Editorial standards and independence
Effective October 15, 2026 ยท Policy version 2026-10-15
Menifee Civic is an independently operated local news and public-information publication. It is not a government agency and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by the City of Menifee.
We prioritize documented facts, primary records and clear attribution. An official announcement is an agency's statement, not independent confirmation. We distinguish proposals, approvals, estimates, payments and outcomes. Multiple outlets repeating the same source do not constitute independent corroboration. We do not fabricate interviews, quotes, documents or firsthand reporting.
Original reporting, summaries of other publishers' work, official records, analysis, opinion and paid content must be distinguishable. We link and credit sources, respect access restrictions, and avoid substituting our summaries for another publisher's article. We use imagery we have created or have a lawful basis to use, with appropriate credit and archival/illustration labels. Credit alone is not permission.
Before publishing serious adverse allegations, we review relevant evidence and seek a meaningful response from the subject. We distinguish accusations from findings and convictions. People accused of crimes are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. We check identities, consider contrary evidence and avoid unnecessary personal details, especially involving children and victims.
Our editorial decisions are independent of officials, advertisers and donors. We do not accept payment to suppress or favor reporting. Material personal, financial, employment and political conflicts must be disclosed and addressed. Paid or affiliate relationships, if introduced, will be clearly labeled and subject to separate review.
Public-pay information identifies the employer, year and source. Position salary schedules do not establish an individual's earnings. Regular pay, overtime, other pay, benefits and total compensation are kept distinct using the source's definitions.
AI may assist research and drafting. A human editor is responsible for verification and approves publication. Every AI-assisted Menifee Civic article carries a visible AI transparency notice, with a methods note describing the assistance used. AI output is not evidence and cannot independently authorize publication. We do not represent a pen name as a separate staff member or a larger newsroom.
Ordinary story suggestions require an email for follow-up and are not a secure confidential channel. No confidentiality agreement arises solely from sending a tip. Do not submit sensitive personal data, passwords, confidential workplace documents or material requiring a secure whistleblower channel. Discuss source-protection terms before sending sensitive information; we do not promise immunity from lawful process.
Contact: parallaxmediacollective@gmail.com. These standards describe our practices and aims, not a guarantee of error-free coverage.