Terms & Legal

Audit Newport News is an independent local news agency covering Newport News, Virginia. We publish reporting, commentary, source documents, employee and officeholder information, and links to public resources so readers can examine how public institutions operate.

Editorial responsibility & transparency

The editor is responsible for decisions about verification, publication, corrections, source handling, and the public records collection. Use publication requests to raise an accountability concern with the editor. The publication name identifies this editorial service; it does not establish a separate incorporated entity, nonprofit status, professional accreditation, or legal protection.

Funding information is not published here. No sponsorship, ownership relationship, or financial support should be inferred from a source citation, an external link, or the inclusion of a person or organization. Material financial interests, paid placements, sponsorships, or other conflicts that affect a published item should be disclosed with that item when applicable. Any future general funding disclosure must reflect verified arrangements.

We are not a government agency, an official city or school division website, a law enforcement authority, or a certified financial audit service. The word “Audit” describes our public accountability mission. Inclusion of an agency, employee, document, photograph, or external link does not imply that its subject sponsors, approves, or endorses this publication.

Editorial decisions should serve the public interest and remain independent of the people and organizations covered. Material personal, financial, professional, or political relationships relevant to a report should be disclosed. Author-created proposals, opinion, satire, and any sponsored material must be clearly identified. Payment or other benefits must not determine favorable coverage or the suppression of a report.

Our standard is accurate, fair, evidence-based reporting with enough context for readers to assess the information themselves. We identify supporting records where practical and distinguish documented facts, allegations, disputed statements, unanswered questions, analysis, and opinion.

• Verification and context. Check sources, dates, identities, quotations, calculations, and the scope of a record. A statement appearing in an official document is evidence of what the document says; it is not necessarily proof that the underlying allegation is true.
• Fairness and due process. Seek relevant perspectives and a meaningful opportunity to respond when reporting serious criticism, consistent with deadlines and the circumstances. A complaint, investigation, arrest, or charge does not establish guilt. Report known outcomes and material changes when they affect an earlier account.
• Clear distinctions. Label commentary, satire, and illustrative material. AI-generated images must be identified and must not be presented as documentary photographs or proof of an actual event. Any AI-assisted work remains subject to editorial verification and responsibility.
• Dates and updates. Publication dates establish when a report first appeared. Older reports reflect the evidence available at that time. Explain material corrections or updates rather than silently changing the substance of a published account.
• Proportionate disclosure. Consider the public significance of information alongside foreseeable harm, especially where children, victims, families, or people with limited involvement in a public issue are concerned.

These standards guide editorial decisions; they do not make every source complete or infallible. Readers are encouraged to examine the linked evidence and bring specific discrepancies to our attention.

Our work draws on public records, official websites, public meetings, court and administrative materials, and other attributable sources. Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act defines public records by their connection to public business, regardless of their format. Access and exemptions depend on the applicable law and circumstances. See Virginia Code § 2.2-3701.

Public availability does not settle accuracy, privacy, or reuse rights. A publicly accessible record can contain errors, contested claims, outdated information, or sensitive details. Access under a public records law is not a blanket license to republish every part of a document, and an official source does not eliminate the need for editorial judgment.

Records are presented with source and date information when available. A scanned document, extracted text, summary, or search result may omit formatting or context; consult the underlying record before relying on a consequential detail. Redactions, excerpts, and editorial annotations should be identified. Publication or inclusion in our collection does not certify authenticity beyond the verification described for that item.

Archives preserve the history of public issues. A later change in an agency’s website, policy, employment roster, or legal proceeding may not appear in an older record. For a current official determination or a formal records request, contact the responsible public body. Audit Newport News cannot process a government agency’s FOIA request or guarantee access to its records.

The Employee Directory and officeholder profiles provide context about public service and institutional responsibility. Roster dates, source descriptions, and qualifications on individual pages are part of the information and should accompany any reuse.

A dated roster cannot establish that a person is employed today. Multiple assignments or entries may refer to the same individual. Officeholders and appointed officials are distinct from ordinary employee roster entries. A shared name, title, department, or photograph alone does not establish an identity match or a person’s involvement in a reported event.

Published pay information may describe a position, salary range, hourly rate, or dated offer rather than an individual’s actual compensation. A role match is not confirmation of personal pay, and annual, hourly, part-time, and supplemental amounts cannot be treated as interchangeable. Use the source and its stated basis before drawing a conclusion.

Official work contact information is provided for legitimate civic and professional communication. It does not invite repeated unwanted contact or targeting of a person’s private life. These pages are not verified background checks or screening reports. Anyone making employment, financial, or other consequential decisions must independently verify relevant information and meet their own legal obligations.

For this policy, doxing means exposing or combining personal identifying information to facilitate targeting, intimidation, harassment, or intrusion into a person’s private life. Naming a public official, discussing official conduct, or publishing relevant public information is not automatically doxing. Purpose, context, sensitivity, and foreseeable consequences matter.

The following uses and submissions are prohibited under our site policies:

• Threats, stalking, targeted harassment, intimidation, or encouragement of violence against any person, family, or group.
• Publishing or compiling private home addresses, personal telephone numbers, financial or identity credentials, health information, children’s identifying details, or other sensitive data to enable personal targeting.
• Using work contacts for abusive messages, coordinated harassment, or repeated unwanted personal contact; seeking out relatives or private locations to pressure a person over public reporting.
• Identity theft, impersonation, fraud, or false claims that Audit Newport News or a public agency endorses a message, product, accusation, or campaign.
• Deceptively editing, fabricating, or presenting extracts without material qualifications to misrepresent a source, falsely implicate someone, or pass an illustration or satire off as evidence.
• Attempting to bypass submission controls, access the private editorial inbox, obtain unpublished files without authorization, or disrupt the service.

Virginia Code § 18.2-186.4 addresses specified publication of identifying information with intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass. Whether particular conduct violates that statute or another law depends on the facts and applicable legal requirements. Our safety policy is broader than a determination of criminal liability.

Report a concern through a safety review request, identifying the page and the specific information or conduct involved. Describe the risk without unnecessarily repeating sensitive data. We may decline submissions, restrict abusive use, redact unnecessary sensitive material, preserve relevant evidence, or respond to lawful process as appropriate. We cannot control every third party’s copying or conduct. For immediate danger, contact emergency services rather than waiting for an editorial response.

Accuracy concerns, requests for a response, and privacy or removal requests are reviewed on their merits. Use publication requests and choose the category that fits the concern: correction or response, privacy or removal, safety or doxing, copyright, or source confidentiality. Ordinary privacy and safety requests do not require copyright declarations, a home address, or an identity document. Include:

• The page URL, document title, or employee profile involved.
• The exact statement, identifying information, or omission you believe needs attention.
• The proposed correction or requested action, with reliable supporting evidence and relevant dates.
• A submission reference, if available, and contact information if you want follow-up.

We aim to review substantive concerns promptly, verify the evidence, and correct material factual errors with an explanation and date. Minor spelling or formatting edits may be made without a separate notice when they do not change meaning. A disputed interpretation may warrant clarification, additional sourcing, or a published response rather than a factual correction.

People and agencies discussed in a report may provide a relevant response. Publication is subject to editorial review for accuracy, relevance, length, privacy, and legal concerns; submitting a response does not guarantee verbatim or automatic publication. Fair criticism and disagreement should not be confused with harassment.

Removal and redaction decisions consider accuracy, public interest, sensitivity, risks to vulnerable people, the age and context of the record, and the integrity of the archive. Accurate reporting is not automatically removed because it is unwelcome or embarrassing. A demonstrated safety, identity, or privacy concern may warrant a different response. We can change material under our control but cannot guarantee removal from search engines, caches, archives, or copies held by others.

Receipt, decision & reconsideration

A successful submission receives an ANN reference and enters the private editorial inbox. The editor can record review notes, information needed, a decision, follow-up, and preservation needs. Receipt acknowledges delivery; it does not promise continuous monitoring, a response deadline, or a particular outcome. A reference is not a public status tracker.

Where contact details are available, the editor may ask questions or communicate the action and reasons using the supplied method. Saving a private decision does not automatically send a message. Possible actions include correcting or clarifying text, adding a relevant response, replacing or redacting a file, restricting access, removing material, or retaining it with an explanation.

To request reconsideration, submit a follow-up with the reference, identify the decision, and explain any overlooked fact, changed circumstance, or new evidence. Anonymous concerns can still be reviewed, but we cannot reply without a contact method. Repeated requests without new information may be closed after a substantive review.

The private tip form is for leads, supporting material, and newsroom communication. Tips and attachments are reviewed privately and are not published automatically. Contact information is optional; omitting it can limit our ability to verify a lead or ask follow-up questions.

Protecting sources requires care and clear expectations. If confidentiality is important, explain the concern before supplying especially sensitive material. A request for confidentiality, an anonymous selection, or a “confidential” label does not by itself establish an agreed source-protection arrangement, a legal privilege, or a guarantee of anonymity. Any specific confidentiality commitment must be expressly agreed with the editor.

The confidentiality discussion option records that you want to discuss terms. Supply a safe contact method and describe the protection sought without sending the sensitive material itself. An agreement should identify its scope, attribution, limits, and evidence of express acceptance by the source and editor. The editor can retain those terms separately from the original request; selecting a box does not create them.

See the legal notice on news-agency status and qualified source protection. Editorial confidentiality commitments and statutory coverage are separate questions.

Information may need to be verified through records or questions to the people involved. We consider source safety and unnecessary identifying details during that process. Legal obligations, valid legal process, and technical limitations can affect what protection is possible. The form is not an end-to-end encrypted or untraceable reporting channel; file metadata, distinctive facts, and content can identify a sender.

Only provide material you are legally entitled to share. Do not obtain information through hacking, impersonation, theft, or unauthorized access, and do not submit someone else’s passwords or access credentials. If disclosure may implicate a legal duty, confidential relationship, or court restriction, seek independent legal advice before sending it.

This is an editorial contact service, not an emergency service or a continuously monitored reporting hotline. In an emergency or an immediate threat to safety, call 911 or the appropriate emergency authority.

The public document submission form is for material intended for possible publication in the records collection. Submissions remain private until editorial approval. Review considers source, relevance to Newport News, completeness, duplication, publication rights, and unnecessary personal information. Approval confirms inclusion in the collection; it does not certify every statement in a document.

Submit only records you may lawfully provide and authorize for public sharing. Supply an accurate title, description, original source, and date when known. Explain whether the file is an original, a copy, an excerpt, or a redacted version. Do not misrepresent authorship, alter a document to deceive readers, or imply that a personal proposal was issued by a government agency.

Before uploading, review the entire file and its metadata. Remove unnecessary private addresses, identification numbers, credentials, financial details, student information, medical information, and identifying details about children or victims. Mark meaningful redactions and preserve enough context to avoid misleading readers. Use the private tip form for a confidential lead rather than the public document process.

After approval, the title, description, source notes, filename, and approved document become public. The optional contact field remains private. Do not put private contact information in fields or files intended for publication.

Submitting material does not transfer ownership or give us rights you do not hold. The sharing permission covers editorial review and publication as described by the form, subject to applicable law and third-party rights. We may decline a submission, request clarification, publish an identified excerpt or redacted copy, add context, correct an entry, or withdraw an item. Contact the newsroom promptly if you need to flag a concern before publication.

Permission receipts & retained versions

New document submissions retain the sharing statement shown on the form, its version, receipt time, and the received publication details. Uploaded copies receive a file digest for comparison. These records document the submission process; they do not prove ownership, authenticity, accuracy, or a lawful basis for every later use.

Public documents and proposed connections are reviewed by the site owner or approved moderators. A connection must identify an exact public item and a supported relationship. Pending suggestions remain private. Approved links appear in both places; replacing, changing or withdrawing a document hides its community connections until the current version is reviewed again. Moderators can create a case from an approved document and request additional records. The owner approves staff accounts, revokes access; private tips, retained earlier copies, deletion controls and access management remain restricted to the owner.

Editorial reviews retain publication details and decision notes in private history. Earlier file copies remain restricted to the editor when a corrected or redacted file replaces them. A replacement returns the item to pending review and withdraws site downloads until the new copy is approved. Public record pages show approved change notices, dates, and the current file digest where available, without exposing private contacts, raw submission history, or earlier files.

Existing entries may have only a first retained baseline rather than a received original or historical permission receipt. We do not reconstruct missing consent or past edits. Withdrawing or deleting an item cannot recall copies already downloaded or held by third parties.

Our privacy notice explains information collected through the forms, private editorial access, optional contacts, provider services, retention review, preservation holds, and deletion requests.

For a privacy or deletion concern, use a privacy request. Include enough information to locate the item and a safe contact method if you need a reply. Do not send unnecessary identity documents.

Audit Newport News retains rights in its original protectable reporting, photographs, illustrations, and other work where it owns those rights. Third-party documents, photographs, videos, and other materials remain subject to their owners’ rights and any license or lawful exception. We do not claim ownership of facts or government materials merely because they appear here.

A public record is not automatically in the public domain. Copyright rules distinguish federal government works from other materials, and state or local records can include protected expression or third-party works. Availability through FOIA does not resolve permission to reproduce a work. See the U.S. Copyright Office’s guidance on copyrightable authorship.

Links to our pages are welcome. When quoting or summarizing as permitted by law, identify Audit Newport News and the original source where relevant, link to the complete item, preserve important dates and qualifications, and distinguish your own additions from our work. Attribution alone does not establish permission for unrestricted republication.

Unless an item provides a separate license, seek permission from the appropriate rights holder before reproducing a complete article, substantial protected material, or an image beyond what the law allows. Copyright fair use is assessed in context under multiple factors; it is not a universal exemption for nonprofit, educational, political, or public-interest use. See the Copyright Office’s fair use guidance.

Nothing in these policies limits fair use, the use of unprotected facts, or other rights granted by law. Reuse must not falsely attribute statements, imply endorsement, remove context to deceive, or facilitate the abusive conduct described in our responsible-use policy. Send a rights concern with the specific URL, the work involved, your authority to act, and an explanation of the claimed infringement.

Copyright complaint review

Use the copyright complaint option to identify the protected work, the exact site URL and challenged material, your rights or authority, a contact method, and your electronic signature. The form asks you to confirm a good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized by the owner, its agent, or the law, and to confirm accuracy and authority under penalty of perjury. Consider any license or applicable lawful exception before making a claim. A privacy concern alone should use the privacy category instead.

The editor reviews the complaint and relevant publication basis, may seek missing information or a contributor’s response, and may restrict access while reviewing. An outcome may include removal, replacement, a narrower excerpt, clarification, or retaining material where the evidence supports a lawful use. Complaint details are private by default; limited information may be shared where necessary to evaluate a claim or comply with law. We do not promise absolute secrecy or automatic forwarding.

If you believe an outcome involves an error or misidentified work, submit a follow-up with the reference, explanation, and evidence supporting ownership, permission, or lawful use. Reconsideration is editorial review; it is not an automatic reinstatement process or a statutory counter-notice service.

This form is editorial complaint intake. It is not presented as service upon a registered DMCA designated agent. We do not claim a 17 U.S.C. § 512 safe harbor merely because we receive complaints or review user submissions. Statutory notice, designation, and other requirements are separate from these policies. The Copyright Office’s designated-agent directory provides information about registered agents. Nothing here replaces legally required notice or service, limits applicable rights, or supplies blanket immunity.

Informational purpose and independent decisions

Content is provided for journalism, public education, and civic discussion. It is not individualized legal, financial, medical, employment, or other professional advice, and it does not create an attorney-client, fiduciary, or other professional relationship. Consult an appropriately qualified professional or the responsible official source for decisions that require such advice or confirmation.

Accuracy, availability, and external content

We make reasonable editorial efforts toward accuracy and review reported errors. Nevertheless, records can be incomplete, disputed, or outdated, and technical interruptions or errors can occur. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the site and its materials are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of uninterrupted access, completeness, currency, suitability for a particular purpose, or error-free operation, or other express or implied warranties.

External links, embedded media, and third-party documents are provided for context and access. We do not guarantee their continuing availability, safety, accuracy, privacy practices, or the conduct of their operators. Referencing a third party does not make us responsible for that party’s independent services or decisions.

Misuse and limitations of liability

Each person remains responsible for their own conduct, decisions, submissions, and reuse of information. This publication does not authorize unlawful acts, malicious targeting, harassment, discrimination, fraud, or deceptive republication. We do not assume responsibility for independent third-party misuse simply because the information was encountered here. This statement does not eliminate responsibility that the law assigns to us.

To the extent a limitation is lawful and enforceable, Audit Newport News and its publisher disclaim liability for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential losses arising from use of, reliance on, or inability to access the site, including lost profits, lost data, business interruption, and losses caused by independent third-party services or misuse. The scope and enforceability of any limitation depend on applicable law and the circumstances.

These notices describe our publication and use policies; they are not a substitute for applicable law or a court’s determination. If a provision cannot lawfully be applied, it applies only to the extent permitted and does not expand the other provisions. No statement here should be read as permission to disregard a legal duty, privacy right, intellectual property right, or valid court order.

Use publication requests for corrections, responses, source-protection discussions, privacy and safety concerns, copyright complaints, or questions about these policies. Clearly identify the category, relevant URL or submission reference, requested action, and supporting information. Include a safe contact method if a reply is needed. Use the private tip form for news leads. These editorial forms do not substitute for legally required formal service.

Accessible communication

We aim to provide readable text, keyboard-operable forms, clear labels, visible focus, and layouts that adapt to small screens. External source files and third-party media may have accessibility limitations. To flag a barrier or request an accessible explanation of site material, identify the page or file and the help needed through publication requests. Providing an alternative remains subject to available material, rights, and reasonable editorial capacity.

We may revise these policies to reflect changes in editorial practices, technology, or applicable requirements. The date at the top of this page identifies the current revision. Material changes to stated practices should be described clearly; a later notice does not by itself retroactively expand permission to use previously submitted material. Item-specific source notes, correction notices, and submission instructions provide additional context.

These primary legal sources and professional resources inform the policies above. They are provided for further reading; a link does not imply affiliation, certification, or endorsement, and the resources do not replace advice on a specific legal question.

• Virginia Freedom of Information Act: definitionsVirginia Code § 2.2-3701
• Use of identifying information to coerce, intimidate, or harassVirginia Code § 18.2-186.4
• Qualified protection for confidential source informationVirginia Code § 19.2-271.5
• Section 512 requirements and complaint resourcesU.S. Copyright Office
• Fair use guidanceU.S. Copyright Office
• Copyrightable authorship and government worksU.S. Copyright Office Compendium, Chapter 300 · PDF
• Code of EthicsRadio Television Digital News Association
• Privacy and security guidanceFederal Trade Commission