Guiding Principles
Advertising and Revenue Partnerships
To the extent our editorial content is made possible through the support of sponsors, that content is clearly marked on the website and the Gold Standard Podcast Network’s social media accounts as content “Presented by” the applicable sponsor, and within our podcasts that content is accompanied by a similar verbal designation. In these cases, our sponsors may select which content they wish to support, however we do not allow the Fans First Sports Network’s sale team or our sponsors to control or interfere with the editorial integrity of our editorial teams and the content they create. Any content featured on our website and social media accounts that is paid for by a particular company or advertiser and that is developed by the Fans First Sports Network’s sales teams independent from our editorial teams is clearly marked as as “Advertiser Content,” and within our podcasts that content is accompanied by a similar verbal designation.
Some of our content contains affiliate links, which means we will receive a commission for purchases made via those links; when our editorial or commerce teams have manually added affiliate links to our articles, we will include a disclosure within the content.
Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of the Fans First Sports Network or Gold Standard Productions, LLC.
Conflicts of Interest, Activism and Disclosures
The Gold Standard Podcast Network has complete editorial independence and our editorial staff and contributors take their beats seriously. Any editorial team member or contributors will be recused from a story and/or publicly disclose conflicts of interest when editorially appropriate. This may include a personal or family relationship, personal financial investment, or relevant political activity. Our staff will also refrain from demonstrating or donating to causes that could compromise their journalistic coverage of an issue.
Corrections, Updates and Deletions
Gold Standard Productions, LLC. and The Gold Standard Podcast Network make every effort for content to be completely accurate upon publication. If a correction is required, however, we are transparent and update a story if new information either adds to or invalidates the original story. We will issue corrections for a factual error or if a typo in the copy could cause audiences to misunderstand the story.
We almost always leave all editorial content live, with notes and corrections as needed. We may, in rare instances, remove content from our websites, social media pages, or related platforms for legal reasons or extenuating circumstances. Removal will never be at the direction of, or be influenced by, our advertisers and will always be approved by editorial leadership.
Gifts and Giveaways
We do not accept gifts or other consideration from companies as a condition or incentive to write a review or story, whether favorable or unfavorable. Any gifts accepted will be of minor value and in no way will compromise or guarantee editorial coverage of the event, product, or service.
However, Gold Standard Productions LLC staff and contributors may accept tickets or press passes to events they are covering or reviewing, but should not accept extra tickets for family or friends. The staff and contributors are not permitted to resell any such tickets, passes, or gifts they receive.
Occasionally, Gold Standard Productions, LLC and The Gold Standard Podcast Network will conduct contests and giveaways for our audiences. We will post rules for each contest and giveaway that will be binding for those who decide to participate. While giveaways or contests may be sponsored by an advertiser or partner, they are not, and should never be, considered endorsements of the entities involved or their products.
Professional Appearances
Gold Standard Productions, LLC and The Gold Standard Podcast Network staff and contributors are often asked to appear in a professional capacity as experts on various television, news, radio, or other media programming. These appearances do not constitute endorsement of any products, companies, or services discussed, unless otherwise disclosed.
From time to time, our staff and contributors are compensated to participate in certain programs, panels, events, and/or speeches, but in those instances we would not cover the program, panel, event, or speech editorially, or we would disclose the relationship to our audience. All professional appearances are approved by the staff or contributor’s manager.
Social Media
Gold Standard Productions, LLC and The Gold Standard Podcast Network hire our editorial employees for their strong, expert voices, and values their abilities to build positive communities and influence on our platforms and their own. We ask all editorial staff to wield their voices with extra care, particularly when commenting on topics they cover. Behavior on social media is a reflection of both one’s personal and professional self and, as voices of the Gold Standard Podcast Network, we ask our editorial teams to apply the same journalistic integrity required in our editorial content when posting on social media, and to be conscious of how their social posts could impact their work, the work of others, and Gold Standard Productions, LLC. as whole.
Sourcing
Gold Standard Productions, LLC and The Gold Standard Podcast Network obtain news and content from a variety of sources. Some of our sources do not wish to be named, and we grant anonymity when we know our sources to be credible and reliable, and that their stories would otherwise not be told. We make best efforts to confirm the veracity of the information provided by anonymous sources and will not include any information we have not thoroughly vetted. It is our policy not to pay sources.