Our rule: every fact has a source
Every factual claim in an NPA guide links to the source we read. We would rather leave something out than print something we cannot support. When the sources disagree with each other, we show the disagreement and say which source is newer.
Where our facts come from
- Primary sources first: statutes, court opinions, agency policies and forms, and official government pages.
- Secondary sources for explanation: established press-freedom and legal organizations, cited by name and linked, when they explain something the primary source does not.
- Not used as a basis for a fact: anonymous posts, unsourced forum answers, and pages whose owner we cannot confirm.
How we check
- We open the source and copy the exact words that support the claim.
- Before a guide is published, an automated check re-opens every source page and confirms each quoted passage is still there.
- When a source is a scanned document that software cannot read, a person transcribes the passage and the guide labels it as manually verified.
- Each sentence of a draft is compared against its sources by a second, independent reviewer. Sentences that overstate, drop a condition, or lack a source are rewritten or removed.
How we use AI
We use AI tools to help research and draft. They do not decide what is true: every sentence must be supported by a quoted passage from a cited source, and a separate AI reviewer checks the draft against those sources. Guides on legal topics, such as recording police or accessing courts, also get a human read before they are published. NPA staff are responsible for everything we publish.
Review dates and updates
Every guide shows when it was last reviewed. When a source changes, as when a city ends or starts a press-credential program, we update the guide and the date.
Corrections
If you think we got something wrong, email info@pressassociation.org with the page address and, if you can, the source you believe is correct. We will check it, fix real errors promptly, and note significant corrections on the page.
Conflicts of interest
The NPA offers free membership and an optional paid press kit, and our guides link to membership. Those links never change what a guide says about the law, and we never claim an NPA membership gives you legal rights or access. Our guides tell you what agencies actually require, including when that means you do not need us.
Not legal advice
Our guides are information, not legal advice. For a legal problem, speak with a licensed attorney.
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Last updated: October 24, 2026