Operating Standards
About the Southern Utah News
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.
We are a small-town newspaper with a regional footprint and a strong sense of place. 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.
Masthead
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Owner: Uzona Media, LLC
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Publisher: Don Jennings
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Managing Editor: Brooke Knighton
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Advertising and Sales: Samantha LeFevre
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Production Assistant: Maddie Spencer
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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.
Editorial decisions at the Southern Utah News are made independently by the newsroom and are not influenced by advertisers, political organizations, or outside interests.
Core Values
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We believe an informed public is essential to a healthy community.
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We are committed to accuracy, fairness, transparency, and journalistic independence.
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We value reader engagement and strive to serve the community with professionalism and respect.
Application of These Standards
These standards apply to all Southern Utah News employees, freelance reporters, contributing writers, and editors, for both print and digital content.
Byline Standards
Most articles published by the Southern Utah News carry the byline of the staff member or local contributor primarily responsible for reporting and writing the story.
Articles published under the Southern Utah News or Staff Report bylines are prepared by SUN staff using information from official releases, public records, or shared reporting.
These bylines are used when no single reporter’s work predominates, or when a story is based primarily on verified source material rather than original field reporting. They do not indicate automated, unattributed, or unsourced content.
Participation in Civic Affairs and Conflicts of Interest
The credibility of the SUN depends on impartial reporting. 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. Final decisions regarding conflicts of interest and reassignment rest with SUN management.
Political Coverage and Advertising
The Southern Utah News does not endorse candidates for political office. Political coverage is reported from a nonpartisan perspective and is guided by newsworthiness, fairness, and relevance to local readers.
The Southern Utah News accepts advertising for local businesses, services, community events, and certain civic notices.
Ads for civic or political events must be limited to basic informational details such as the event name, sponsoring organization, date, time, location, and participation details. Advertising may not be used to promote political positions, advocacy messages, slogans, or calls to action.
Advertising by candidates for public office may be accepted if limited to straightforward campaign identification and voter information, including the candidate’s name, office sought, website address, election date reminders, and brief factual statements.
Candidate advertisements may not include:
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attacks on opponents
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inflammatory or misleading claims
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unverifiable accusations
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advocacy messaging presented as news
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graphic, manipulative, or legally risky content
All candidate advertising must include a “Paid for by” disclosure.
Campaign-written stories, open letters, article-style promotions, or other promotional materials will not run as regular news content. Clearly labeled paid campaign messages may be considered subject to space, formatting, and content standards.
Candidates seeking to share expanded biographies, endorsements, or detailed policy positions are encouraged to use their official campaign websites or social media pages. Candidate advertisements may include a website address or QR code, subject to space limitations.
Political advertising must be clearly identified. The Southern Utah News does not accept advertising advocating for or against ballot measures, protests, or partisan causes.
The Southern Utah News is willing to discuss advertising options and standards with candidates, campaigns, civic organizations, and political groups. However, the paper does not participate in political strategy, campaign consulting, partisan messaging development, or advocacy planning.
Advertising and editorial content are kept separate. Advertisers do not influence news coverage or editorial decisions. The Southern Utah News reserves the right to decline any advertisement at its discretion.
Business Interests, Gifts, and Gratuities
Staff members may not use inside knowledge for personal gain, enter business relationships with news sources, or provide advance information about unpublished stories that could confer financial advantage.
The SUN pays its own way on news assignments. Staff members and freelancers may not accept gifts or gratuities connected to coverage that could influence or appear to influence reporting.
Integrity of Reporting
SUN staff and contributors will not invent facts, embellish details, or misrepresent events.
Fictitious quotes, phantom sources, composite individuals, or misrepresentation in newsgathering are prohibited.
Quotes and Attribution
Direct quotes are not edited to correct grammar or slang. When a quote may unnecessarily embarrass a speaker or distract from the substance of the information, editors may paraphrase while preserving meaning.
All material from outside sources is attributed. Exclusive reporting developed by other outlets is credited appropriately.
Photographs and Visual Reporting
Images must not mislead or deceive readers. Any image that alters context or meaning, even if technically unaltered, will not be used.
Photographs are selected and edited to reflect events accurately and in proper context.
Sources and Anonymity
Information from external sources is fact-checked to the fullest extent possible. Sources are identified by name and role whenever feasible.
Anonymous sources may be used only when all of the following conditions are met:
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The information is of clear public importance
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No on-the-record source is reasonably available
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SUN management knows the identity of the source
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The reason for anonymity is explained to readers
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The information has been independently corroborated
Exceptions may be made for reasons of privacy, compassion, or safety, including victims of crimes. Final decisions rest with SUN management.
Diversity of Sources
The SUN seeks to reflect the full diversity of the communities it serves, including differences in background, experience, perspective, and belief.
Dealing With the Public
Staff members respond to readers in a timely and professional manner, both during reporting and in routine communication.
Copyright and Ownership
The Southern Utah News retains all rights, including copyright, to materials produced by employees or commissioned contributors as part of their work for the newspaper.
Contests and Awards
Coverage decisions are based on news value and community interest, not the pursuit of awards or recognition.
Reader Submissions and Community Input
The Southern Utah News values reader engagement and welcomes tips, questions, corrections, and story ideas from the community. However, the SUN does not publish open letters to the editor.
As a newsroom, we prioritize information that can be verified, contextualized, and responsibly presented. Reader correspondence may inform reporting or prompt follow-up coverage, but submission does not guarantee publication.
Letters expressing personal thanks, recognition, or non-political community appreciation may be published at the editor’s discretion.
Final editorial decisions rest with the Southern Utah News.
Guest Commentaries and Invited Perspectives
The SUN may publish guest commentaries by invitation on topics of civic process, historical context, or issues of broad community interest.
Guest commentaries are reviewed and may be edited for clarity, length, accuracy, fairness, and consistency with newsroom standards. Editors may revise speculative, unsupported, or unclear language to improve accuracy, context, fairness, or clarity.
Editors will not change an author’s fundamental position or conclusion. When substantive edits are made, editors will communicate those changes to the author.
Final editorial judgment rests with the Southern Utah News.
Taste and Sensitivity
The SUN exercises good taste in language, imagery, and description. Gratuitous detail is avoided in sensitive situations. Photographs without clear news value may be withheld.
Corrections Policy
The SUN corrects factual errors promptly and transparently.
Requests for correction may be directed to contact@sunews.net or (435) 644-2900. Corrections and clarifications are published as soon as practical.
Cause of Death, Race, and Identification
Cause of death is reported only when confirmed or when disclosure is appropriate.
Race or ethnicity is identified only when relevant.
Victims of sexual assault are not identified unless they request identification. Decisions involving sensitive identification rest with SUN management.
Juveniles and Emergency Coverage
The SUN follows applicable Utah law when reporting on juveniles.
Exact addresses may be reported in emergency stories unless withheld for security reasons. Business or institutional names are published when relevant.
Digital Content and Archives
Digital content follows the same standards as print content.
The SUN does not remove published content except in cases involving legal risk, safety concerns, or clear error. Online content is treated as part of the public record.
Social Media
The SUN’s social media platforms are moderated to support informed, civil discussion of local issues.
The same standards of professionalism apply as in print. Comments containing profanity, slurs, libelous statements, personal attacks, or harassment may be removed. Repeat offenders may be banned without notice.
Errors on social media are corrected transparently.
