Effective September 21, 2026.
The American Quorum's credibility depends on independence, accuracy, fairness, and candor about the interests that could influence our work. This policy applies to editors, staff, contributors, and institutional newsroom workflows.
Conflicts of interest
People participating in editorial work must disclose financial, professional, political, family, or personal interests that could reasonably call their independence into question. A material conflict may require reassignment, additional review, or a disclosure in the published article.
Writers should not cover a company in which they hold a significant direct financial interest, advise an organization they are reporting on, or use nonpublic information obtained through editorial work for personal advantage. Broad diversified funds and ordinary consumer relationships do not ordinarily require disclosure unless they create a specific conflict.
Gifts, travel, and hospitality
TAQ does not accept cash, gift cards, or compensation from a source in exchange for coverage. Editors and writers should decline gifts or hospitality that could influence, or reasonably appear to influence, editorial judgment. Nominal promotional items may be accepted when refusal is impractical, but they do not create an obligation to publish.
When travel, lodging, event access, products, or services are provided by a subject or sponsor and materially support coverage, that support must be disclosed to the editor and, when relevant to a reader's assessment, in the published work. Acceptance never guarantees favorable treatment.
Financial disclosure and market integrity
Anyone writing or editing market-sensitive coverage must avoid trading on confidential information and must not manipulate publication timing for personal gain. Relevant direct holdings, board roles, consulting arrangements, employment relationships, or other economic interests should be disclosed and managed before assignment.
Political activity
Editors and writers responsible for news coverage should avoid campaign work, public endorsements, partisan fundraising, and other political activity that would create a reasonable question about their ability to report independently. Voting, private civic participation, and personal beliefs remain individual rights. Opinion contributors may hold and express viewpoints, but opinion work must be labeled and relevant affiliations disclosed.
Sources and methods
We do not pay sources for factual news information. We protect confidential sources when anonymity is justified, but anonymity is not granted merely to avoid accountability or embarrassment. We do not knowingly misrepresent our identity to obtain information except in rare public-interest circumstances approved in advance by the Editor-in-Chief.
Plagiarism, fabricated quotations, invented sources, manipulated evidence, and knowingly false attribution are prohibited. AI-assisted tools may not be used to create fictitious sourcing or to conceal the origin of material. See the AI Use Policy.
Advertising and editorial boundaries
Advertising, sponsorships, affiliate arrangements, memberships, subscriptions, or reader support do not buy editorial approval. Commercial material must be clearly labeled and visually distinguishable from independent journalism. Advertisers and sponsors do not receive advance review, veto power, or control over editorial conclusions unless a clearly labeled sponsored-content arrangement expressly concerns their own promotional material.
Ownership and funding
The American Quorum is operated by 1693 Scholars, LLC, doing business as The American Quorum. The publication may receive revenue from memberships, subscriptions, voluntary reader support, advertising or sponsorships when offered, and other lawful business activities. Ownership and editorial leadership are identified on the Masthead.
Accountability
Concerns about ethical conduct may be sent to TAQ@TheAmericanQuorum.com. We will review credible, specific complaints and correct the public record when warranted under our Corrections Policy.