COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
The Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader adheres to the guidelines provided by the Society of Professional Journalists. It constitutes the most widely recognized set of standards of conduct by professional media in the country.
LISTENING
The Leader also makes these more personal commitments to our community:
Responsive: We endeavor to return calls and emails and meet with readers. We visit classrooms and civic groups when invited. We explain our work when warranted.
Interactive: Our general coverage seeks to reflect the community. We also seek to include as many voices as possible, through letters and guest columns, and occasionally on projects. Sometimes we publish artwork and poetry in “Opinion, Perspectives, Creativity,” as another way to illuminate the collective of Port Townsend and Jefferson County.
Values: We demonstrate the values of standards-based American journalism in our work by being responsible stewards of information. We operate independently of the government or any other segment of our community.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The newsroom of the Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader occasionally uses tools of predictive Artificial Intelligence (AI) to evaluate information and data, the results of which are assessed for accuracy by people. The newsroom does not use generative AI, which is the creation of new content.
In evaluating the use of rapidly developing AI, we utilize the values identified by the Poynter Institute in creating guidelines that govern the use of AI: Transparency, Accuracy, Human Verification, Audience and Service, Privacy/Security.
FOURTH ESTATE
The Leader proudly acknowledges its role in the Fourth Estate, which refers to the press and its place as the fourth power alongside the three branches of government. We work with other news organizations and journalism groups to strengthen the long tradition of a free press.
The Leader is the first news organization to join the startup Public Alliance of Professional Journalists, a two-pronged platform for professional news media and the public that enables the voluntary credentialing of journalists while better explaining our work.
LOCAL JOURNALISM FUND
The Leader is the rare, locally owned and operated newspaper that occupies the same building it’s been in for more than a century. That’s more than history — it’s a promise to the community.
At a time when local newsrooms are disappearing, independent journalism matters more than ever. The Leader remains dedicated to serving Port Townsend and Jefferson County with fearless, in-depth reporting that informs, investigates and strengthens our community.
To expand that mission, we’ve created the Local Journalism Fund. Every dollar donated goes directly to our newsroom — supporting local journalists, deepening coverage, and ensuring we have the resources to report on the stories that shape our region. Contributions help fund wages, benefits, training, and essential equipment, all under the direction of the editor and publisher.