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Brainerd Dispatch applies The Trust Project standards to increase news transparency

You deserve to know the news you’re reading is based on facts and ethical journalism. That’s why the Brainerd Dispatch has joined The Trust Project, which aims to help newsrooms and journalists actively demonstrate credibility.

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We know you rely on accurate information to make confident decisions for your life. But there is a lot of misinformation out there – some of it very convincing, which allows that misinformation to spread quickly.

That’s why the Brainerd Dispatch has joined The Trust Project, which aims to help newsrooms and journalists actively demonstrate credibility. The project partners with newsrooms across the country to experiment with and implement a variety of trust-building strategies. This includes public-facing policies and clear labeling on opinion and sponsored content.

“The Brainerd Dispatch is committed to delivering local news our communities and readers need and can trust. Our work with The Trust Project is our effort to promote transparency in how we deliver our news and how you, the reader, can easily connect with us when you have a question or comment about our work," Editor Matt Erickson said.

The project uses its Eight Trust Indicators as a framework. These indicators are a collaborative, journalism-generated standard that help both readers and search engines assess the authority and integrity of news. They were developed from user-centered research and adopted by all program participants. The eight trust indicators are: Best Practices; author/reporter expertise; type of work labels; citations and references; methods; local sourcing; diverse voices; and actionable feedback. More information can be found here .

“We proudly welcome the Brainerd Dispatch into the global Trust Project. Their commitment to accuracy, inclusion, impartiality and accountability underscores journalism’s vital role in every community - and throughout democracy,” said Sally Lehrman, founder and chief executive of the Trust Project. “Together, the Trust Project Network amplifies integrity-based journalism and slows the spread of false and misleading claims around the world.”

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To learn more about The Trust Project and the 8 Trust Indicators, visit thetrustproject.org .

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "staff." Often, the "staff" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

Hi, I'm the Brainerd Dispatch. I started working a few days before Christmas in 1881 and became a daily paper two years later. I've gone through a lot of changes over the years, but what has never changed is my commitment to community and to local journalism. I've got an entire team of dedicated people who work night and day to make sure I go out every morning, whether in print, as an e-edition, via an app or with additional information at www.brainerddispatch.com. News, weather, sports — videos, photos, podcasts and social media — all covering stories from central Minnesota about your neighbors, your lakes, your communities, your challenges and your opportunities. It's all part of the effort to keep people connected and informed. And we couldn't do it without support.
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