organization headlined by Canada’s leading local heritage television station, CHCH-TV. It shares The Beacon’s commitment to delivering quality, trustworthy, factual news.
We believe public feedback is essential. We are committed to engaging with you and taking action based on your suggestions, complaints, kudos and other feedback.
You may help us develop an individual story or line of coverage, answer questions that a story may raise, identify related or under-covered issues, and teach us about new and diverse sources, experts and perspectives.
We believe news organizations have a lot to gain from engaging with viewers and readers and that we also have a responsibility to talk with the public on the values, issues and ideas of the day.
Here’s how you can reach us directly:
Newsroom: news@brantbeacon.ca
Micheal Stamou, Editor: michael.stamou@brantbeacon.ca
