Editorial Standards

Evidence and attribution

• Publish only material with clear local relevance or a recorded followed-organisation reason.
• Prefer primary and official sources and link material factual claims to original records.
• Paraphrase fairly; do not copy source articles, posts, descriptions or images without recorded rights.
• Label summaries, official notices, community announcements, media releases, opinion and sponsorship accurately.

What we will not infer

Lota Local does not invent quotations, motives, conclusions, public reaction, explanatory context, guilt, wrongdoing, personal characteristics or community sentiment. Conflicting evidence goes to review.

Politics and council

Political statements remain attributed claims. Agenda item, officer recommendation, proposal, motion, resolution, funding, approval, commencement and completion are distinct states. A recommendation is never called a decision.

High-risk material

Allegations, misconduct, disputes, court matters, political analysis, deaths, serious injuries, identifiable children, health/legal/financial guidance, uncertain emergency wording, contentious planning, unconfirmed images, corrections, retractions and takedowns always require human approval.

Safety and children

Official severity and instructions are preserved and prominently attributed. No private school or parent material, student names, routines or security details are accessed. A person-facing crime or missing-person notice requires review even when official.

Corrections

Visible correction notes and revision history explain what changed and why. Resolved or withdrawn emergency and missing-person notices receive prompt review and urgent unpublish controls.