Postmarq is local news for the Valley, made by someone who lives here. This page explains how I report, where my information comes from, and what happens when I get something wrong.
It's short on purpose. It will grow as Postmarq grows, and every change is dated at the bottom.
Why Postmarq exists
I believe connection and information work best close to home. Technology will keep changing how we get our news. What matters is whether it brings neighbors together or pulls them apart.
The Valley is a scale where that can still go right. The people making the news live next to the people reading it, and anyone can be an agent of change on their own street. So Postmarq is intentional about what it covers and who it serves. It points your attention at what's happening here, and at what you can do about it.
Editorial independence
Postmarq is independent. It's owned and run by its founder, Dave Contreras, who lives in the Valley. No company, advertiser or political group owns any part of it.
- Nobody pays for coverage. A story can't be bought, and it can't be bought out of the news either.
- I don't accept gifts, free meals, trips or discounts from the people and organizations I cover.
- Nobody I report on gets to approve my questions or read a story before it's published.
- I don't do paid endorsements.
- If I'm part of a story, or have a personal stake in it, the story says so up top.
- If Postmarq ever takes money from sponsors or readers, that money stays apart from the news, and this page will say exactly how.
How a story gets made
Every story follows the same four steps:
- A question. It starts with something I'm asking as someone who lives here.
- Research. Public records, published reporting and the people involved.
- A second set of eyes. Someone else reads it before it goes out. Anything about a named company or person gets a second reviewer.
- Publish. I read it one last time and put my name on it.
Most stories are told in my own words and backed up by one to three sources: what someone said or did, how it affected me or people here, and what we can do about it. When something is my own experience or opinion, I say so, and I keep it apart from the reporting.
Where my information comes from
- Every fact has a source and a date. If I can't source it, I don't state it as fact.
- Sources are listed at the bottom of every story, with links whenever they're public.
- Evidence, not guesses about motive. When I write about a company, station or agency, I quote what it says about itself, its filings and public records. I don't claim to know why anyone did something.
- Samples are labeled. When I measure something myself, like timing one morning newscast, I call it a sample and show how I did it.
- Gaps become questions. If something isn't published anywhere, I write "not published" and go ask.
- Right of reply. Before publishing something substantial about a named organization, I ask it for comment and note whether it answered.
- On the record by default. If we talk for a story, it's on the record unless we both agree otherwise before the conversation starts.
- Private people stay private. I don't publish where private individuals live or work.
How we use AI
I use AI, mainly Claude, made by Anthropic, as a reporting tool. It helps me find public records, summarize long documents and turn what I've said out loud into a draft. It doesn't decide what's true, and it never supplies a quote.
I check every fact against its source before anything is published. Stories where AI helped say so at the top. Postmarq isn't affiliated with Anthropic or any AI company.
Professional conduct
Professional means getting it right, being fair to the people in the story, protecting sources who need protecting, and avoiding harm where I can. I use the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics as my baseline.
I go hard on issues, not on people. I don't state or suggest that a named person or organization did something wrong unless I can document it. When in doubt, the name stays out.
Corrections and updates
I'll get things wrong sometimes. Here's what happens when I do:
- Corrections. I fix the mistake and add a dated note on the story saying what was wrong. Never quietly.
- Updates. Many Postmarq stories keep developing. When new information comes in, I add it with a dated note saying what changed. That isn't a correction. It's the story growing.
- Where a story stands. Each story shows how far it has climbed, from ground level (the first report) up to the piece that sums it all up.
Feedback
This is meant to be a conversation, not a broadcast. Sign up (it's free) and you can comment on any story. Tell me where I'm wrong, add what you're seeing in your own neighborhood, or disagree with me. Disagreement is welcome. Personal attacks, hate speech and harassment aren't, and they'll be removed.
If something on Postmarq doesn't look right, use the "Tell me where I'm wrong" link at the end of any story, or leave a comment. Corrections from readers get credited by name if you'd like.
Changes to this page
- October 20, 2026: first version.