Operating Standards
WHO WE ARE
The Southern Utah News is a locally owned, independent newspaper serving Kanab, Kane County, and the Arizona Strip. The SUN has provided continuous local news coverage since 1929.
Owner: Uzona Media, LLC
Publisher: Don Jennings
Managing Editor: Brooke Knighton
Advertising and Sales: Samantha LeFevre
Production Assistant: Maddie Spencer
Transport & Delivery: Don Sprecher
MISSION
The Southern Utah News provides accurate, locally reported news and information that helps readers understand their community, participate meaningfully in civic life, and make informed decisions.
Our reporting is produced by people who live in and understand the communities they cover.
Our credibility depends on trust. These standards exist to protect that trust.
CORE PRINCIPLES
The Southern Utah News is committed to:
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Accuracy in reporting
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Fairness in coverage
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Transparency in our work
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Independence from outside influence
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Respectful engagement with the community
These standards apply to all SUN employees, freelancers, contributors, and editors in both print and digital publishing.
REPORTING STANDARDS
SUN staff and contributors will not invent facts, embellish details, misrepresent events, or create fictitious quotes, sources, or individuals.
Information is verified to the fullest extent possible. Sources are identified whenever feasible, and material from other organizations is properly attributed.
Anonymous sources may be used only when information is of clear public importance, no reasonable on-the-record source is available, SUN management knows the source's identity, the reason for anonymity is explained to readers, and the information has been independently corroborated.
Photographs and visual content must accurately represent events and may not be used in ways that mislead readers.
The SUN seeks to reflect the broad range of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds that make up the communities it serves.
The SUN corrects factual errors promptly and transparently.
INDEPENDENCE AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Editorial decisions are made independently and are not influenced by advertisers, political organizations, government agencies, or other outside interests.
Staff members must avoid conflicts of interest, or the appearance of conflicts, that could reasonably call coverage into question. Participation in partisan political activity, advocacy campaigns, or other public actions may require reassignment from related coverage.
Staff members may not use unpublished information for personal gain, enter business relationships with news sources that compromise independence, or accept gifts or gratuities that could influence reporting.
Final decisions regarding conflicts of interest rest with SUN management.
POLITICAL COVERAGE AND ADVERTISING
The Southern Utah News does not endorse candidates for public office.
Political coverage is reported from a nonpartisan perspective and guided by newsworthiness, fairness, and relevance to local readers.
Candidate advertising may be accepted when limited to campaign identification, voter information, website addresses, election reminders, and other factual campaign information.
Candidate advertisements must include a "Paid for by" disclosure and may not contain personal attacks, unverifiable accusations, misleading claims, or content that creates legal or ethical concerns.
The SUN does not accept advertising advocating for or against ballot measures, partisan causes, protests, or political movements.
The Southern Utah News is willing to discuss advertising options, deadlines, and standards with candidates, campaigns, civic organizations, and political groups. However, the newspaper does not participate in campaign strategy, political consulting, message development, advocacy planning, or partisan communications.
Advertising and editorial content remain separate. Advertisers do not influence news coverage.
The Southern Utah News reserves the right to decline any advertisement.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
Most articles carry the byline of the person primarily responsible for reporting and writing the story.
General bylines may be used for stories based on official releases, public records, or shared reporting when no single contributor's work predominates.
The SUN welcomes tips, corrections, questions, and story suggestions from readers but does not publish open letters to the editor.
Guest commentaries may be published by invitation and may be edited for clarity, length, accuracy, fairness, and consistency with newsroom standards. Editors will not alter an author's fundamental viewpoint.
Final editorial decisions rest with the Southern Utah News.
SENSITIVE COVERAGE
The SUN exercises restraint and good judgment when covering deaths, crimes, accidents, disasters, and other sensitive situations.
Cause of death is reported only when confirmed or otherwise appropriate to disclose.
Race, ethnicity, religion, or other personal characteristics are identified only when relevant to the story.
Victims of sexual assault are not identified unless they request identification.
The SUN follows applicable Utah law when reporting on juveniles.
DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA
The same standards apply to print, digital, and social media content.
Published content is considered part of the public record and is not removed except in cases involving clear error, legal risk, or safety concerns.
SUN social media platforms are moderated to support informed and civil discussion. Comments containing harassment, personal attacks, slurs, profanity, libelous statements, or similar misconduct may be removed.
Errors published online or on social media are corrected transparently.
CONTACT US
The Southern Utah News welcomes questions, corrections, story ideas, and feedback from the community.
(435) 644-2900
contact@sunews.net
Southern Utah News
32 S Main St.
Kanab, UT 84741
