Last Updated: July 16, 2026
This policy explains how USA Sportz gathers, verifies, and publishes sports coverage. It reflects our commitment to editorial independence, accuracy, and transparency, and it applies to everything published under the USA Sportz name.
1. Editorial Independence
Editorial decisions at USA Sportz are made on news merit alone. Advertisers, sponsors, and business partners have no influence over story selection, reporting angles, or conclusions. Advertising and editorial functions are kept strictly separate.
2. How Stories Are Produced
- Sourcing — Information is gathered from official league and association statements (including the IHSAA and KHSAA), team and school communications, press conferences, credentialed reporters, and public records
- Verification — Claims are cross-checked against multiple sources where possible, following our Fact-Checking Policy
- Writing — Stories are drafted with clear attribution and context
- Review — Every article is reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and fairness before publication
- Publication — Articles carry a visible byline and timestamp
- Updates — Stories are updated as new information emerges, with substantive changes noted transparently
3. Sources We Rely On
- Official league, association, team, and school announcements
- Press conferences and on-the-record statements
- Credentialed beat reporters and established sports journalists
- Public records and official statistics providers
When a story relies on unnamed or unconfirmed sources — common in trade rumor and recruiting coverage — it is labeled as such, with the claim attributed to its originating outlet or reporter wherever possible.
4. Rumors and Speculation
Rumors are part of sports media, and we cover them because readers want to know what is being discussed before it becomes official. We draw a firm line between the two:
- Confirmed news — reported as fact, based on official or multiply-sourced confirmation
- Rumors and speculation — clearly labeled as unconfirmed, with source attribution
5. Corrections
Errors are corrected quickly and in the open. The full process, including how correction notes are displayed, is detailed in our Corrections Policy.
6. Use of AI Tools
USA Sportz uses artificial intelligence tools to assist with research, data organization, and drafting. Every article — regardless of how it was drafted — is reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by a human before publication. AI is never used to fabricate quotes, statistics, or sources, and human judgment makes the final call on every story. USA Sportz remains fully accountable for the accuracy of everything it publishes, whatever tools were involved in producing it.
7. Sponsored Content
Any sponsored or paid content is clearly labeled “Sponsored,” “Advertisement,” or “Paid Partnership,” in line with FTC disclosure guidelines, and is never presented as independent editorial reporting.
8. Author Attribution
Articles are published with a byline and timestamp. Where a story draws on official releases or wire reporting, that attribution appears in the article.
9. Updates to Published Content
Articles may be updated after publication to reflect new developments or added context. Substantive factual changes are flagged in the article under our Corrections Policy; minor fixes like typos may not be separately noted.
10. Transparency
Readers deserve to know how our journalism is made. This policy, together with our Fact-Checking Policy and Corrections Policy, is public and reviewed regularly as our practices and industry standards evolve.
11. Questions
Questions about how a specific story was reported, or concerns about our editorial practices, can be sent through our Contact Us page. Every concern is reviewed seriously.