Editorial Policy

1. Our Editorial Mission

GoDoDaytona is a community-first digital media platform serving the Daytona Beach area and the broader Volusia County community. Our editorial mission is to deliver accurate, useful, and engaging local content that helps residents and visitors discover, experience, and connect with the best that Daytona has to offer.

We believe that a thriving local media brand and a thriving local business community are not in conflict — they reinforce each other. Our editorial team is committed to providing genuine value to our audience through honest, community-focused journalism and curation, while our commercial team creates meaningful marketing opportunities for local businesses. These two functions operate independently, under separate leadership, with clearly defined boundaries.

GoDoDaytona is part of the GoDoCity network. All GoDoCity affiliate publications adhere to the same core editorial standards set forth in this policy.

2. Editorial Independence

Advertisers and commercial partners have absolutely no influence over GoDoDaytona's organic editorial content. This is a non-negotiable principle.

The following editorial decisions are made exclusively by GoDoDaytona's editorial leadership, without input from, interference by, or prior review by any advertiser, sponsor, or commercial partner:

• Which businesses, events, or experiences are covered organically
• The tone, framing, and conclusions of editorial articles and guides
• Which businesses are included in or excluded from editorial "best of" roundups, curated lists, or recommendations
• Event coverage priorities and angles
• Breaking news coverage and community announcements
• Social media editorial content (as distinct from paid social advertising)

No advertiser may purchase editorial coverage, influence editorial framing, require editorial approval rights, or demand removal of organic content as a condition of advertising. Any attempt by a commercial partner to exert editorial influence will be treated as a breach of our advertising agreement.

The existence of an advertising relationship between a business and GoDoDaytona does not guarantee, increase, or decrease the likelihood that the business will receive organic editorial coverage. Editorial decisions are based solely on journalistic and editorial merit: newsworthiness, community interest, accuracy, and relevance.

3. Editorial Standards

All editorial content published on GoDoDaytona.com and distributed via our channels adheres to the following standards:

Accuracy

We are committed to factual accuracy. Before publishing, our editorial team verifies key facts through primary sources, official records, direct communication with sources, or authoritative secondary sources. We do not publish information we cannot verify.

Fairness

We strive to present information fairly and without undue bias. When covering topics with multiple legitimate perspectives, we aim to represent those perspectives accurately. We give subjects of news coverage an opportunity to respond to significant allegations or criticisms where practicable.

Transparency

We clearly disclose the nature of all content, including clearly labeling sponsored content, paid partnerships, affiliate relationships, and advertiser-provided content. See Section 7 for our full sponsored content policy.

Relevance

Our editorial content is focused on the Daytona Beach community and serves the interests of our local audience. We do not publish content primarily designed to serve the commercial interests of advertisers without clearly labeling it as sponsored.

Respect

We cover the community with respect for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status. We do not publish content that demeans, stereotypes, or unfairly targets any group.

4. Accuracy & Corrections

Accuracy is fundamental to our editorial integrity. When we make errors, we correct them promptly and transparently.

Corrections Policy

When a factual error is identified in published content, we will:

• Correct the error as quickly as reasonably possible
• Add a correction notice to the article identifying the nature of the correction and the date it was made
• For significant errors, note the original error and the correction in the notice
• Avoid "stealth edits" to published content without noting the change

We distinguish between corrections (factual errors), updates (new information added to keep content current), and clarifications (additional context that does not change the factual substance). Each type of change will be noted appropriately.

Reporting Errors

If you believe you have identified an error in our content, please contact us at editorial@gododaytona.com with the article title, URL, the specific error, and, if possible, a source that supports the correction. We will review all credible error reports and respond within two business days.

5. Sourcing & Attribution

GoDoDaytona uses a variety of sources for its editorial content:

• Named sources: Our preferred approach. We identify sources by name and affiliation where possible.
• On-the-record statements: Official statements, press releases, social media posts, and other public communications attributed to their source.
• Background sources: Occasionally, sources will speak on background (information used without attribution) or off the record (information not used but used to guide reporting). We use such sourcing sparingly and only when there is a compelling reason the source cannot speak on record.
• Official records and documents: Public records, court filings, government databases, and other official documents are cited where relevant.
• Syndicated and wire content: When we republish or adapt content from other sources, we clearly attribute the original source.

We do not plagiarize. All content is original or clearly attributed. Quotations from other publications are attributed and linked to the original source.

6. Conflicts of Interest

GoDoCity LLC and GoDoDaytona are committed to avoiding editorial conflicts of interest. Our editorial team members are expected to disclose any personal, financial, or professional relationships that could create a conflict with editorial coverage. When a potential conflict exists, the team member is recused from coverage of that subject.

GoDoCity LLC editorial staff and contributors may not:

• Accept gifts, free services, or other items of value from businesses they cover editorially (beyond standard press access such as press passes to events)
• Have undisclosed financial interests in businesses they cover
• Write editorial coverage of businesses with which they have a personal relationship without disclosure
• Use their editorial platform to advance personal business interests

Disclosure is not a cure for all conflicts — some conflicts may require a team member's complete recusal from coverage of a subject.

7. Sponsored & Branded Content

GoDoDaytona produces sponsored and branded content in partnership with local businesses. This content is produced by our editorial team in collaboration with advertising partners, and is always clearly distinguished from organic editorial content.

Labeling Requirements

All sponsored content is labeled with one or more of the following disclosures, displayed prominently at the top of the content:

• "Sponsored" or "Sponsored Content"
• "Paid Partnership with [Business Name]"
• "Featured Partnership" or "Featured Sponsor"
• The AdDisclosure banner component ("This story is a featured partnership with [Brand Name]")

These labels appear regardless of the content format — article, newsletter feature, social media post, or video. We do not use labels that obscure the commercial nature of content, such as vague terms like "promoted" alone without context.

Editorial Control of Sponsored Content

Even for sponsored content, GoDoDaytona's editorial team maintains final approval over tone, accuracy, and compliance with our editorial standards. Sponsors may review sponsored content for factual accuracy and brand fit, but they may not direct editorial framing, require positive statements that are not substantiated, or demand removal of material disclosures. If a sponsor's requirements are incompatible with our editorial standards, we will decline or discontinue the partnership.

FTC Compliance

All sponsored content disclosures are made in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (16 C.F.R. Part 255) and the FTC's guidelines on native advertising and digital disclosure. We are committed to ensuring that our audience can easily and clearly identify the commercial nature of sponsored content.

8. "Today's Best" & Featured Picks

GoDoDaytona publishes editorial curation features including "Today's Best," "Featured" recommendations, spotlights, and curated local guides. These features may appear in our newsletter, on our website, and on our social media channels.

Organic "Today's Best" Features

Organic "Today's Best" and editorial curation features are selected by GoDoDaytona's editorial team based solely on editorial merit — quality, community relevance, timeliness, and reader interest. These features are not influenced by advertising relationships. A business may be featured organically whether or not it is an advertising partner.

Paid "Featured" Placements

GoDoDaytona also offers paid "Featured" and "Sponsored Spotlight" advertising products that place a business in prominent editorial-style positions on our platform. These paid placements are always clearly labeled as "Sponsored," "Featured Partner," or similar disclosure language. The existence of a paid "Featured" placement does not imply editorial endorsement.

Distinguishing Organic from Paid Features

To ensure our audience can always distinguish between organic editorial curation and paid placements:

• Organic editorial picks will not carry sponsorship labels
• Paid placements will always carry a clear "Sponsored" or "Partner" label
• When editorial and commercial placements appear in close proximity, visual and textual design will clearly distinguish them

9. Native Advertising & Partnerships

Native advertising — advertising that takes a form similar to editorial content — is an accepted part of our business model. We produce and publish native advertising (also called branded content, sponsored content, or content marketing) in partnership with local businesses.

All native advertising published by GoDoDaytona:

• Is clearly labeled as sponsored, paid, or branded content
• Is produced to meet our editorial quality standards
• Does not contain false or misleading claims
• Does not disparage competitors in a misleading way
• Complies with FTC disclosure guidelines
• Is subject to final editorial approval by GoDoDaytona's editorial team

Native advertising placements are sold and managed by our commercial team. For information on native advertising opportunities, visit our Advertise page or see our Advertiser Policy.

10. Events & Listings Coverage

GoDoDaytona covers local events through both editorial coverage and listings. Our editorial team selects events for organic editorial coverage based on newsworthiness, community interest, and relevance to our audience. Event organizers and businesses may not purchase organic editorial event coverage.

GoDoDaytona's events calendar may accept submissions from event organizers for listing purposes. Listings are reviewed for accuracy and community relevance. Listing an event does not constitute editorial endorsement, and GoDoDaytona reserves the right to decline or remove any event listing at its discretion.

Promoted event listings — which appear in more prominent positions in our newsletter or on our website — are a commercial advertising product and are labeled accordingly.

11. Social Media Policy

GoDoDaytona's official social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, and others) are an extension of our editorial brand. Social media content is held to the same editorial standards as our website content.

Our social media accounts may share editorial content, community news, event highlights, and promotional content from advertising partners (always labeled). GoDoDaytona's editorial team manages the editorial content calendar for our social channels; our commercial team manages paid social advertising on behalf of advertising partners.

GoDoDaytona editorial staff members who maintain personal social media accounts should avoid posting content that could be perceived as a statement from GoDoDaytona that has not been editorially reviewed, and should make clear when they are expressing personal opinions versus representing the publication.

12. Editorial Complaints

We take editorial complaints seriously. If you have a complaint about the accuracy, fairness, or compliance with this policy of content published on GoDoDaytona, please contact us at editorial@gododaytona.com with:

• The URL or title of the content in question
• A description of your complaint
• Any supporting evidence
• Your name and contact information (optional but helpful)

We will acknowledge receipt of editorial complaints within two business days and will strive to resolve substantive complaints within ten business days. If we determine a correction or clarification is warranted, we will make the update and notify the complainant.

We are not obligated to respond to complaints that are abusive, that seek to pressure editorial decisions through commercial leverage, or that are submitted in bad faith.

13. Contact the Newsroom

For editorial inquiries, tips, corrections, or complaints:

GoDoDaytona Editorial Team
Daytona Beach, FL
editorial@gododaytona.com

For advertising inquiries: advertise@gododaytona.com

For general inquiries: hello@gododaytona.com