Editorial Standards & Corrections

Updated November 2, 2026.

Maryland Authority's editorial work should help readers understand the region through useful, specific information. Coastal Authority Group, LLC is responsible for the website's publishing decisions.

Sources and verification

We favor primary sources for organization details, government programs, access rules and other facts that can be checked directly. Articles should identify useful sources, distinguish evidence from interpretation and state relevant dates. Information likely to change needs a review appropriate to the subject.

A reporting brief or research lead is not a completed article. Drafts require editorial review before publication. We do not invent quotations, interviews, firsthand experiences, customer reviews or credentials. If a fact remains uncertain, we should say so or leave it out.

Independence and relationships

Coverage is selected for its relevance to readers. An ordinary directory entry or editorial mention does not establish a paid relationship. Advertisers do not purchase favorable independent reporting or the removal of accurate reporting.

Paid content must carry a clear disclosure. A contributor's business, employment, financial interest or other relevant relationship should be identified when it could affect how a reader understands the piece. Expert contributions require an approved byline and a verified basis for the expertise presented.

Editing and technology

Editors may use software, including AI tools, to organize research and prepare drafts. A tool's output is not evidence. A human publisher remains responsible for reviewing factual claims, sources, quotations, rights and disclosures before publication. Synthetic visuals must not be presented as documentary photographs of an actual local event or place.

Corrections and updates

Report a suspected error by emailing info@coastalvirginiaauthority.com or using the Contact page. Include the page address, the specific statement at issue and a reliable source where possible. A disagreement with a conclusion is different from a factual error, but both can help identify where an explanation needs work.

We assess concerns against the available evidence. Material factual corrections should be explained on the affected page. Routine spelling, formatting and link repairs may be made without a separate notice. Substantive updates should carry an updated date or explanation when the change affects the reader's understanding.

Fairness and privacy

Relevant context and fair representation matter, particularly when a story could harm a person's reputation. Sensitive personal information should serve a clear editorial purpose and receive appropriate review. Public availability alone does not mean every personal detail belongs in a story.

See the Advertising & Sponsorship Disclosure and Submission Terms for related standards.