Independent Iowa public-records journalism

01

Consider the device

Work devices, work accounts, managed networks, printers, and shared cloud drives may record activity. Do not assume an ordinary email or web form is anonymous.

02

Preserve the original

Do not alter a source document merely to make it easier to share. Keep dates, filenames, headers, and surrounding context when it is safe and lawful to do so.

03

Separate fact from suspicion

Explain what you personally know, what someone told you, and what you infer. Point to the person, system, meeting, invoice, or file that could independently establish the claim.

04

No promise of publication

Receiving a tip does not mean the Sentinel can verify or publish it. Source identity is limited to those who need it for reporting, but no communication system can promise absolute security.