Maryland Bay News adheres to strict standards of editorial independence. Our journalism — including investigations, political coverage, and opinion content — is free from influence by advertisers, donors, political organizations, or outside pressure.
1. Independence From Donors and Advertisers
Financial supporters, advertisers, sponsors, or partners:
- Have no role in editorial decisions
- Cannot preview or edit stories
- Cannot influence reporters or editors
- Will never receive favorable coverage in exchange for support
Donations support journalism — they do not purchase influence.
2. Independence From Political Interests
Maryland Bay News does not endorse political candidates.
No elected official, political party, or advocacy group may influence:
- assignments
- story framing
- reporting
- investigations
- publication timelines
Our coverage is guided solely by editorial judgment and public interest.
3. Separation Between News and Opinion
- News reporters do not write political endorsements or opinion columns.
- Opinion pieces are labeled and separated from news content.
- Editorial viewpoints do not dictate news coverage.
4. Conflicts of Interest
Staff, contributors, and editors must:
- avoid conflicts of interest
- disclose relevant personal or professional ties
- avoid covering stories in which they have a financial or personal stake
When conflicts cannot be mitigated, the contributor is recused.
5. Sponsored Content
Maryland Bay News currently does not publish sponsored content.
If this changes, sponsored content will be clearly labeled and separated from editorial work.
6. Editorial Decision Authority
The Editor-in-Chief is solely responsible for:
- story approvals
- investigative direction
- publication decisions
- corrections
- opinion content review
These decisions cannot be overruled by financial or political considerations.