Editorial Guidelines

At eJazzNews, we are committed to honest, thorough, and independent jazz journalism. These editorial guidelines govern every piece of content we publish and reflect our dedication to serving the jazz community with integrity. Every member of our editorial team, along with every contributor, is expected to uphold these standards.

Our Core Values

Four principles guide everything we publish:

  • Accuracy — We verify facts before publication. When we make mistakes, we correct them promptly and transparently.
  • Fairness — We represent artists, venues, labels, and readers honestly. We seek multiple perspectives and give subjects the opportunity to respond to criticism.
  • Independence — Our editorial decisions are never influenced by advertisers, affiliates, or outside interests. Coverage is determined solely by newsworthiness and relevance to the jazz community.
  • Transparency — We disclose potential conflicts of interest, clearly label opinion and commentary, and maintain an open corrections policy.

How We Report

Accuracy is the foundation of credible journalism. Our reporting process includes the following verification steps:

  • Primary source verification — We confirm information directly with artists, publicists, labels, venues, or official representatives whenever possible.
  • Multiple source confirmation — Significant claims are corroborated by at least two independent sources before publication.
  • Expert consultation — For technical, historical, or musicological content, we consult recognized experts or published scholarly sources.
  • Date and credit verification — Album release dates, personnel credits, venue details, and event information are cross-referenced against official sources, liner notes, and verified databases.

When information cannot be fully verified, we note the limitation in the article or withhold publication until confirmation is obtained.

Reviews and Ratings

Album and concert reviews represent the informed opinion of the individual reviewer. Our review process operates under these principles:

  • Reviewers listen to albums in full, multiple times, before writing.
  • Reviews focus on musical content, artistic merit, production quality, and context within an artist’s body of work and the broader jazz landscape.
  • We do not use numerical rating scales. Our reviews are narrative assessments that provide readers with substantive analysis rather than reductive scores.
  • Reviewers disclose any personal or professional relationship with the artist or label under review.
  • Negative reviews are published when they serve the reader. We critique the work, never the person.

Sourcing Standards

We hold ourselves to rigorous sourcing standards across all content types:

  • On-the-record sources are preferred. We use named sources whenever possible.
  • Anonymous sources are used sparingly and only when the information is of significant public interest and cannot be obtained on the record. Anonymous claims are corroborated independently.
  • Press releases and promotional materials are treated as starting points for reporting, not as finished stories.
  • Social media posts by artists or public figures may be cited but are verified for authenticity and context.
  • Historical claims are supported by published scholarship, archival sources, or recognized reference works.

Content Types

eJazzNews publishes the following types of content, each held to the standards outlined in these guidelines:

  • News — Timely reporting on events, releases, industry developments, and the jazz community.
  • Reviews — Critical assessments of albums, concerts, festivals, and jazz-related products.
  • Features — In-depth articles exploring artists, scenes, trends, history, and culture.
  • Interviews — Conversations with musicians, producers, educators, and other figures in jazz.
  • Education — Instructional and informational content about jazz theory, history, listening, and practice.
  • Contributed articles — Pieces written by outside contributors, subject to our contributor guidelines and full editorial review.

Sponsored content, advertorials, or paid promotional pieces are never published on eJazzNews. All content reflects independent editorial judgment.

Affiliate Links and Monetization

eJazzNews participates in affiliate programs to support the cost of producing independent jazz journalism. Our complete policy is detailed on our Affiliate Disclosure page. Key points include:

  • Affiliate links may appear in reviews, gear guides, and educational content where product recommendations are relevant to readers.
  • Writers do not receive commissions or bonuses based on affiliate link performance. Editorial recommendations are based solely on merit.
  • The presence of an affiliate link never influences whether or how we cover a product, album, or service.
  • All pages containing affiliate links include a clear disclosure statement.

AI Content Policy

eJazzNews uses AI tools as part of our editorial workflow for research assistance, fact-checking support, and draft preparation. All AI-assisted content is reviewed, edited, and verified by human editors before publication.

Our approach to AI in the editorial process:

  • AI is used as a tool to support human journalists, not as a replacement for original reporting or critical analysis.
  • All factual claims in AI-assisted drafts are independently verified by editors using the same standards applied to all content.
  • AI-generated text is substantially rewritten and edited to meet our editorial voice and quality standards.
  • We do not publish AI-generated content without meaningful human editorial involvement.
  • Our use of AI tools does not diminish our commitment to accuracy, fairness, and original journalism.

Byline and Attribution Policy

Every published article carries a byline identifying the author. Our attribution standards include:

  • Staff writers and editors are credited by name on all articles they write.
  • Contributed articles carry the contributor’s name and a brief bio.
  • When multiple authors contribute to a piece, all are credited.
  • Editors who make substantial changes beyond routine copy editing are credited as co-authors or noted in an editor’s note.
  • Wire service reports, press release-based items, and editorially compiled content are attributed to “eJazzNews Staff” or “eJazzNews Editors.”

Corrections Policy

We take errors seriously. When we get something wrong, we fix it and tell our readers. Our corrections process works as follows:

  • Minor corrections (typos, formatting, broken links) are fixed promptly without a formal correction notice.
  • Substantive corrections (factual errors, misattributions, incorrect dates or credits) are corrected in the article with a visible correction notice at the bottom of the piece, including the date of the correction and what was changed.
  • Major corrections (errors that materially affect the meaning or conclusions of an article) result in an updated article with a prominent correction notice and, when warranted, a separate editor’s note explaining the error.

To report an error or request a correction, please contact us at [email protected] with the subject line “Correction Request.” Include the article URL, the error you identified, and any supporting information. We review all correction requests and respond within three business days.

Updating Published Content

Jazz journalism often involves evolving stories. We update published content under these circumstances:

  • Breaking news updates are added to the original article with timestamps noting each update.
  • Evergreen content (guides, educational articles, gear recommendations) is reviewed periodically and updated to reflect current information, with a “Last updated” date displayed.
  • Archival content is preserved in its original form. Historical articles are not retroactively edited to reflect later developments unless a factual correction is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does eJazzNews ensure accuracy?

Every article published on eJazzNews goes through a multi-step verification process. We confirm facts with primary sources, require multiple source corroboration for significant claims, consult recognized experts for technical and historical content, and cross-reference dates, credits, and details against official sources. When information cannot be fully verified, we disclose that limitation or delay publication. Our full reporting methodology is described in the How We Report section above.

What is eJazzNews’s corrections policy?

We categorize corrections into three levels: minor corrections (typos, formatting) are fixed without a formal notice; substantive corrections (factual errors, misattributions) include a visible correction notice with the date and description of the change; and major corrections that affect an article’s meaning include a prominent notice and, when appropriate, a separate editor’s note. Readers can report errors by emailing [email protected] with the subject “Correction Request.”

Does eJazzNews publish sponsored content?

No. eJazzNews does not publish sponsored content, advertorials, or paid promotional articles. All editorial content reflects independent judgment. We fund our operations through affiliate partnerships and advertising, but these commercial relationships never influence our coverage decisions, review outcomes, or editorial priorities.

How does eJazzNews use AI?

We use AI tools to support our editorial workflow, including research assistance, fact-checking support, and draft preparation. Every piece of AI-assisted content is reviewed, rewritten, and verified by human editors before publication. AI is a tool in our process, not a substitute for original reporting, critical analysis, or editorial judgment. All factual claims are independently verified regardless of how the initial draft was produced.