Journalism Principles

At New England Hockey Journal, we produce journalism and analysis that helps hockey players, families, coaches, and fans better understand the people, teams, and trends shaping hockey in New England.

Our coverage is built around the region’s hockey pipeline, from youth and prep hockey through juniors, college, and the path to professional hockey. We are committed to reporting that is accurate, fair, and useful to the hockey community we serve.

These publishing principles explain how we report, edit, and publish our work, and how we handle corrections, sources, editorial independence, and sponsored content.

Our Editorial Mission

Our editorial mission is to inform and serve the New England hockey community with timely, fact-based, and relevant coverage. We aim to provide:

  • Accurate reporting

  • Fair context and responsible analysis

  • Clear sourcing and attribution

  • Coverage that helps readers follow player development, team performance, and the broader hockey landscape

Our reporting is guided by news value, relevance to our audience, and journalistic standards.

Accuracy and Verification

Accuracy is the foundation of our journalism. Before publication, our editorial team works to verify names, ages, teams, leagues, titles, statistics, dates, quotes, and other important details. We use primary sources whenever possible, including:

  • Direct interviews

  • Game coverage and firsthand reporting

  • Team, league, and school communications

  • Official rosters, schedules, and statistics

  • Public records and documented announcements

When information cannot be independently confirmed, we either do not publish it or clearly describe what is not yet confirmed.

Fairness and Context

We strive to be fair in our reporting and to present information in the proper context.

That includes:

  • Seeking comment from relevant individuals or organizations when appropriate

  • Representing quotes and viewpoints accurately

  • Avoiding misleading headlines or selective framing

  • Distinguishing clearly between reporting, analysis, and opinion

Fair reporting does not mean giving equal weight to every claim. We report based on evidence, reporting standards, and what we can verify.

Coverage of Minors and Amateur Athletes

Because much of our coverage involves youth, prep, and amateur athletes, we apply extra care in how we report.

We aim to cover players and teams respectfully and responsibly. We focus on performance, development, recruiting, competition, and newsworthy events, and we avoid unnecessary personal details that are not relevant to the story.

We recognize that many athletes in our coverage are minors, and our editorial team uses judgment accordingly in interviews, story framing, and published details.

Editorial Independence

Our editorial team operates independently from advertising and commercial interests.

Advertisers, sponsors, and business partners do not control our editorial decisions, coverage priorities, headlines, or conclusions. Editorial decisions are made by the newsroom based on journalistic standards and audience relevance.

Sponsored Content and Advertising

We clearly distinguish editorial content from paid content. Advertising, sponsored content, and promotional placements are labeled so readers can identify them. We do not present paid content as independent editorial coverage.

Corrections Policy

We correct factual errors as quickly and transparently as possible. If we identify a material error in a published story, we will:

  1. Correct the article

  2. Add a correction note when the change is substantive

  3. Update related headlines, captions, or social text if needed to prevent confusion

Minor edits for grammar, style, or clarity may be made without a formal correction note.

If you believe we published an error, please contact our editorial team.

Sources and Attribution

Our reporting prioritizes direct interviews, on-the-record sources, original reporting, and official documents, announcements, and league/team information. We attribute information to its source whenever possible.

We may use anonymous sources in limited cases when:

  • The source has direct knowledge of the matter

  • The information is newsworthy and in the public interest

  • There is a legitimate reason for confidentiality

  • The editorial team has confidence in the source’s credibility

Anonymous sourcing is used carefully and reviewed by editors.

Use of AI and Automation

We may use AI or automated tools to support parts of our workflow, such as transcription, research assistance, formatting, or production tasks. However, AI tools do not replace editorial judgment. Our editorial team remains responsible for:

  • Reviewing all published content

  • Verifying facts and quotes

  • Maintaining fairness and accuracy

  • Making final editorial decisions

We do not publish AI-generated material as journalism without human review and oversight.

Conflicts of Interest

Our editorial staff is expected to avoid conflicts of interest that could compromise coverage or reader trust. Editors and writers should:

  • Disclose potential conflicts

  • Avoid coverage assignments where personal relationships or financial interests create bias

  • Maintain professional independence in reporting and sourcing

When relevant, we may disclose relationships or context to readers.

Updates and Transparency

Some stories are updated as new information becomes available, especially in fast-moving situations involving commitments, roster moves, coaching changes, league decisions, or tournament results.

When a significant update changes the substance of a story, we will note that update in the article.

Reader Feedback and Contact

We value feedback from our readers and the hockey community. For editorial inquiries or corrections, please contact our editorial staff.