Our Editorial Standards
San Diego Magazine has reported on the life, people, institutions and culture of San Diego County since 1948. Our readers rely on us to tell them what is true about the place they live. This policy describes how we work to earn that, and what we do when we get something wrong.
Accuracy
Every story we publish is reported from primary sources: firsthand observation, named interviews, public records, and documents we have examined ourselves. We verify factual claims before publication. Where a claim cannot be independently confirmed, we say so in the story rather than implying certainty we do not have.
We do not publish material generated by artificial intelligence as reporting. AI tools may assist with research, transcription or production tasks; the reporting, verification and writing are done by people, and a named human editor is accountable for every published piece.
Independence
Our editorial judgment is not for sale. Advertisers, sponsors, underwriters and commercial partners have no influence over what we cover, how we cover it, or whether a story runs. No one outside the editorial staff reviews a story before publication, and no advertiser is granted advance notice of unfavorable coverage.
San Diego Magazine also produces branded content through Here We Are, our creative studio, and publishes sponsored material. All such content is clearly and conspicuously labeled as sponsored, advertising, or partner content, is visually distinguished from editorial, and is produced separately from the newsroom.
Where a story is underwritten by a civic or philanthropic partner, we disclose the funder in the story and retain complete editorial control over assignment, reporting and publication.
Transparency and conflicts of interest
Our ownership and full masthead are publicly listed on our About page. Staff and contributors disclose to their editor any financial, personal, professional or familial relationship that could reasonably be seen to affect their reporting. Where a conflict cannot be avoided, we either reassign the story or disclose the relationship to readers within it.
Staff do not accept gifts, payments or favors from the subjects of coverage beyond items of nominal value. Meals, tickets and travel accepted for the purpose of review are disclosed.
Fairness
We seek comment from any person or institution who is the subject of critical reporting, and we give them a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication. When someone declines to comment, we say so.
Corrections
We correct our errors promptly, clearly, and in public. We do not quietly delete or rewrite them.
How to report an error
Email [email protected] with the headline, the publication date, the specific error, and—if you have it—a source for the correct information. You may also write to San Diego Magazine, 1230 Columbia Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101.
We acknowledge every correction request. We aim to respond within two business days.
How we handle corrections
An editor reviews the claim against the original reporting and sources. If we got it wrong, we fix it.
- Corrections address factual errors. The article is amended and an editor’s note is appended at the bottom of the story stating what was wrong, what is correct, and the date of the correction. The note stays with the story permanently.
- Clarifications address statements that were factually accurate but open to misunderstanding. These are also noted at the bottom of the story.
- Significant corrections—errors that change the substance, conclusion or fairness of a story—are additionally noted at the top of the article, and are corrected in the next available print edition if the error appeared in print.
- Updates to developing stories are timestamped and described.
We do not remove published articles at the request of a subject. In rare cases involving a demonstrated risk to someone’s safety, a legal requirement, or a serious factual failure that cannot be remedied by correction, an article may be unpublished by decision of the editor in chief, with a note left in its place explaining that it was removed and why.
Accountability
Questions about this policy, or about a matter this policy does not resolve, may be directed to the chief content officer at [email protected].
Last updated: [8/14/26]
