Content Policy for The Virginia Consumer

1. Purpose and Mission

The Virginia Consumer is a news aggregation and advocacy platform committed to providing Virginia residents with relevant, fact-based information about consumer rights, government accountability, and regulatory issues in the state. Our goal is to empower Virginians with knowledge to make informed decisions and to advocate for a fair and transparent government.

2. Aggregated vs. Original Content

We publish a combination of:

• Original Reporting: Investigative articles, opinion pieces, interviews, and in-depth analysis produced by our team.
• Aggregated Content: Selected articles from reputable news sources, government reports, and independent journalists. Aggregated content is always credited to the original source and includes direct links to the full article when possible.

We do not claim ownership over aggregated articles, nor do we republish them in their entirety. Instead, we provide summaries, excerpts, or citations in accordance with fair use principles and journalistic ethics.

3. Attribution & Sourcing

• All aggregated content is credited to the original publisher, including the author’s name (if available) and a direct link to the original article.
• When citing official government documents, studies, or reports, we provide links to the original sources whenever possible.
• Any use of third-party media, such as images or videos, complies with copyright laws, and we use only licensed, royalty-free, or properly attributed content.

4. Editorial Standards

• We strive for accuracy, fairness, and objectivity in all content.
• Opinion pieces and editorials are clearly labeled as such and reflect the viewpoints of the authors, not necessarily The Virginia Consumer as an organization.
• Content is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains relevant and factual.

5. User Engagement & Comments

• We encourage community discussions but do not tolerate misinformation, hate speech, harassment, or personal attacks.
• Comments and user-generated content must adhere to our Community Guidelines (linked separately).
• We reserve the right to moderate or remove comments that violate our policies.

6. Corrections & Updates

If an error is identified in our content, whether original or aggregated, we will issue a correction as soon as possible. Updates to articles will be clearly noted to maintain transparency.

7. Disclaimer

While The Virginia Consumer strives to provide accurate and comprehensive information, we do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of third-party content. Readers should verify information from original sources and consult professionals when necessary.