About The Langley Union

At The Langley Union, our mission is to bring meaningful, trustworthy, and community-focused journalism to Langley City and Langley Township.

We believe that a well-informed community is a stronger community, and we’re dedicated to covering stories that highlight the people, issues, and events shaping our area.

Whether it’s local government decisions, community initiatives, or the voices of Langley residents, we aim to provide clear, honest, and unbiased coverage.

The Langley Union is committed to producing journalism that follows high ethical standards and responsible journalistic practices in the service of public interest.

Our Journalistic Standards are guided by five core pillars:

• Public interest: Our community in Langley is a healthier place for all of us when the public is well informed.
• Responsible journalism: Public trust in the local news is a keystone measurement of a community's social health. We are committed to nurturing and protecting the trust of Langley residents.
• Truth and accuracy: Many news outlets prioritize the appearance of objectivity or political neutrality, a well-intentioned effort that can be exploited by politicians to dilute coverage. While we strive for non-partisanship, we will pursue fact-based truth as our primary goal.
• Critical voice: Those in power often go to great lengths to distort or conceal the truth. As a result, it's important to maintain an adversarial yet respectful position on issues that are important to the public.
• Accessibility: Local news belongs in the hands of as many readers as possible. While we would certainly like to make money for our work, it will never come at the expense of universal access to our stories.

• Accuracy and Integrity: We are committed to reporting the truth with thorough research, fact-checking, and transparency.
• Accountability: We take responsibility for our work and welcome feedback to continuously improve.
• Independence: Our journalism is free from undue influence by political, financial, or personal interests.
• Community-Centered Reporting: We focus on issues that matter to the Langley community, prioritizing stories that enable readers to have a higher level of participation in local society, business, and politics/government.
• Equity and Inclusion: We amplify the voices of traditionally marginalized communities, including people from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrant, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities, to ensure fair representation in our reporting.
• Solidarity with Workers: We stand with those advocating for social justice, human rights, and dignity for all members of our community. We are not owned by the billionaire class, and we stand unshakably with the working and/or poor individuals in our community.
• Respect and Compassion: We approach every story with care, respecting privacy and minimizing harm to individuals and groups.
• Science-Based Reporting: We are dedicated to science and evidence-based facts. We acknowledge that climate change is real and human-caused, vaccines are safe and effective, and we will not legitimize conspiracy theories or misinformation in our reporting.
• Opinion Transparency: All opinion pieces will be clearly labeled as such, distinguishing them from news reporting to maintain clarity and trust with our readers.
• Environmental Responsibility: We highlight sustainability and environmental stewardship as key issues for our community's future. Climate change is an ongoing crisis, and our reporting/storytelling will treat it as such.
• Transparency: We are open about our funding, editorial processes, and any potential conflicts of interest.
• Progressive Change: We believe in the power of journalism to inspire action, drive accountability, and support progress toward a more equitable society.

1. Independence

We prioritize journalistic integrity by avoiding conflicts of interest. Our coverage is guided by the public interest, not by political, financial, or personal agendas.

2. Accuracy and Fairness

We strive for accuracy in all our reporting, rigorously fact-checking our work and seeking out diverse perspectives. If an error is identified, we will promptly correct it and disclose the change to maintain transparency.

3. Accountability

We take responsibility for our content. Readers are encouraged to contact us with concerns or feedback, and we will address them thoughtfully. We maintain a corrections policy to uphold accountability in our reporting.

4. Transparency

We are transparent about our sources and methods whenever possible, while respecting the confidentiality of individuals when necessary. Our funding sources are disclosed, opinion pieces are clearly marked, and any sponsored content is clearly labeled.

5. Respect for Privacy

We balance the public’s right to know with respect for individual privacy. We will only publish personal information when it is relevant and in the public interest.

6. Avoiding Harm

We aim to minimize harm in our reporting by considering the potential impact of our stories on individuals and the community. This includes being mindful of vulnerable subjects and avoiding sensationalism.

7. Funding Transparency

We will always be up front about our funding sources.

As an emerging journalism organization, our operations are currently funded through the personal investment of the publisher. This commitment reflects our dedication to delivering quality journalism and fostering independent reporting.

8. Solidarity with the marginalized and the working class

Our organization is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in journalism. We stand in and write from a position of solidarity with marginalized communities (BIPOC, LGBTQ2SIA+, immigrant newcomers, etc) and the general working class, ensuring that their voices are heard and represented in our reporting.

We believe in the power of journalism to advocate for social justice and to illuminate the experiences of those often overlooked.

9. Solidarity and reconciliation with our indigenous neighbors

Our organization is dedicated to ethical journalism that acknowledges and addresses the historical and ongoing injustices faced by local Indigenous bands. 

We recognize that the land we inhabit is stolen land, lacking any formal treaty, and we stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities in their fight for recognition and rights. 

We are committed to amplifying Indigenous voices and stories, while confronting the realities of colonization and the ongoing impacts of genocide.

By adhering to these principles, The Langley Union seeks to uphold the trust and respect of our readers as a credible and responsible news source for the Langley community.