Editorial Ethics & Standards
Santanero Media Group, LLC. d.b.a. Santanero Media Group, LLC, The Santanero and KSNG-DB “Santanero Radio”
Effective July 1, 2026
1. Overview
Santanero Media Group, LLC ("Santanero Media Group," "we," "our," or "us") owns and operates The Santanero, KSNG-DB "Santanero Radio," Santanero.org, and related media properties.
Unless otherwise stated, this policy applies to all publications, broadcasts, websites, newsletters, podcasts, social media accounts, and other media properties owned or operated by Santanero Media Group, LLC.
We are committed to producing accurate, fair, independent, and responsible journalism.
Our editorial decisions are guided by accuracy, transparency, accountability, independence, public service, and respect for the communities we serve.
2. Our Mission
Our mission is to connect the people of Santa Ana with the information that shapes their daily lives.
Through independent local journalism, public-interest reporting, civic engagement, and community storytelling, we strive to bridge the gap between residents and local institutions while helping our community stay informed about important events, decisions, and issues affecting Santa Ana.
We seek to provide accurate, accessible, and understandable information that enables residents to make informed decisions, participate in civic life, and remain connected to their community.
3. Accuracy and Verification
Accuracy is fundamental to public trust.
Whenever practical, we seek to verify information through:
- Official records;
- Public documents;
- Firsthand observation;
- Public meetings;
- Interviews;
- Credible sources;
- Original reporting; and
- Other reliable forms of verification.
We do not knowingly publish false, fabricated, misleading, or deceptive information.
Because reporting often involves developing events, information may change after publication. When significant factual errors are identified, we will take appropriate corrective action consistent with our Corrections Policy.
4. Corrections, Clarifications, and Updates
Accountability requires transparency.
When factual errors, omissions, misleading statements, or inaccuracies are identified, we may review the matter and take corrective action when warranted.
Corrective actions may include:
- Corrections;
- Clarifications;
- Updates;
- Editor's notes; and
- Retractions in extraordinary circumstances.
Significant factual corrections will generally be disclosed within the affected content.
Minor typographical, formatting, grammatical, stylistic, or technical edits may be made without formal notice.
Our correction procedures are described in our Corrections Policy.
We encourage readers, listeners, contributors, and community members to notify us of potential inaccuracies.
5. Fairness and Independence
We strive to present information fairly and without intentional bias.
Editorial decisions are made independently and are not controlled by:
- Advertisers;
- Sponsors;
- Donors;
- Political organizations;
- Government agencies;
- Businesses;
- Advocacy groups; or
- Other outside interests.
We do not permit financial relationships, advertising purchases, sponsorship arrangements, or outside pressure to determine newsroom coverage, story selection, correction decisions, publication decisions, or editorial judgment.
6. Separation of Editorial and Advertising
We maintain a clear separation between editorial content and advertising.
Advertising, sponsorships, underwriting acknowledgments, and promotional content do not determine:
- Editorial coverage;
- Publication decisions;
- Newsroom priorities;
- Story placement;
- Corrections;
- Investigations; or
- Editorial judgment.
Sponsored content, when accepted, may be identified through labels, disclosures, sponsor acknowledgments, or other reasonable methods.
Advertising does not constitute endorsement by Santanero Media Group, LLC.
7. Coverage Scope
Our primary coverage area is the City of Santa Ana.
We prioritize reporting concerning:
- Local government;
- Education;
- Public safety;
- Community organizations;
- Civic affairs;
- Housing;
- Business;
- Arts and culture;
- Public policy; and
- Issues affecting Santa Ana residents.
We may report on matters outside Santa Ana when there is a meaningful connection to the community or when broader issues substantially affect local residents.
8. Opinion, Commentary, and Analysis
Opinion content serves an important role in public discussion.
Opinion pieces, editorials, guest columns, commentary, analysis, and similar content may express viewpoints, criticism, advocacy, or interpretation.
Such content should not be interpreted as straight news reporting.
Whenever practical, opinion content will be identified or presented in a manner that distinguishes it from news reporting.
Publication of opinion content does not necessarily reflect the views of Santanero Media Group, LLC, its editors, contributors, advertisers, sponsors, partners, or affiliates.
9. Clarity Over Style
We prioritize clarity, accessibility, and public understanding.
While we may follow commonly accepted journalism standards, including Associated Press style when appropriate, we reserve the right to depart from external style guides when doing so improves accuracy, readability, accessibility or community understanding.
Our responsibility is to inform readers and listeners rather than adhere rigidly to any particular style manual.
10. Sources and Attribution
We strive to rely upon credible and reliable sources.
Whenever practical, we attribute information to its source and provide sufficient context to allow audiences to evaluate information independently.
In limited circumstances, source identities may be withheld to protect safety, privacy. confidentiality or public interests.
Anonymous or confidential sources may be used when editorial staff determine that the information is credible, newsworthy, cannot reasonably be obtained through other means and publication serves the public interest.
11. Community Contributions
Community participation strengthens local journalism.
We welcome contributions including opinion submissions, letters to the editor, event announcements, news tips, photographs, videos, story ideas and other community submissions.
Community submissions may be edited for accuracy, clarity, length, style, legal compliance and consistency with editorial standards.
Acceptance of a submission does not constitute endorsement of the contributor's views.
Submission standards are described in our Community Contributions Policy.
12. Artificial Intelligence and Authenticity
We believe readers and listeners should be able to trust that our journalism reflects authentic reporting, genuine community participation, and responsible editorial oversight.
Artificial intelligence may be covered as a newsworthy subject and discussed in reporting, interviews, commentary, and public affairs programming.
However, we generally do not accept substantially AI-generated articles, opinion submissions, guest columns, letters to the editor, photographs, or similar contributed materials where audiences would reasonably expect human authorship or authentic visual representation.
Additional standards governing artificial intelligence, synthetic media, and authenticity are described in our Artificial Intelligence & Authenticity Policy.
13. Transparency and Disclosure
Transparency strengthens public trust.
When relevant, we may disclose:
- Conflicts of interest;
- Financial relationships;
- Sponsorship arrangements;
- Organizational affiliations;
- Campaign involvement;
- Material relationships; or
- Other circumstances that could affect audience understanding.
We may publish editor's notes, disclosures, explanatory statements, or contextual information when doing so serves the public interest.
14. Editorial Discretion
We reserve the right to determine what content is published, updated, corrected, archived, distributed, or removed.
Editorial decisions may consider newsworthiness, relevance, accuracy, public interest, legal considerations, resource limitations, editorial priorities and compliance with applicable policies.
Submission of information, opinions, photographs, event announcements, story ideas, or other materials does not guarantee publication.
15. Public Interest and Accountability
Our role is to inform the community and promote public understanding of issues affecting Santa Ana.
Nothing in our policies limits our ability to investigate, report on, question, criticize, analyze, or scrutinize:
- Public officials;
- Government agencies;
- Businesses;
- Organizations;
- Institutions;
- Advocacy groups;
- Campaigns; or
- Individuals involved in matters of public concern.
We remain committed to fairness, accuracy, accountability, transparency, and responsible journalism.
16. Relationship to Other Policies
This policy should be read together with our other policies published by Santanero Media Group, LLC.
Contact
Questions, corrections, editorial concerns, ethics inquiries, or feedback regarding this policy may be directed to:
Daniel Diaz, Santanero Media Group, LLC.
Email: ethics@santanero.org