Code of Ethics

This code is designed to supplement NZP4H’s and the Homer Independent Press’s Conflict of Interest Policy (required by the Internal Revenue Service) and set out our expectations and aspirations for the conduct of our newsroom and editorial contributors. Employees, contributors and board members who are not involved in the shaping of the Homer Independent Press’s editorial content are also expected to adhere to the highest of ethical standards, with certain separate guidelines as outlined below.

The mission of the Homer Independent Press is to tell the stories of the Southern Kenai Peninsula accurately, honestly and with respect. All of the values stated here, and the rules set out here, are intended to contribute to that mission. Much of the language below draws on similar policies in place at other distinguished American news organizations. The code also reflects what we and others have learned over many years. At the same time, however, this code is not immutable. Most of it consists of guidelines; exceptional circumstances may require exceptions to these rules. We expect to continue to learn, and, as we do so, to revise this document in light of further insight and experience.

Everyone affiliated with NZP4H and the Homer Independent Press  is encouraged to discuss the matters within the ambit of this code and to make that discussion a continuing part of our work. Indeed, the most important wisdom about dealing with these questions is: When in doubt, ask.

It is an essential prerequisite for success in the news business that we tell the truth, and that our readers believe us to be telling them the truth. If we are not telling them the truth — or even if they, for any valid reason, believe that we are not — then the Homer Independent Press cannot succeed. The Homer Independent Press will suffer, for example, if our readers cannot assume that

• Our facts are accurate and fairly presented
• Our analyses represent our best independent judgments rather than our preferences or those of our sources
• There are no hidden agendas in any of our journalistic undertakings

All organizations profess integrity. But the impact of our work on the work of others, and on their lives and fortunes, places special responsibilities upon NZP4H and Homer Independent Press employees, volunteers, contributors and board members.

Opinions Page

The Homer Independent Press welcomes letters to the editor, op-ed and other commentary submissions with the following guidelines:

• Letters to the editor: Short, focused letters on a single point, preferably under 350 words but not more than 600 words. Shorter letters will be placed first in each edition’s batch.
• Op-eds: Longer opinion pieces from 600 to 1,000 words on a single point. These will be published separately from letters and can include the author’s photo and a short biography. Please query first.
• Commentary: Longer essays from 600 to 1,000 words that can be light in tone or observations on life on the southern Kenai Peninsula. Please query first.
• Links to blogs: We welcome publishing links or short references to essays originally published on blog sites such as Substack. The links should be limited to those that are of interest to the residents of the southern Kenai Peninsula and are provided by the blog author or with the permission of the author. Please query first.
• Please be respectful in your opinions and do not personally attack other people, particularly your neighbors. Challenge ideas but do not attack the people who express them.
• The editor reserves the right to edit letters for Associated Press style, spelling and grammar. Substantial edits will be sent to the writer for approval or revision.
• Opinion pieces will not be accepted that are potentially libelous or offensive
• We reserve the right to reject any opinion piece but will not reject a submission on the basis of any political expression that is not offensive or attacks other people.

How We Do Our Work

These responsibilities include following several important guidelines in our approach in news-gathering, while writing and editing and after publication.

We strive to identify all the sources of our information, shielding them with anonymity only when they insist upon it and when they provide vital information — not opinion or speculation; when there is no other way to obtain that information; and when we know the source is knowledgeable and reliable. To the extent that we can, we identify in our stories any important bias such a source may have. If the story hinges on documents, as opposed to interviews, we describe how the documents were obtained, at least to the extent possible. We do not say that a person declined to comment when he or she is quoted anonymously.

When editing an article, the editor should assess with the Editorial Advisory Board the appropriateness of any unnamed sources in stories. As part of that, the editor may ask to know their identity. Sources need to understand this practice. When a source chooses to provide material to the Homer Independent Press anonymously, editors and reporters should take special care to verify the material’s authenticity.

We don’t misidentify or misrepresent ourselves to get a story. When we seek an interview, we identify ourselves as Homer Independent Press  journalists, reporters and contributors.

• We don’t pay for interviews.
• We don’t plagiarize.

Unless stated as a published work of fiction in our arts and culture sections, our reporting will never be fabricated. We will not publish news reports or histories that use composite characters or fictional ages, places or dates in our stories. Our default for identifying sources is by using full names; pseudonyms are only used in extraordinary situations with the approval of the editor and editorial advisory board, or when that is a pseudonym commonly known to residents of Homer.

In criminal cases where a person is an alleged victim of sexual assault or sexual abuse, they will not be identified nor will possible identifying describers be used. Names, initials ages and direct relationship of an alleged minor victim of a crime will not be used (i.e., “a girl under the age of 12 who was known to the defendant” and not “the 11-year-old daughter of the defendant”).

Overall, we work to be fair in our reporting. Reporting requires diligence with respect to fairness. Whenever we portray someone in a negative light, we should make a real effort to obtain a response from that person. We should give them a reasonable amount of time to get back to us before we publish. What is “reasonable” may depend on the urgency and competitiveness of the story, but we should do our best to make sure people are not surprised by what we write about them. If we don’t reach the parties involved, we should explain in the story what efforts were made to do so. If a party declined to comment or did not return multiple requests to comment, that will be noted.

Whenever we publish data we should make diligent efforts to verify and validate the integrity of the data set and explain how to correct any inaccuracies.

No story is fair if it omits facts of major importance or significance. Fairness includes completeness.

Any time a question of fairness or accuracy is raised about any aspect of our work, whether by a source, subject or member of the public, the reporters involved should discuss the issue with the editor and decide what response is warranted. When mistakes are made, they need to be corrected — fully, quickly and ungrudgingly.

Articles will not be shared outside the newsroom before publication and sources cannot review the article before publication. If a source has concerns about facts or quotes provided to a reporter, the reporter may share those specific facts or quotes with the source to verify accuracy. When possible, interviews should be recorded. Outside of public meetings, a source will be notified that the interview is being recorded.

Any possible association between a reporter and another organization shall be disclosed. If the association could influence a reporter’s fairness they should not cover the story,

Corporate Bylaws

The bylaws for the Alaska nonprofit corporation NZP4H were adopted 20 November 2025. You may review the bylaws at this link: NZP4H bylaws

Obligations Applicable to All Employees, Contributors, Contractors, Volunteers and Board Members

Working at any level of or in any part of NZP4H and the Homer Independent Press (employee, contributor, contractor, volunteer, or board member) includes acceptance of individual responsibility to uphold NZP4H’s and Homer Independent Press’s policies governing legal and ethical business practices, as well as the responsibility to stress proper ethical behavior among colleagues and subordinates.

Any and all information and other material obtained by a Homer Independent Press employee, contractor, or contributor in connection with his or her work is strictly the property of the Homer Independent Press. Similarly, the use of NZP4H or Homer Independent Press property of this sort (i.e., forthcoming news) as a basis for any investment decision is strictly prohibited.

All NZP4H and Homer Independent Press employees, contractors, contributors, volunteers and board members are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that leaves no grounds for belief or suspicion, that:

• The creation or dissemination, or non-dissemination, of any news or other information was influenced by a desire to affect the price of any security.
• An employee’s personal financial situation with respect to investments is such that it creates a temptation to violate these rules.
• An employee is beholden to newsmakers, information providers or market participants, creating a temptation to violate these rules.

No NZP4H or Homer Independent Press employee, contractor, contributor, volunteer or board member should permit their Homer Independent Press affiliation to be noted in any outside organization’s materials or activities without the express written approval of the editor, unless the person serves as a representative of NZP4H or Homer Independent Press or the affiliation is merely noted as part of a broader description of the person’s identity.

It is important to take care not to discuss confidential organization matters with family members or business or social acquaintances or in places where one can be overheard. Within NZP4H and Homer Independent Press, confidential information should be divulged only to others who need to know the information in order to carry out their job responsibilities.

NZP4H and Homer Independent Press employees and contributors should not offer or provide to current or prospective sources, donors or prospective donors or vendors or prospective vendors, directly or indirectly, any gift, entertainment or reimbursement of expenses of more than nominal value or that exceeds customary courtesies for that time and place. Nor should employees offer or provide, directly or indirectly, any material, equipment or services to any individual in a position to make or influence any business, philanthropic, or governmental decision affecting NZP4H or Homer Independent Press.

These obligations are adapted from ProPublica’s with permission.

Finances, Gifts and Services

In making personal investments, all employees must avoid speculation or the appearance of speculation based on the exploitation of information not available to the public.

All editorial personnel assigned to cover a specific industry must disclose a potential conflict of interest to the Editor or Board of Directors immediately to determine if they may be involved in any reporting or communications related to a story.

When an appearance of a potential conflict of interest on staff or the board may be present, such information will be included in the text of a story.

Public Life

NZP4H and Homer Independent Press do not contribute, directly or indirectly, to political campaigns or to political parties or groups seeking to raise money for political campaigns or parties, and NZP4H and Homer Independent Press do not and will not reimburse any employee or contributor for any political contribution made.

NZP4H and Homer Independent Press do not prevent editorial personnel, board members or contributors from participating in issue-oriented activities outside of their work with the newspaper, such as expressing support for human rights or denouncing discrimination because of a person’s race, religion, ethnicity, gender, gender identification or sexual orientation. For example, working at the Homer Independent Press would not preclude an employee from marching in a Pride parade; however, while it is permissible for an employee to participate in a rally supporting or organized by a political party, this participation must be disclosed in any reporting related to that topic, and the only contributions related to that participation will be relegated to opinion sections that are uncompensated.

Editorial personnel should avoid any actions that could make a reasonable reader doubt their ability to report fairly or with neutrality on the subjects of their coverage. This includes participating in groups or activities that advocate for a specific policy or political solution in the employee’s coverage area.

It is not the intention of NZP4H, Homer Independent Press, or this code, to dissuade employees from participating actively in or donating to civic, charitable, religious, public, social or residential organizations. Such activities are permitted, and even encouraged, to the extent that they

• Do not detract from performance or effectiveness at work.
• Are, in the case of Board memberships, disclosed as an employee’s direct supervisor.
• Do not, by their extensiveness, cause the Homer Independent Press to subsidize or appear to subsidize the activity.
• Do not otherwise violate this code. In the event that a conflict arises or may arise between an outside organization with which an employee is affiliated and the interests of NZP4H or Homer Independent Press, the employee should refrain from participating in the conflicting or potentially conflicting activity.

Following and Enforcing our Code

NZP4H and Homer Independent Press take this code very seriously. All employees, contractors, volunteers and board members are responsible for compliance with all aspects of this code. All employees shall be required to read this code at the outset of their engagement with our news service, and when this code is issued or updated, but not less than once a year thereafter, and to attest in writing that they have done so.

The matters addressed by this code are sufficiently important that any lapse in judgment may be considered serious enough to warrant discipline up to and including dismissal.

NZP4H and Homer Independent Press seek to work with an open-door policy. We encourage employees, volunteers and contractors to share their questions, concerns, suggestions or complaints with someone who can address them properly. In serious cases, individuals should feel free to contact a member of the Editorial Board, the Board of Directors or the Editor directly. Violations or suspected violations may be submitted on a confidential basis by the complainant or may be submitted anonymously. Reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective action will be taken if warranted by the investigation. Reports of violations or suspected violations will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation.

Anyone filing a complaint concerning a violation or suspected violation of this code or other policies must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

No employee or director who in good faith reports a violation of this code will suffer harassment, retaliation, or adverse employment consequences. An employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including dismissal.

Finally, and to repeat probably the most important point in dealing with these questions: When in doubt, ask.

Advertising Policy

Our newspaper exists to inform, connect and serve our local community. Advertising helps support this work, but all advertising must align with our values and responsibilities as a non-profit news organization.

What we accept

We welcome advertisements from local businesses, or national businesses with a local presence in the Kenai Peninsula, organizations, and community groups that provide lawful products or services and contribute positively to community life. We accept public notices from local, borough, state, and federal agencies or the court systems.

What we do not accept

• We do not accept advertising that is defamatory or harmful.
• Ads may not contain false statements or allegations presents as fact about any person, organization or business.
• Ads may not promote false or misleading claims. Ads must not include knowingly false, deceptive or unverifiable claims, including misinformation about health, safety, science or public affairs.
• Ads may not contain hate or discrimination, or promote hatred, harassment or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or any other protected status.
• We do not accept political advertising of any kind, including ads advocating for or against a political candidate, party, ballot measure or referendum; issue ads intended to influence public opinion on political or legislative matters; and fundraising or promotional ads from political organizations or campaigns.
• We do not accept ads that conflict with our nonprofit mission or undermine our role as an independent, community-serving news organization.

Editorial independence

Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement. Advertisers have no influence over news coverage, editorial decisions or reporting priorities. Reporting on a business is done to inform the public of business news and does not imply an expectation that the business or person will advertise with us.

Right of refusal

We reserve the right to refuse, revise or remove any advertisement at our discretion. Decisions are made to protect the integrity, accuracy, and trustworthiness of the newspaper.

Responsibility for content

Advertisers are responsible for the accuracy and legality of their advertisements and for complying with all applicable laws and regulations.

Gift Acceptance

Our newspaper relies on volunteer effort, modest resources, and public trust. We accept support only in ways that protect our independence and credibility.

Core principles

• Independence: Gifts must never influence, or appear to influence, editorial decisions or coverage.
• No Favors: We do not accept gifts that create obligations, expectations or preferential treatment.
• Transparency: Support for the newspaper must be open, ethical and accountable.
• Fairness: No individual receives a personal benefit because of their role with the newspaper.

What may be accepted by the nonprofit

• Modest, shared refreshments or small tokens customary in community settings
• Volunteer time, donated skills, event space or meeting space use freely given
• In-kind support that benefits the organization as a whole and does not affect news coverage
• Unrestricted donations made to the organization (not to individuals, staff, contributors, volunteers, or Board of Directors members)

Any accepted gifts received by the corporation and valued over $25 may be disclosed as donations or donations in-kind as part of our annual fundraising reporting and auditing process at year end.

What we do not accept

• Cash or cash-equivalent gifts to individuals based on their role with NZP4H or Homer Independent Press
• Personal favors, discounts, travel, meals or entertainment that are not disclosed and reviewed by the Board of Directors and Editorial Advisory Board, and are not pre-determined to give the appearance of a real conflict of interest with their work on behalf of NZP4H and the Homer Independent Press
• Gifts tied to coverage, silence or favorable treatment
• Gifts from subjects of coverage when acceptance could reasonably raise concerns of bias

Oversight

We reserve the right to decline or return any gift that conflicts with these principles or could undermine public trust.

Privacy Policy and Other Terms

We hold ourselves to a high standard and are committed to protect the privacy of our sources. We are an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces local investigative journalism and public reporting aimed to advance the public interest and participation in public life.

We have developed our site, applications, and related services so that you can visit without identifying yourself or revealing any personal information to us. We do not track visitors to our website or how and what they access on other sites.

We do use online traffic monitoring tools for analytics, communication, and fundraising that track information about use of our website. These tools record information including details about a browser, operating system or device, IP address, information about the links that are clicked, and other details of online activity. This information is not linked to your personally identifying information, such as your name, address or email address, or subscriber status.

If you do choose to subscribe and provide personally identifying information, NZP4H and Homer Independent Press are the only organizations that have access to the information we collect, unless specifically disclosed when you are asked to provide it, or if asked by a third party, you will receive a direct communication requesting your prior permission.

When you choose to become a newsletter subscriber or donor, we use proprietary software provided by our web hosting platform to manage this information securely. Our WordPress site may place a cookie on your computer when you visit our website, and if you have provided us with an email address, we may receive information about your personal use of our website and newsletter products. NZP4H limits access to all such user data for the purposes of newsletters, fundraising, and customer service only, and we require any of our employees or contractors with access to these systems to use modern authentication methods to ensure the privacy of users.

NZP4H does not share, trade, sell, or otherwise release donors’ personal information to any third parties. This includes all donor information that is obtained both online and offline. Names and addresses of donors who contribute $5,000 or more will appear in our 990 filings with the IRS, as required by law, and we will publish these filings on our website. But otherwise, we do not disclose donor information without prior explicit consent.

At this time, we are not involved in any Apple Store, Google Play, Amazon, or other online services that may suggest costs for subscription or payment requests. Should you receive notification purporting to be from those sources, these did not originate from us and may be an external risk that you should investigate as a potential breach of your security.

In most cases, all of the data collected by cookies related to our website remains private and cannot be shared with anyone else. Other services — such as those that measure traffic, prevent fake sign-ups, serve relevant banner ads, and provide social media conveniences such as sharing articles, may place cookies on your computer that collect information about your browsing behavior on our website and other websites, including click stream and browser information. We don’t have any way of knowing how such services handle the resulting data internally. 

These are the online analytics systems that we are using as of December 31, 2025:

• Google Analytics, which we use to measure site traffic. You can opt out of Google’s collection and processing of data related to use of Homer Independent Press’s site and services by going to https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
• Stripe, which we use to take payment on the Homer Independent Press’s donation page and merch shop (Homer Independent Press does not itself process or store credit card information related to such transactions.)
• We may use Google Maps to illustrate stories. On these pages, you are additionally bound by the Google Maps/Google Earth Additional Terms of Service.
• We occasionally embed videos hosted by YouTube and Vimeo, and sharing buttons for Facebook, Meta, Reels, Substack, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and Google services whose names seem to change frequently, which use the standard scripts provided by each company.

Some of the third-party services providers and/or Advertisers may be members of the Network Advertising Initiative (“NAI”) or the Digital Advertising Alliance (“DAA”) Self-Regulatory Program for Online Behavioral Advertising. You can visit here, which provides information regarding targeted advertising and the “opt-out” procedures of NAI members. You can opt-out of the use of your behavioral data used by DAA members to serve you interest-based advertising on third-party sites here.

If you are accessing the Services through an application (i.e., mobile phone or tablet) you can download the AppChoices application from your device’s application store (i.e., Google Play, Apple App Store, and Amazon Store). This DAA application allows participating companies to offer an opt-out of customized advertisements that are based on predictions about your interests generated from your application usage. For more information, visit here.

Please note opting out through these mechanisms does not opt you out of being served advertising. You will continue to receive generic ads while online or on your device.

We use reasonable measures to help protect the information we possess. You should understand that no data storage system or data transmitted over the Internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You provide us with these data at your own risk. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, NZP4H and Homer Independent Press do not accept liability for unintentional disclosure.

The servers we use are, to the best of our knowledge, still located in the United States. Our site and services are designed for and targeted to United States audiences and are governed in accordance with United States law, the laws of the State of Alaska, and any specific regulations in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. If you are located outside of the U.S., by sending us your data you consent to its transfer to and storage within the United States.

Protecting the privacy of young children is important to us. Our site and services are not directed to children under 13 (or other age as required by law), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you learn that your child (under the age of 18) has provided us with personal information without your consent, you may contact us. If we learn that we have collected any personal information in violation of applicable law, we will promptly take steps to delete such information

By using the site and services or providing personal information to us, you agree that we may communicate with you electronically regarding security, privacy, and administrative issues related to such use. If we learn of a security system’s breach, we may attempt to notify you electronically by posting a notice, by mail or by sending an email to you.

We may share your information in connection with a substantial corporate transaction involving our nonprofit, such as an acquisition, a merger, consolidation, asset sale, or in the unlikely event of dissolution due to bankruptcy.

If we believe it is reasonably necessary, we may read, preserve, and disclose your information to comply with the law, including to respond to law enforcement; to protect and defend ourselves or others; and to stop any activity that we consider illegal, unethical, or legally actionable. If we receive a subpoena, warrant, discovery order, or other request or order from a law enforcement agency, court, other governmental entity, or litigant that seeks your data, we will make reasonable attempts to direct the requesting party to seek the data directly from you, and at the very least, disclose publicly that such a request was made in accordance with the law. Nothing in this policy is intended to limit any legal defenses or objections that you have to a third party’s (including a government’s) request to disclose your information.

By accessing the Homer Independent Press website, applications, or other services, you agree to be legally bound by and comply with this policy. If you do not agree to comply with this policy, you are not authorized to use our sites.

We learned a great deal about good journalism policies from the ProPublica website and thank their legal team for encouraging us to adapt their work.