The core mission of Columbia Countercurrent is simple. We aim to provide Southwest Washington with curated, reliable, and credible local information.

This project exists to serve the community and to create real opportunities for community participation.
Based on community feedback, we recognize that deeper transparency is not just helpful. It is essential.

Today, we are introducing two major upgrades designed to make our work more visible, understandable, and accountable.

Story Transparency

Moving forward, every published story will now include a Story Transparency shield at the bottom of the article.

When expanded, this section explains:

• where the story originated
• why it was published
• how it has evolved over time

We expect this feature to grow as community needs become clearer. Transparency is not a checkbox. It is an ongoing practice.

Story Provenance

Stories in our system move through multiple steps to support accuracy, relevance, and responsible publication.

Readers deserve to see that process.

Moving forward, each story will now document:

• when and how we first learned about it
• why we chose to cover it
• how information was verified
• when it was published

All of this appears inside the Story Transparency section.

Edit History

Readers should never have to wonder whether a story changed.

Moving forward:

• every edit requires a documented reason
• a visible timeline will show what changed, when, and by whom

This history will also live inside Story Transparency.

Why This Matters

Trust is not requested.
It is demonstrated.

We build trust by:

• listening to feedback
• acting in good faith
• adjusting in the open

We do not rely on personalities, rumor, “vibes”, or momentum.
We rely on clear information and visible accountability.

Our commitment is simple:

We show our work.
We keep our promises.
We do it publicly.

And we invite the community to build this with us.