Editorial Policy and Standards

Larkspur Sentinel | larkspursentinel.org / Last updated: October 29, 2026

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Our Commitment to This Community

The Larkspur Sentinel has served the 80118 since 1977, and everything we do is guided by one principle: we want to be your reliable source of information, connection, and celebration for residents of the Larkspur 80118 community. We aspire to provide the highest quality content for the 80118 community.

We are a free, independent, community-first publication. Our contributors, editors, and volunteers give their time because they believe in honest, locally relevant journalism that reflects who we are as neighbors.

If you ever have a concern about something we’ve published, we want to hear from you. Email us at larkspursentinel@gmail.com

Content Standards

Every article published in the Larkspur Sentinel, whether in print or online, is written by a real person with a genuine connection to this community. Our contributors include local residents, subject matter experts, civic leaders, and professionals who live and work in the 80118 and surrounding areas.

We do not publish automatically generated content. AI writing tools may be used as editorial aids (for research, drafting assistance, or grammar review). Still, all content must be verified, edited, and approved by a human member of our team before publication. Any use of AI assistance is disclosed and subject to our editorial review process.

Each article is credited with a byline and, where relevant, the contributor’s role or area of expertise. We believe readers deserve to know who is speaking to them.

Accuracy and Corrections

We take accuracy seriously, and we own our mistakes.

If we get something wrong, we correct it promptly and transparently. Corrections are added to the last page of that month’s electronic page. CORRECTION notice, followed by the date, the publication name, and a plain-language description of what was changed and why. We do not quietly edit errors without acknowledgment.

When an article is factually sound but requires updated information or improved clarity, it may be updated without a correction notice, but the publication date will reflect the revision.

To report an error, please get in touch with us at larkspursentinel@gmail.com

Sourcing

Our writers rely on credible, verifiable sources, including interviews with local experts and community members, public records, government agencies, and established professional and academic institutions.

We strongly prefer named sources. When a source requests anonymity, we evaluate the request carefully and will only grant it when there is a legitimate reason. In those cases, we will tell readers why the source is unnamed and provide the context they need to assess the information.

We are committed to amplifying voices from all corners of our community and not just the loudest or most prominent ones.

Independence and Advertising

The Larkspur Sentinel is editorially independent. Our news coverage, editorial choices, and community reporting are never influenced by advertisers or sponsors.

We are transparent about the difference between editorial content and paid content. Advertisers receive no preferential editorial treatment, and our coverage decisions are made entirely on the basis of community relevance and journalistic merit.

Our contributors and staff are expected to disclose any potential conflicts of interest — personal, professional, or financial — that could affect their ability to report fairly. We take those disclosures seriously.

Originality and Ethics

All content published in the Larkspur Sentinel must be original, accurately sourced, and free of plagiarism. We do not reproduce copyrighted material without permission, and we properly attribute all facts, data, and quotes to their sources.

We expect every contributor to uphold accepted standards of journalistic ethics. Any concern about plagiarism or ethical violations is investigated fully.

How to Contribute

We welcome stories, letters, and ideas from our neighbors. Here is how it works:

  1. Send us your idea or piece. Email larkspursentinel@gmail.com. A short note about what you would like to share is a fine place to start.
  2. Agree to the Contributor Terms below, once. We cannot review or edit a submission until we have your written agreement. Simply reply to our email with: “I agree to the Larkspur Sentinel Contributor Terms, 2026.” That one reply covers all of your submissions through December 31, 2026.
  3. We edit and check with you. Our editors may shorten or polish your piece. If we substantially rewrite it, we will send you the new version to review before the withdrawal deadline.

Contributor Terms

Larkspur Sentinel, Version 2026, effective October 29, 2026

  1. Editorial rights. The Larkspur Sentinel may refuse, edit, shorten, or reformat any submission for space, clarity, style, or legal reasons. Submitting a piece does not guarantee it will be published.
  2. Review of rewrites. If we substantially rewrite a piece or change its voice or format, we will send the revised version to you for review before the withdrawal deadline.
  3. Withdrawal deadline. You may withdraw a submission by emailing larkspursentinel@gmail.com by the 10th of the month before the issue is published.
  4. After the deadline. After that date, we cannot guarantee a submission can be changed or removed, and we may edit and publish it as we see fit under these terms.
  5. Your work and your permissions. You confirm the submission is your own original work and that you have permission to share any photos, names, or stories about other people. You keep ownership and give the Sentinel permission to publish it in print and online.
  6. Private individuals. We may decline or adjust any piece that identifies a private individual or family who has not agreed to be featured.
  7. AI use. We may use AI tools as editorial aids. Content produced by the Larkspur Sentinel is written by a human. Please tell us if AI helped write your submission.
  8. Corrections. To report an error or request a clarification, email larkspursentinel@gmail.com. We will correct all errors that occur.
  9. Length of this agreement. This agreement covers all submissions you make through December 31, 2026. You only need to agree once for the year.
  10. Updates. If we update these terms during the year, we will announce it in our monthly submission reminder email. Submitting after that email means you accept the update. Updates do not apply to pieces already submitted.

By replying “I agree to the Larkspur Sentinel Contributor Terms, 2026,” you accept these terms for your submissions through December 31, 2026.

A Note on Who We Are

We are a small team of editors, writers, layout designers, proofreaders, and a handful of dedicated community contributors, and we have a deep commitment to getting reliable information out within our team and means.

We publish 11 issues per year, distribute ~300 print copies monthly throughout the 80118, and reach approximately 1,500 unique readers online each month. Every issue is free and available to all.

Questions, concerns, corrections, or story ideas? We’d love to hear from you.

larkspursentinel@gmail.com | larkspursentinel.org

Larkspur Sentinel | Serving the 80118 since 1977