Questa • Red River • Cerro • Costilla • Amalia • Lama • San Cristobal
Print Editions Here
Print Editions Here
Questa • Red River • Cerro • Costilla • Amalia • Lama • San Cristobal
Questa Del Rio News is an editorially independent local news source published by the Questa Economic Development Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works in the public interest to advance a diversified sustainable local economy.
Questa Del Rio News shares this purpose as a separate program from QEDF.
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The Society of Professional Journalists declares four principles as the foundation of ethical journalism and encourages their use in its practice by all people in all media. We have adopted these principles as our own:
• Seek Truth and Report It.
• Minimize Harm.
• Act Independently.
• Be Accountable and Transparent.
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Corrections Policy at Questa del Rio News, we recognize that mistakes may occur in the course of reporting. How we address those mistakes is fundamental to maintaining our credibility and the trust of our readers and sources. When an error is identified, we will take steps to correct it as promptly as possible. Corrections will be published:
• In Print:
Corrections will appear in the subsequent month’s edition following the discovery of the error.
• Online:
Corrections will be appended to the digital version of the story.
• Off-Platform:
When necessary, corrections will also be issued on social media and other platforms where the error appeared. Readers may alert the editorial team to potential errors by emailing editor@questanews.com.
If a factual error is confirmed, it must be corrected — regardless of whether the affected party has formally requested a correction. When in doubt, staff should consult with an editor. Failure to acknowledge and amend mistakes risks undermining public trust in our reporting.
Occasionally, an error may involve nuance, tone, or missing context rather than a factual inaccuracy. In such cases, a clarification, editor’s note, or statement from the editor in chief may be more appropriate. All corrections and clarifications must be verified by the staff member responsible for the error, fact-checked by a source editor, and approved by the editor before publication. Placement of Corrections Online
• In most cases, correction notes should be appended to the end of the online version of the article.
• If the error is deemed egregious — such as misleading, fabricated, or unethical information — the correction may be placed at the beginning of the article.
• In cases where an error undermines the entire premise of a story, the article may be removed entirely. If this step is taken, the page should be replaced with an editor’s note explaining why the article was removed. This decision must be approved by the editor in chief.
Corrections for Social Media Posts If incorrect information is shared on social media or through a news alert, we will notify readers on the same platform and provide accurate information. In many cases, it may be appropriate to delete the original post. When a post is deleted, a screenshot of the original should be retained and reposted with clarifying information, noting that the post was removed due to an error.
Legal and Ethical Considerations If a request for a correction or retraction involves legal threats or comes from outside legal counsel, the matter must be referred immediately to the editor in chief and to the newspaper’s legal counsel before any response or action is taken. Action will be taken within 24 hours of notice.
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Questa Del Rio News retains full authority over editorial content to protect our best journalistic and business interests. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services, or opinions.
• We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations to support our paper. Our editorial decisions are not made based on donor support.
• We give no right of review or influence of editorial content.
• We are committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization.
• Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services, or opinions.
• We accept gifts and grants from individuals, organizations, and foundations to help with general operations, coverage of special projects and specific topics and maintain editorial control of that coverage. Our editorial judgments are made independently – not based on or influenced by donors. We do not give supporters the rights to assign, review, or edit content.
• We make public all donors who give $5,000 or more per year.
• We do not accept donations from anonymous sources, government entities, political parties, elected officials, or candidates actively seeking public office. We do not accept donations from sources who, deemed by our board of directors, present a conflict of interest with our work, or compromise our independence.
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Purpose This SOP establishes the process for editing, copy editing, and reviewing stories at Questa del Rio News to ensure factual accuracy, clarity, and adherence to the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics. Scope This SOP applies to all reporters, the editor, and the copy editor involved in the production of each issue. Procedure
1. Fact-Checking by Reporters
• Reporters are individually responsible for verifying the accuracy of all facts, f igures, names, dates, and sources in their stories before submission.
• Reporters must reference and apply the SPJ Code of Ethics, prioritizing accuracy, fairness, and transparency. • All sources should be clearly documented.
2. Ethical & Legal Check-Ins
• Throughout the reporting and writing process, reporters must regularly consult with the Editor on ethical and legal considerations (e.g., conflicts of interest, sensitive subjects, libel risks).
• The Editor will also reference the SPJ Code of Ethics when offering guidance.
3. Initial Editorial Review
• Once submitted, stories undergo review by both the Editor and Copy Editor.
• Review includes:
o Accuracy and fact-checking
o Grammar, spelling, and style consistency
o Narrative flow and clarity
o Verification that ethical standards are upheld
4. Pagination
• Approved stories are formatted and paginated into the 32-page issue layout.
5. Secondary Review
• After pagination, the Reporter, Editor, and Copy Editor review each story again.
• Focus is on:
o Accuracy of facts, figures, and names
o Layout consistency (no missing text, captions, or cut-off sections)
o Ethical integrity
6. Proofing Rounds
• The full issue undergoes a minimum of three (3) and no more than ten (10) rounds of proofing.
• Proofing is conducted collaboratively by the Editor, Copy Editor, and, when appropriate, the Reporter.
• Each round checks for:
o Remaining errors in text, formatting, or layout o Final confirmation of ethical compliance
o Readability and overall flow
• Editor will conduct final round of proofing before the publication is sent to the press. Responsibilities
• Reporters: Verify facts, consult with Editor, uphold SPJ Code of Ethics.
• Editor: Provide ethical/legal guidance, review content, ensure adherence to standards.
• Copy Editor: Ensure accuracy in language, grammar, and style; support factchecking; review layout consistency.
References
• Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics: https://www.spj.org/spjcode-of-ethics/
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Purpose Questa del Rio News welcomes op-ed submissions from community members and leaders. Op-eds provide an opportunity to share diverse perspectives, advance thoughtful discussion, and contribute to the public dialogue on issues affecting our community, region, and beyond.
Definition of an Op-Ed
• “Op-ed” stands for opposite the editorial page and refers to opinion pieces authored by individuals outside the newspaper’s editorial board.
• Op-eds express the views of the author, not necessarily the views of Questa del Rio News.
• These submissions may address current events, local concerns, public policy, cultural topics, or issues of broad public interest.
Editorial Policy
• We may choose to publish op-eds that present different viewpoints than those expressed in our own editorials, in order to balance coverage and promote thoughtful dialogue.
• Submissions are selected based on timeliness, originality, clarity, strength of argument, community relevance, and newsworthiness.
• Priority is often given to:
o Local residents and community leaders
o Subject matter experts or academics
o Voices offering a fresh perspective on timely issues Restrictions on Government Officials
• Government officials, elected or appointed, may not submit self-authored articles about themselves, their office, or their accomplishments for publication as news stories.
• Any such submissions will be automatically rejected.
• If a government official wishes to present their perspective, they must do so through an Op-Ed submission following these guidelines.
• This policy ensures that news coverage remains independent, factual, and free from conflicts of interest.
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1. Word Count o 600–750 words maximum. Submissions shorter than 500 words or longer than 750 words are unlikely to be considered.
2. Formatting & Style o Double-spaced, standard font, and submitted as a Word or Google Doc file.
o Clear, everyday language — avoid jargon, slang, and acronyms.
o Well-structured with a focused argument.
o Edited for spelling, grammar, and readability before submission.
3. Content Standards
o Opinions must be supported by facts, credible sources, or relevant statistics (3–4 strong supporting details recommended).
o Personal stories and real-life examples are encouraged to illustrate points.
o Submissions must adhere to the SPJ Code of Ethics.
4. Identification o Include the author’s full name, title/affiliation (if relevant), and a brief onesentence biography.
o A headshot photo may be requested for publication.
5. Submission Process o Email your op-ed to: editor@questanews.com
o In the subject line, write: Op-Ed Submission – [Your Topic]
o The editorial team will confirm receipt within 3 business days and inform if the submission will be published in the next issue.
• The Editor reviews submissions for clarity, accuracy, and adherence to guidelines.
• The Copy Editor may edit for grammar, style, and readability. Substantial changes will be discussed with the author.
• Acceptance is not guaranteed. Final decisions rest with the Editor.
• If accepted, authors may be asked to make revisions before publication. Follow-Up & Reuse
• If you do not hear back within 10 days, you may follow up with the Editor.
• Accepted op-eds will appear in print and/or online editions of Questa del Rio News.
• Once published, authors are encouraged to share their op-ed with community members, decision-makers, and partners.
• If a piece is rejected, authors may request feedback for future improvement and may consider submitting to another outlet. Responsibilities of Authors
• Ensure accuracy of facts and sources.
• Maintain civil, respectful tone.
• Avoid personal attacks, libel, or discriminatory language.
• Accept editorial revisions as a condition of publication. Contact For questions about submissions or guidelines, contact:
Editor, Questa del Rio News editor@questanews.com
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