Editorial Standards
Narcity Media Group (NMG) is the parent company of Narcity.com and MTLBlog.com. All of our Editorial teams are expected to adhere to the following journalistic principles to ensure that our audiences have the most reliable and relevant information available.
All content created by NMG's Editorial team must comply with these values and protocols, upholding the standards of their brand across all mediums—articles, videos, social media, podcasts, etc.
We are committed to an accurate, transparent, engaged, and informed conversation with our audience and will continuously update these policies in line with industry standards.
Content posted on our social media platforms and by creators for our partner platform, Locals.tv, operates independently from our Editorial team. While our social media platforms may share or amplify editorial content, they may also feature posts, commentary, or user-generated content that is not subject to the same editorial standards. Similarly, Locals.tv content is created and managed independently and does not reflect the editorial oversight of NMG.
MASTHEAD
Our mission
Narcity Media Group's mission is to inform and entertain our millennial and Gen Z readers with meaningful local content and travel stories. Our Editorial teams strive to create nonpartisan and conversational articles that present a clear picture of events and trends.
Our headlines, social media and articles create an engaging, accurate and candid presentation of your cities to offer a fresh alternative to traditional media.
Accuracy
NMG is committed to providing our audiences with accurate information about their communities. Journalists must always ensure the accuracy of editorial content published on our websites to the best of their ability.
Our Editorial teams work quickly, and our content reflects that speed. At the same time, our articles are considered living documents that can be continuously updated as new information comes to light.
Narcity Media Group is transparent about where our information comes from. Whether it's a press release, a person or another publication, we make sources clear to our readers so they know where information comes from, and we strive to include a diverse range of voices and ideas.
Our editors and writers are held to a high standard of accuracy and are responsible for ensuring that the information included in their content is correct at the time of publishing. If a correction must be made, we move as quickly as possible and follow the correction protocol described in detail below.
Objectivity
NMG journalists use common sense when reporting. At the same time, we trust our readers to interpret this information in a way that is right for them.
Our journalists strive to report information without distortion or bias. Our Editorial teams are not aligned with any political group or set of values.
We also recognize our employees' right to free speech. If an employee has a strong personal belief or a relationship to a specific political movement, we will disclose that information to our readers or they will abstain from coverage of that topic.
While the majority of our editorial content is nonpartisan, when we publish opinion content, it is clearly noted as such. Opinion writers have great latitude with their choice of tone and style and express their personal point of view.
Narcity Media Group does not pay for information or access. We may compensate the creators of photographs, videos and other multimedia for exclusive use on NMG's websites.
Our team maintains editorial independence and integrity; we do not accept payment or gifts in exchange for coverage. Occasionally, we may accept a trip or experience if we believe reporting from a first-person perspective offers genuine value to our readers. In such cases, we will always disclose when something was provided for free and never guarantee coverage, positive or otherwise.
Corrections and updates
While our journalists strive to independently verify all information published on NMG sites, errors can occur. When such an error is brought to our attention, we immediately update the story. Editor's notes are appended to the end of the article acknowledging there was a change.
Additionally, if new information is discovered that dramatically changes the context or timeline of a story, pieces will be updated at the top of the article and include the time of the update.
Information found on NMG websites will not always be up to date and cannot necessarily be relied upon. Visitors to the site are responsible for their own behaviour and assume all risk.
Sourcing and interviews
Our Editorial team generally does not report on anonymous or unverified information unless there are exceptional circumstances. In rare cases where a source is granted anonymity, their identity is independently verified.
When interviewing sources, NMG journalists are transparent about their identities and provide readers with a complete picture of who the information is coming from. Minors are not interviewed without parental consent.
We consider public social media posts part of the public domain and treat them as such. Information relayed on these sites can be sourced for NMG articles but will always include proper citation.
Responsibility
Narcity Media Group is committed to treating all persons, organizations and companies fairly and to respecting their privacy and dignity. When information is in the public's interest, our editors may deem that the public's right to know outweighs the privacy of an individual.
NMG journalists strive to give the subjects of stories the opportunity to comment wherever possible. If we have not been able to get in touch or have not received comment by our deadline, we strive to update the story once comment is provided.
When covering sensitive topics, we include warnings that articles may contain graphic information or details that may be difficult to read. We also include resources and helplines so that readers can take action and fully understand the material discussed.
Plagiarism
Narcity Media Group has a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism. Writers must describe ideas and events in their own words or clearly cite the origins, if any, of the content. Those who do not abide by this principle are terminated.
If plagiarism is discovered, an immediate investigation is launched into the work in question as well as any other content the Writer has published.
We consider complaints of plagiarism of the utmost importance. Once an accusation is made, the same protocols described above commence.
Advertising, sponsored and affiliate content
Advertising, affiliate and sponsored content is clearly identified on NMG's websites (see our Content Funding policy here). The Studio, which produces sponsored content, and Rally, our creator agency, operate independently from the Editorial team.
While members of the Editorial team may choose to contribute to these projects outside of their editorial duties, their involvement will always be clearly disclosed in their author bio and will never influence the integrity or independence of our editorial coverage.
Companies that choose to work with us in this regard cannot and do not influence editorial coverage. If one of our advertisers becomes newsworthy, they will be treated as any other company and invited to comment on the story.
Occasionally our editorial articles will also contain affiliate links, where NMG may earn a small commission if a reader purchases a product or service we have featured. These articles are created independently by NMG's journalists and are not influenced by advertisers or commercial teams.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
At NMG, we're always looking for ways to improve our editorial processes and provide the best possible content to our readers. As part of that effort, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to automate certain tasks and streamline our editorial workflow. This can include using algorithms to assist with content curation, headline generation and image selection, among other things. It may also be used to automate some of our Notices stories. This allows us to enhance efficiency and enables our journalists to focus on more creative, higher-impact stories.
While we believe that AI can be a valuable tool in creating high-quality content, we also recognize the importance of human editorial oversight and input. Our team of editors and writers work closely with our AI tools to ensure that all content meets our high standards for accuracy, relevance and quality. Any stories generated by AI follow a rigorous fact-checking process and carry a disclaimer to maintain transparency.
Diversity, equity and inclusion
At NMG, we believe that all human beings deserve respect, representation and equal access to opportunity. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work as journalists. The complex issues we face as a society require respect for different viewpoints, which is why we strive for representation and diversity in our staff, collaborators and sources. We recognize that race, class, gender, sexuality, disability and geography all affect experience and point of view, and that reflecting these differences in our journalism will lead to more nuanced reporting and a better-informed community.
Funding
Narcity Media Group is primarily financed through the sale of programmatic and branded content advertising partnerships on its websites and social platforms. NMG also makes revenue through syndication, licensing and affiliate programs. We also receive some governmental funding from the Government of Canada through programs such as the Canada Periodical Fund.
Our journalists are not involved in establishing financial connections with advertisers or government entities.
NMG readers can reach our Narcity.com editors through this contact page. Messages are checked regularly and any information pertinent to an article is promptly addressed.
