Methodology and Sourcing Standards

FredCo Paper Trail practices document-driven local reporting. We aim to show readers not only what we concluded, but what evidence supports it.

Sources

We prioritize primary sources, including meeting records, budgets, contracts, procurement files, court records, policies, correspondence, public datasets, and direct interviews.

When practical, our reporting links to or identifies the underlying records so readers can examine them independently. We distinguish documents we have reviewed from claims made by sources.

Verification

We seek corroboration for consequential factual claims and check names, dates, quotations, dollar amounts, and document context before publication. When evidence is incomplete or disputed, we say so.

Anonymous sources are used sparingly. We consider whether the information is important, whether the source is positioned to know it, why anonymity is necessary, and whether the account can be independently supported.

Fairness and Response

People and institutions facing meaningful criticism will ordinarily be given a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication. Their response (or their failure to respond by the stated deadline) may be included fairly and in context.

Analysis and Opinion

News reporting, analysis, and commentary should be clearly distinguishable. Interpretations will be identified as such and grounded in disclosed evidence.

Privacy and Harm

Public availability does not automatically make every personal detail newsworthy. We weigh civic relevance against foreseeable harm, especially when reporting involves private individuals, minors, victims, medical information, or sensitive identifying details.

Independence

FredCo Paper Trail does not invent sources, quotations, documents, or a personal biography for its byline. C. L. Horn is the publication’s investigative byline.