Last updated: 2026-02-05

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Appalachia Today™ is committed to ethical, independent journalism that reflects the lived experience, history, and contemporary realities of the Appalachian Mountains. The following standards outline how we approach reporting, editorial independence, and the responsible use of tools and technologies.

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Editorial Independence

 

Appalachia Today™ does not publish sponsored articles, native advertisements, or advertorial content. Editorial coverage is not offered in exchange for payment, gifts, or other consideration.

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The site may receive voluntary reader support through gratuities and patronage. Such support is given freely and does not influence editorial decisions, story selection, or coverage.

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While Appalachia Today™ may participate in monetization programs on third-party social media platforms where its content is shared, any advertising displayed on those platforms is controlled by the platforms themselves and not by Appalachia Today™.

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Accuracy and Reporting Standards

 

The ambition of Appalachia Today™ is to present an authentic representation of life in the Appalachian Mountains.

Stories published on Appalachia Today™ are expressions of an author’s views based on in-person reporting, firsthand experience, or human analysis of current events. This includes original reporting as well as contextual or summary articles drawing on coverage from trusted news outlets.

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Factual claims, quotations, and statistical information are reviewed for accuracy prior to publication. When errors are identified, reasonable efforts are made to correct them.

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Disclosure of Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

 

Appalachia Today™ employs the philosophy that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be used as a tool to support good original writing by real people, never as a replacement for human reporting or authorship.

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AI tools may be used in limited and responsible ways, including:

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• Formatting article layouts

• Proofreading and spellchecking

• Suggestions for revisions related to tone, clarity, and professionalism

• Template-style drafts based on an author’s original contributions or story prompts

 

Template drafts generated with the assistance of AI are always substantively reviewed, revised, and approved by a human editor prior to publication.

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Data claims, quotations, or statistical analysis provided by AI tools are always fact-checked before publication.

Digitally rendered artwork generated by AI, including hyperrealistic images that could reasonably be mistaken for photographs, is clearly disclosed and attributed as AI-generated on the article webpage.

 

The goal is for Appalachia Today™ to consistently publish work that aligns with the ethics and standards of professional journalism in the 21st century.

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Community, Culture, and Respect

 

Appalachia Today™ seeks to cover the Appalachian region with accuracy, respect, and cultural awareness. We recognize the diversity of communities, histories, and perspectives within Appalachia and strive to avoid stereotypes or reductive portrayals.

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Feedback and Corrections

 

We welcome feedback from readers regarding accuracy, fairness, or ethical concerns related to our coverage.

If you believe an article contains an error or would like to raise an editorial concern, please contact us:

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Email: editor@appalachatoday.com

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We will make reasonable efforts to review and respond to editorial concerns in a timely manner.

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This Editorial Standards & Ethics statement reflects our current practices and may be updated as the site evolves.