Policies

Bridge is committed to the highest standards of transparency, accuracy, accountability and ethics. Those values guide our newsrooms’ use of artificial intelligence (AI). 

Bridge journalists use AI tools with discretion to innovate or assist with reporting. But we do so with an understanding that AI is an imperfect technology and not a substitute for human expertise or judgment. Use of AI will never come at the expense of our core mission to provide honest, fact-driven journalism. 

Use of AI will be guided by four principles: 

● Human verification: We will never publish content created or assisted by AI without verification by journalists. 

● Transparency: We will clearly disclose to readers when AI plays a significant role in our journalism, such as analyzing trends in large data sets. 

● Honesty: We will never use AI to generate photo-realistic images or to represent reality. If AI is used to create illustrations, they will be clearly labeled. 

● Respect: Any use of AI will include safeguards to protect the privacy of sources, as well as their intellectual property rights and copyrights. 

Bridge actively works to reduce bias and promote fairness, which remains true when using AI. Our work will never stray from Bridge’s Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Policy and the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. 

Adopted: August 2025

AI is a rapidly evolving technology. We will revisit this policy as necessary.

Bridge Michigan is committed to accuracy and promptly corrects errors of fact or confusing or misleading statements. We are ethically bound to correct errors — including but not limited to misstatements, factual errors, misleading statements and inaccurate quotations — as soon as they are verified.

Reporters are required to alert their editor to any complaint or error that becomes known to them and investigate. If a correction is necessary, it must be posted by an editor as soon as possible at the bottom of the story, in italics, and contain the following information:

• A clear statement admitting the mistake and setting the record straight. Ideally, this statement does not repeat the original error, but is allowable if the correction cannot be conveyed concisely and clearly without doing so.
• The date of the correction.
• Be labeled an “editor’s note” and acknowledge the story was corrected.

To request a correction, please email Joel Kurth, executive editor of impact.

Updated: May 2022

The Center for Michigan and its publications, Bridge Michigan and BridgeDetroit, are committed to upholding high standards and journalistic integrity. Our readers and members trust us to comport ourselves ethically and with impartiality — we’re dedicated to maintaining that trust. The intent of these policies is to allow the Center’s employees the freedom to show up as their full selves in society as much as possible, while also upholding the journalistic values of the Center’s publications. This policy is intended to help staff, supervisors and newsroom managers work together to find that balance. 

Founded in 1909, the Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. All Center for Michigan employees are expected to abide by the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. 

As members of the Institute for Nonprofit News, we comply with their editorial independence standards and do not advocate for any policies or legislation beyond freedom of the press and First Amendment rights that ensure the public has open access to the public’s information.

To ensure that we operate with transparency and accountability and to avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest, we have adopted these additional policies that all Center for Michigan employees are expected to uphold. Relatives and members of an employee’s household cannot fairly be made subject to our rules, but it should be recognized that their employment or their involvement in causes can at least appear to compromise our integrity. 

We require all employees and members of the board of directors to annually file conflict of interest statements disclosing affiliations with nonprofit groups and business interests held by them and their household members. 

The Center trusts its employees to exercise their best judgment and does not anticipate routine disciplinary action for missteps in applying the policy. However, deliberate and continued disregard for this policy may result in disciplinary action. 

No single policy can foresee every circumstance. This policy is a framework to affirm principles of trust and transparency. Questions, no doubt, will arise. When they do, we expect employees to consult with managers to uphold the Center for Michigan’s standards of integrity. 

I. Participation in Public Life 

We believe that outside interests and pursuits make employees more interesting, productive and better at their jobs and encourage vigorous lives outside of work. The Center for Michigan encourages employees to be involved in their communities, but outside activities that present real or perceived conflicts of interest or partisanship can compromise our journalistic integrity and should be avoided. 

Employees may participate in nonpartisan, issue-oriented activities, such as expressing support for human rights. Be mindful, though, that events can take on a partisan tone, and participation should not be inconsistent with this policy. When in doubt, discuss the activity with a manager in advance of your participation.

II. Political Activity

The Center for Michigan respects the right of our employees to participate in the democratic process by voting. We hold voting to be a sacred right and will never ask employees about their voting preferences.

Employees should in no way attempt to influence elections in their personal capacity or give the appearance of doing so. That means employees may not make political contributions to candidates or causes, sign petitions or display yard signs or bumper stickers. Employee attendance at partisan events such as political rallies should be avoided, unless as a journalist in a role covering the event. Employees should also avoid political activities that may compromise their professional integrity or impartiality or damage the credibility of the organization.  

Employees are prohibited from running for elected office and accepting appointment to a public body or commission.

When in doubt, we require employees to inform their managers and to discuss whether the activity in question is appropriate. 

III. Board Service

Employees may not serve on boards or organizations that are political in nature, take positions on political issues or donate to political causes. Board service on any for-profit company is discouraged.

Serving on the board of another organization can lead to real or perceived conflicts of interest. All Center for Michigan employees must disclose in the annual conflict of interest statements any membership on the boards or advisory committees of outside organizations. Employees should discuss prospective board service with their manager and receive written approval before accepting any board appointment.

The Center for Michigan has no wish to impede good community citizenship. Normally, the restriction on joining boards or advisory committees will not apply to organizations that are highly unlikely to generate news of interest to the Bridge publications and that do not generally seek to shape public policy or accept taxpayer subsidies. These typically include houses of worship, community charities, fine arts groups, hobby groups, youth athletic leagues, country clubs and alumni groups.

IV. Outside Employment

The Center is concerned with conflicts of interest that create actual or potential job-related issues, especially in the areas of confidentiality, journalistic integrity, productivity, safety, security and morale.

Outside jobs should not interfere with primary employment for the Center for Michigan, compromise journalistic integrity or involve interactions with sources or subjects of coverage. All employees are required to disclose to and seek written approval from their manager for any outside employment, interests and pursuits that may be real or perceived conflicts of interest. When in doubt, discuss the prospective employment with your manager before accepting the work. 

Writing jobs and freelance work must not interfere with the employees’ responsibilities to the Bridge publications and should be for publications with similar ethical standards. Reporters must receive written approval from a manager before undertaking freelance work. 

V. Interaction with Funders

As a nonprofit, the Center for Michigan is funded by myriad organizations across the country, some of which may appear in stories. All Center for Michigan publications maintain the strictest editorial standards and cede no right of review or influence of editorial content. Our journalism is edited to avoid bias and ensure accuracy and fairness. When donors are the topic of a story, it will be disclosed by an editorial note. 

We subscribe to standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News. Our organization retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services or opinions. 

We make public all donors who give a total of $5,000 or more per year. A full list of our funders can be found here. 

VI. Personal Benefit

Our journalists do not cover stories that financially or otherwise benefit them or members of their household. On rare occasions in which a story directly involves or would benefit a Center for Michigan employee, such associations will be disclosed prominently in an editor note.

VII. Gifts

Employees are expected to refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment. 

We pay our own way when traveling for editorial or business purposes. At times, professional organizations may offer to help journalists attend training and other related professional development conferences by paying for travel and accommodations. In those cases, employees, in consultation with their manager, are allowed to accept travel reimbursement or waived fees from journalism or training groups.

We donate or return unsolicited gifts. We do not accept cash, and no gifts are accepted if there are strings attached. It is acceptable for employees to consume food or beverages as part of an event they are participating in, such as a speech or panel discussion, and accepting token gifts valued under $50 is allowed.  

We do not ask news sources or public officials for favors. We do not use our position to gain access to events or opportunities outside of newsgathering. We avoid situations that could bring our integrity into question.

On occasion, journalism or technology groups will pay employees for consulting work related to their employment at the Center. Those fees are paid to the Center for Michigan.

When in doubt, we require employees to inform their managers and to discuss whether the activity in question is appropriate. 

VIII. Outside Appearances and Acceptance of Speaking Fees

The Center for Michigan encourages employees to appear on radio and television and to participate in panels. They do so as part of their job and as representatives of the Center for Michigan’s publications. There is value in such appearances to engage communities on issues of importance to the state and to expand our audience. Managers should be consulted in advance of such appearances.

We encourage employees to speak to groups across the political spectrum. Employees should avoid entanglements that could call our integrity or nonpartisanship into question. Appearances do not constitute an endorsement of group beliefs. 

Some organizations offer speaking fees or other items of value for appearances. The Center’s reputation is dependent upon fidelity to nonpartisanship in our communications, practices and appearances; therefore, acceptance of money or gifts can generate ethical concerns. 

The following rules govern:

• Employees may not request money or anything of value for their appearance, nor should they request or accept reimbursement for travel expenses from the host without written approval from a manager.
• Any speaking fees must be paid to the Center — not to the employee — in the form of a tax-deductible donation. Exceptions may be made for speaking fees of $200 or less, with written approval from a manager.
• Employees shall not participate in an event if the host requests or implies the host expects something in return from the Center or its journalism coverage.
• When in doubt, we require employees to inform their managers and to discuss whether the activity in question is appropriate. 

IX. Social Media

The Center for Michigan respects that employees have outside interests and are free to post content about a variety of topics, so long as it does not call our integrity into question. Our organization’s diversity strengthens our journalism, and employees can bring their backgrounds, identity and experiences to their social accounts. 

The following guidelines should be considered:

• Employees are encouraged to use social media as another way to share news and information with the community. 
• It is the responsibility of journalists and staff members to avoid spreading misinformation or sharing personal views on news related to subjects/issues covered by the Bridge publications. 
• Employees are expected to conduct themselves respectfully and professionally when interacting with the public on social media. 
• Employees should not air opinions about politics, public policy or partisan issues. 
• Employees should not like or reshare partisan posts or use their work platforms to criticize others.

Adopted: August 2024

This privacy policy discloses the privacy practices for bridgemi.com. This privacy policy applies solely to information collected by this website. It will notify you of the following: What personally identifiable information is collected from you through the website, how it is used and with whom it may be shared. What choices are available to you regarding the use of your data. The security procedures in place to protect the misuse of your information. How you can correct any inaccuracies in the information.

Information Collection, Use and Sharing

We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have access to collect information that you voluntarily give us via email or other direct contact from you. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone. We will use your information to respond to you, regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request. Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about special events, products or services, or changes to this privacy policy.

We do not share your personal data with any third parties other than some common service providers, whose products use your information to help us improve our site, deliver newsletters or allow us to offer donation opportunities.

Your Access to and Control Over Information

You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting us via telephone at (734) 215-5169 or via email at info@bridgemi.com.

• See what data we have about you, if any.
• Change/correct any data we have about you.
• Have us delete any data we have about you.
• Express any concern you have about our use of your data.

Security

We take precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and offline. Wherever we collect sensitive information (such as credit card data), that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for a closed lock icon at the bottom of your web browser, or looking for “https” at the beginning of the address of the webpage. While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment.

Updates

Our Privacy Policy may change from time to time and all updates will be posted on this page. If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy, you should contact us immediately via telephone at (734) 215-5169 or via email at info@bridgemi.com.