Our survey and community interview guide can help
Old newsroom posts (do not use)
Seattle Times reporter Q&A accompanies investigative piece
WCPO reporter on wearing braids on TV
6am publishes plan for covering election
Grand News Source guiding principles
Capitol Times People’s Agendas
Colorado Sun ethics page
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel uses Instagram to explain shooting coverage
WITF box explaining late election results
Trust Tip #89: Prepare your audience for what to expect on Election Day (and beyond)
News Tribune editor responds to comments
Tennessean fact-checks local TV station
Fulcrum Voter FAQ
Chalkbeat Philadelphia asks for reader feedback
FiveThirtyEight’s disclaimer about polls
CPR’s guide for covering 2020 elections
News Tribune note about election coverage
PEN tip sheet for discussing misinformation
Austin Statesman’s contact page
WCPO asks viewers for candidates questions ahead of election
Green Bay Gazette letter to the editor process
Green Bay election guide
WCPO elections basics box
Colorado Sun explains approach to 2020 election coverage
Deseret News explains anonymous sources policy
Atlanta Journal-Constitution asks for public’s election questions
WCPO explains coverage decisions
Tulsa journalists defend their work
Trust Tip #86: Provide support (not anxiety) during elections
Trust Tip #83: Create an FAQ about your elections coverage
Trust Tip 82: If your coverage is nonpartisan, explain and defend that
Trust Tip 81: Help your audience consume polls responsibly
Rivard Report About Us page
AJC explains changes to election coverage
KBOO about page
WCPO explains how political advertising works
Trust Tip 80: Explain how political advertising works
Trust Tip 79: In negative feedback, look for opportunities
Crosscut transparent about trust, diversity efforts
Vox explains audience support program
NPR public editor on election misinformation in interview
Wirecutter explains removing outdated information
Trust Tip 77: Solicit (and answer) live questions about voting
Trust Tip 78: Help your users be smarter news consumers
Trust Tip 76: Take extra care when covering conspiracy theories (and tell your audience)
Trust Tips 75: Explain election basics
Trust Tip 74: Explain why a story is being done and encourage audience participation
Coloradoan explains bias toward facts
Community Impact Newspaper explains reporting process
Trust Tip 73: Learn how people perceive your election reporting
KING 5 anchors discuss inter-racial friendship
LAist provides synthesized information about coronavirus
Florida Today explains validity of SpaceX photo
WCPO shares station’s commitment to community
News 5 Cleveland explains why station doesn’t report scanner traffic
News 5 Cleveland explains breaking news policy
ProPublica explains decision behind publishing graphic video
PolitiFact explains fact-checking process
Indiana Daily Student explains protest photo policy
WCPO responds to viewer complains on air
Philadelphia inquirer owns up to headline mistake
KPRC asks for reader questions
Weather channel explains how ownership affects coverage
Guardian explains mission, asks for support
AJC explains approach to covering big story
AJC explains reporting process, context
WJXT4 explains reporting process, mission
Trust Tip #71: Acknowledge what you don’t know
NewsChannel 5 shows transparency admitting bias in Facebook posts
Philadelphia Inquirer explains newsroom processes
KPRC 2 responds to reader feedback
KPRC newsroom policy on President Trump press conferences
KPRC explains breaking news policy
Trust Tip #70: Acknowledge when you mess up
Trust Tip 69: Share your humanity while reporting on protests
Trust Tip 68: Do not neglect basic but vital pandemic information
WEWS combats misinformation about COVID-19 deaths
WLNS reporting on suicide
ProPublica transparency around fair news
Trust Tips 67: Demonstrate visual balance in political coverage
Atlanta Journal-Constitution on covering legislature
Guardian signposts older stories
Tennessean editorial board describes decision process
Coloradoan reporters share personal subscription pleas
WCPO on using Associated Press content
Atlanta Journal-Constitution on covering Georgia’s Legislature
Atlanta Journal Constitution front page
Herald and Review newsroom handout
USA TODAY policy graphic border photo
WCPO cuts back use of mugshots
Tamp Bay Times how this story was reported
Philadelphia Inquirer shares tips for finding trustworthy news
Day subscription plea during coronavirus
Vox support plea for explanatory journalism
Trust Tips 66: Show you’re part of your community during COVID-19
SF Chronicle reporting process explainer
SF Chronicle explain your process boxes, columns
Philadelphia Inquirer highlights breadth of journalism
Trust Tip 65: Help your audience navigate the news
Trust Tip 64: Disclose stimulus funds and explain the ethics involved
The Day asks community for support during COVID-19
WCPO explains how their COVID-19 coverage different from competitors
Spokesman-Review explains newsroom processes, ‘fake news’
WJXT4 explains beach visuals during COVID-19 aren’t altered
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explains visuals aren’t altered
Trust Tips 63: Demonstrate that your visuals aren’t manipulated
San Fransisco Chronicle uses explain your process boxes
San Fransisco Chronicle explains endorsements
Malheur Enterprise explains reporting process
Malheur Enterprise asks for community support
Salem Reporter explains reporting process
PA Post explains story selection process
NPR publishes internal newsroom policies and ethics guidelines
Levittown Now explains reporting process
The Oklahoman explains reporting process, story selection
Globe and Mail adds explain your process boxes
Toronto Star explains news vs sponsored content
The Echo addresses possible conflict of interest
Pinckneyville Press asks community for support
Colorado Sun uses credibility indicators to increase transparency
Atlanta Journal-Constitution community support during COVID-19
San Fransisco Chronicle explains anonymous sources
How the San Fransisco Chronicle cover candidates
AJC focuses on solution-based opinion content during coronavirus
Fort Worth Star-Telegram paywall during COVID-19
Trust Tips 62: Tell your audience that COVID-19 information might change
Caller-Times explains coverage
NYTimes explains breaking news during coronavirus pandemic
WEWS coronavirus explainer
Toronto Star adds trust ribbon to bottom of stories
Reporter shows breadth of journalism on Twitter
Toronto Star tweets out corrections
WTXL shuts down mugshots page
Toronto Star creates new labels for opinion content
Torstar posts standards guide
NPR’s developing story disclaimer
NPR creates searchable ethics handbook
NPR creates accuracy checklist for reporters
NPR changes design for labeling opinion stories
Globe and Mail’s policy for anonymous sources
Philadelphia Inquirer labeling opinion content
Herald and Review uses Twitter thread to highlight best journalism
Globe and Mail form for errors, corrections
Globe and Mail shares Editorial Code of Conduct
Cronkite Student Media gives users behind-the-scenes look
NPR explains non-pandemic related investigation
KVRR brings on expert to answer user’s questions about COVID-19
Buzzfeed shares mission with coronavirus coverage
Trust Tip 61: Do these four things right now to show you are trustworthy
Atlanta Journal Constitution explains COVID-19 coverage
Trust Tip 60: Don’t let political squabbles dominate COVID-19 coverage
Tampa Bay Times explains how coronavirus affecting paper’s bottom line
CalMatters asks for reader feedback during coronavirus outbreak
Atlanta Journal Constitution shares approach to coronavirus coverage
WCPO shows breadth of journalism with Acts of Kindness series
Arizona Daily Star explains how COVID-19 coverage affects bottom line
Coloradoan explains missions, goals with COVID-19 coverage
Virginian-Pilot highlights solutions, community resources during coronavirus outbreak
Tennessean adapts coverage during COVID-19 pandemic
Daily Telegraph gives answers reader questions during coronavirus outbreak
Guardian adds editor’s note about how newsroom covering coronavirus
Bozeman Chronicle explains changes during COVID-19 outbreak
WPCO adapts coverage, production during coronavirus outbreak
Atlanta Journal Constitution explains how coverage adapting during coronavirus outbreak
National Geographic combats spread of “fake news”
Trust Tip: Tell your audience you won’t tolerate misinformation
Trust Tip: Engage on social media during COVID-19
Bangor Daily News shares mission, goal for coronavius coverage
Columbia Dispatch shares mission surrounding coronavirus coverage
WCPO share goals, mission surrounding coronavirus coverage
Coloradoan comment moderation during Coronavirus outbreak
The Coloradoan moderation during Coronavirus outbreak
The Day explains why Coronavirus coverage is free
San Fransisco Chronicle talks to subscribers about covering Coronavirus
Coloradoan explains Coronavirus reporting approach
NBC asks questions, shows reporters are real people too during COVID-19 outbreak
San Fransisco Chronicle uses bot to reach users during Coronavirus outbreak
WCPO explains reporting process during Coronavirus pandemic
Christian Science Monitor asks for audience feedback during COVID-19 outbreak
WCPO explains changes to newsgathering with coronavirus
WMAR explains Coronavirus reporting process, asks for feedback
WEWS explains Coronavirus coverage
NPR discloses financial support
NPR adds ownership disclosure
Seattle Times comment policy
Coloradoan shares mission during Coronavirus outbreak
Caller-Times shares mission, goals, process
Coloradoan shares funding breakdown
Trust Tip 56: With coronavirus coverage, make your purpose clear
Trust Tip 55: Use a survey to solicit questions and feedback
Trust Tips 54: Create a “Contact Us” page
Trust Tips 53: Share your ethics and corrections policies
Trust Tip 52: Share your history, mission and values
Trust Tip 51: Let’s create an effective “About Us” page
Trust Tip 50: Use research to persuade colleagues to invest in earning trust
Trust Tips 49: Explain that some journalists are biased on purpose
Trust Tip 48: Equip journalists to respond to attacks on their credibility
Burlington Free Press explains anonymous sources
Entercom shares mission statement, core principles with audience
Michigan Public Radio contact us page
Christian Science Monitor responds to readers
Corpus Christi Caller-Times uses editor’s note for transparency with opinion piece
Trust Tip #47: Tell your audience what you think of “fake news”
Trust Tip 46: Build transparency into investigative pieces
Trust Tip 45: Show how your staff covers big news
KPCC/LAIST ‘How we’re reporting on this’
The Day newsroom process
Tennessean shows community investment
Michigan Daily’s anonymous source policy
Science News newsroom process
Gazette content removal policy
Lenoir News-Topic’s social media policy
Annenberg Media’s full disclosure series explains newsroom processes
Annenberg Media explains anonymous sources
KPRC crime guidelines
Trust Tip 44: Use newsletter A/B testing to test trust strategies
KPRC posts reporter bios
EIND explains Associated Press content
Sarasota Herald-Tribune explains paywall
KPCC/LAist publishes reporter mission statements
WPCO reminds viewers that reporters are people too
USA TODAY responds to reader feedback
The State shares guide when reporting on suicide
State News invites public to join the conversation
Caller Times explains opinion vs. news content
WCPO explains its coverage of presidential candidates
State highlights reader responses
Trust Tip 42: Remind your audience news is more than politics and crime
Caller Times labels opinion, watchdog content
Grady Newsource publicly posts guiding principles, ethics policy
The Day explains commitment to community through in-person event
Explaining mission, purpose on subscription page
Trust Tip 41: Have a clear policy about unpublishing stories
Trust Tip 40: Explain where opinion content comes from
Trust Tip 39: Use plain English in your disclosure statements
Trust Tip 38: Invest in getting buy-in from your newsroom
Trust Tip 37: Invite people into the newsroom
Trust Tip 36: Focus on the audience members who *aren’t* yelling at you
Trust Tip 35: Make your contact information truly accessible
Trust Tip 34: Explain your role as a watchdog
Trust Tip 33: If you get something wrong, explain yourself
Trust Tip 32: Transparency sidebars can be quick and easy
Trust Tip 31: When you’re right and other news outlets are wrong, tell your audience
Trust Tip 30: Use social media profiles to communicate trustworthiness
Trust Tip 28: Explain who writes an editorial (and who doesn’t)
Trust Tip 26: Reporters, explain your purpose
Trust Tip 25: Explain how you tried to reach a source
Trust tip 24: Ask for feedback regularly
Trust Tip 23: Create an Ethics Landing Page
Trust Tip 22: If you publish a graphic image, explain why
Trust Tip 21: Create a handout about your newsroom
Trust Tip 20: Explain your word choices
Trust Tip 19: Use labels for investigations, fact-checks and feature stories
Today’s trust tip: Clearly label opinion content
Today’s trust tip: Make it clear that you report on solutions, not just problems
Today’s trust tip: Talk about the cost of journalism
Trust Tip 14: Address “fake news” complaints
Trust Tip 13: Don’t talk about the boring parts of your work
Trust Tip 12: Get started with these three questions
Trust Tip 11: Explain how breaking news works
Trust Tip 10: If you strive for fairness, tell your audience
Trust Tip 9: Talk about your ownership
Discussing Sports Coverage in Facebook Comments
Using Facebook LIVE to Fact Check
WCNC Fact-checks a Viral Post on Social Media
Tone Matters in Facebook Comments
Address Fake News Concerns by Reporting On the Topic
Using Facebook Comments to Defend Your Journalism
WCPO Uses Facebook Comments to Ask for Feedback
ENID Uses Facebook to Introduce New Columnists
Jefferson City Uses Newspaper Page Layout to Demonstrate Balance
Jefferson City Shows Balance with an Editor’s Note
USA TODAY Uses Twitter to Share Opposing Viewpoints
USA TODAY Use Facebook to Bring Opposing Viewpoints to Users
Discussing Selection of Editorial Content on Facebook
Discussing Use of Anonymous Sources on Twitter
USA TODAY Discuss Covering Mass Shootings
Using a Newsletter to Highlight Solutions Journalism
Using Facebook to Highlight Solutions Journalism
Using Twitter to Highlight Solutions in Your Journalism
Focusing on Solutions at Alaska Public Media
CALMatters Discusses Why News Matters
Labeling Opinion Content on Facebook
Label Your Content: Entertainment Coverage
The Coloradoan Addresses Paywall
Trust Tip 8: Explain how you cover suicide
CALmatters Uses Twitter to Ask for Donations
WCPO Discusses Corporate Ownership
The Gazette Discusses Independent Ownership
The Day Discusses Nonprofit Arm
Explaining Outside Funding Support
Coloradoan Discussing Sponsored Coverage
Trust tip 7: Moderate comments on the conversations you host
Trust Tip 6: Explain your use of anonymous sources
Trust Tip 5: Show the breadth of your journalism
Trust Tips 4: Use Direct Language
Trust Tips 3: Be ready to discuss content you don’t produce
Trust Tips 2: Explain how you decide which stories to cover
Trust Tips 1: Ask how you could better earn trust
Highlight your Journalist’s Expertise
Assigning Journalists to Respond to Users
Creating an Internal Comment Guide for Newsroom
Responding to Negative Comments on Twitter
Explaining Word Choice and Asking for User Feedback
Updating an About Section
Inviting Students into the Newsroom
Reminding Your Audience You Want Their Help
Share Contact Information on All Platforms
Encouraging Civic Responsibility by Registering People to Vote
Video: How to Submit a Letter to the Editor
Asking Facebook Users What They Want to Read
Explaining Comment Policies
Explaining Your Election Coverage Mission
Breaking Down a Story by Sharing Who You Talked To
Asking if information was “helpful” or “not helpful”
Linking Coverage Online
Explaining the Editorial Page
Linking Opposing Viewpoints Online
Highlighting Variety of Coverage Online
Creating Story Pages Online to Link Coverage
Using a Pro/Con List to Highlight Balanced Coverage
Looking at Bias and Asking for Feedback
Always Looking for Different Perspectives
Sharing Mission and Explaining Journalism with Tweets
Sharing Your News Mission
Do you Trust Us?
Creating Community by Creating a Facebook Group
Explaining Crime Coverage Decisions
Explaining Coverage Decisions with Editors Note
Celebrate Your Journalism
Explaining Coverage Decisions Using Facebook
Responding to Critical Comments on Facebook
Using Historic Photos to Show History in Community
Asking Users What Local Stories They Want Covered
Adding Context to a Story Using Twitter
Sharing Your History Using Facebook Story (About) Feature
Relating to Users Through Facebook
Speaking Out Against “Fake News”
Highlighting Award-Winning Journalism Using Facebook
Explaining Coverage on Divisive Issues Jefferson City
Highlighting Award-Winning Journalism Using Twitter
Explaining Your News Process Using Facebook Live
Using Crowdsourcing and Facebook to Connect the Community
Connecting to the Community by Sharing Local History
Using Facebook to Answer Questions About News Process
Explaining Ownership Structure Using Facebook
Using Twitter to Share How You Work to Earn User Trust
Anticipating Negative Feedback and Addressing it Directly
Discussing your Commitment to Earning User Trust
Discussing Your Core Beliefs
Distinguishing Your Coverage from National News
Explaining Your Editorial Process
Sharing Your Approach to Trust
Explaining How you Put Together a Newscast
Highlight Community Connection
Talking ownership and ethics at KCRG
Explaining News Coverage Decisions: School Threats
Explaining News Coverage Decisions: Suicides
Sharing Your Ethics Policy
Inviting Users to Weigh-in on Coverage Decisions
Sharing your Commitment to Following Stories
Defending News Coverage Decisions to Facebook Users
Responding to Paywall Complaints
Explaining your Ethics Policy
Clearly Identifying and Sharing Community Guidelines for a Facebook Group/Page
Explaining Opinion Coverage
Explaining Opinion Coverage Using Facebook Live
Responding to Criticism and Explaining Breaking News
Stepping in as Customer Service Providers
Using Reddit to Build Conversation
Asking Users: What Do You Want to Know?
Asking Users: Did We Miss Anything?
Talking about Journalism
Discussing Story Selection
Correcting a Mistake Involving National News
Simplifying Internal News Tip Process
Turning User Questions into a Follow-up Story
Inviting Users to Participate in the Story
Asking for Feedback Using Facebook Comments
Making Contacting a Reporter Easier
In-Person Meeting at a Local High School
Ask Users: What Questions do you Have?
Responding to User Criticism by Adding an Editor’s Note
Explaining Your Reporting Process
Explaining How you Find Sources
Explaining Story Selection in a Newsletter
Explaining Reporting Process in TV PKG
Explaining Reporting Process During Breaking News
Being Honest About Holes in News Coverage
Explaining Coverage Decisions: Political Coverage
Explaining Coverage Decisions on Facebook: Crime
Explaining Coverage Decisions: Crime
Creating and Sharing Community Guidelines on Facebook
Responding to Critical Facebook Comments
Adding Context to Reporting Using Pull-Out Box
Explaining Your Coverage: Crime
Explaining News Coverage: Mugshots
Explaining News Coverage: Comics
Explaining News Coverage: Guns
Explaining Olympics “spoilers” at USA Today
Addressing Delivery Delays Directly
Explaining News Vs. Opinion
Explaining How Headlines are Written
Explaining FOIA to Build Credibility
Explaining Use of Anonymous Sources
Explaining Letters to the Editor
Clarifying the comments section at The Virginian-Pilot
Explaining news terms at the Virginian-Pilot
Explaining Coverage Decisions: Officer Involved Shootings
Sharing the “why” behind an investigation at WCPO
Emphasizing transparency at WCPO
Highlighting an investigation at WITF
Sharing social strategy at WITF
Handling a sensitive story at WITF
Explaining the editing process at WITF
Addressing concerns over breaking news at WITF
Highlighting promotions at the Jefferson City News Tribune
Showing community involvement at the Jefferson City News Tribune
Sharing reporters’ personalities at The Day
Using Instagram to go behind-the-scenes at Discourse Media
Taking pride in local coverage at The Coloradoan
Hashtagging story types at The Virginian Pilot
Defining story types at The Virginian-Pilot
Labeling fact-check stories at The Coloradoan
Helping reporters boost social credibility at The Virginian Pilot
Showing investigative impact at The Virginian Pilot
Highlighting new hires at CALmatters
Introducing newsroom staff at The Virginian Pilot
Sharing personal stories at The Christian Science Monitor
Instagram introductions at The Christian Science Monitor
Cofee with the Editor
Asking: What Needs More Follow-Up?
Follow-up Stories Based off User Questions
Asking Users Who you Should Use as Sources
Asking for Feedback in Print
Helping News Consumers Find Information Through Twitter
Ask Your Users if They Trust you
Explaining a Paywall by Encouraging User Comments & Questions
Involving the Community in Enforcing Community Rules
Asking for Feedback Using Twitter
Show You’re Part of the Community: We are Fort Worth
Explaining Journalism and Your News Values Through Facebook Live
Making time for Facebook Comments
What are we Missing? Asking for Story Ideas
Local Facebook Group Encouraging Civil Conversations
Inviting Veterans into the Newsroom
Highlighting Multiple Perspectives Using Pull-Out Box
Promoting civility and generating discussion at The Tennessean
Showing depth of coverage at Community Impact Newspaper
Opening up about reporting at Discourse
Crowdsourcing Story Ideas at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Inviting Feedback at the Christian Science Monitor
Fresno bee advocate
What do you stand for? Can you boil it down? And do you share it with your community (in ways other than hoping they’ll find it on your website)?
Fresno watchdog story
Remind your community about your mission and purpose. Tell them you work on behalf of the public. Use specific language and strong words, like watchdog and investigation, rather than hoping those concepts are clear.