Election Season Disclaimer
Equal Access Invitation – Bedford County ElectionShelbyville NOW is committed to providing fair, transparent, and responsible coverage of the 2026 election cycle in Bedford County. In keeping with that commitment, and in recognition that a declared candidate currently participates in our livestream program Real Talk, we are formally extending equal access opportunities to all legally qualified candidates running for Bedford County Commissioner in the same race. Shelbyville NOW invites each candidate to participate in a scheduled livestream appearance under the same format, time structure, and editorial standards. Each participating candidate will receive: • Equal airtime All appearances will be conducted under the editorial control of Shelbyville NOW, and all participants will be treated fairly and consistently. Our goal is to provide voters with open access to ideas, policy positions, and thoughtful discussion about the future of Bedford County. We believe that transparency and equal opportunity strengthen public trust. Candidates interested in scheduling an appearance should contact Shelbyville NOW directly to coordinate participation.
Candidate Submission Policy(Election Cycle Policy) Shelbyville NOW is committed to providing fair, consistent, and transparent coverage of local elections. In order to maintain editorial integrity and comply with applicable campaign finance laws, the following policy governs candidate-submitted content during an election cycle. 1. Editorial IndependenceShelbyville NOW operates as an independent media outlet. All content decisions remain under the editorial control of Shelbyville NOW. Submission of material does not guarantee publication. Shelbyville NOW reserves the right to: • Edit for length, clarity, and formatting 2. Equal Access StandardIf Shelbyville NOW accepts candidate submissions for a particular office, the same opportunity will be offered to all legally qualified candidates for that office. Equal access includes: • Equal word limits Shelbyville NOW will not provide recurring submission privileges to one candidate without extending the same opportunity to all candidates in that race. 3. Submission LimitsTo maintain fairness and avoid disproportionate exposure: • Each candidate may submit one article per defined period (e.g., per 30 days) unless otherwise announced. 4. Content StandardsSubmissions must focus on: • Policy positions Submissions may not contain: • Personal attacks Shelbyville NOW reserves the right to reject content that violates these standards. 5. Labeling RequirementAll candidate-submitted articles will be clearly labeled as: “Candidate Submission” This ensures transparency for readers. 6. Advertising vs. Editorial DistinctionCandidate content will fall into one of two categories: A. Editorial Submission (Unpaid)• Equal access provided B. Paid Political Advertisement• Clearly marked as “Paid Political Advertisement” Shelbyville NOW will not provide paid promotional exposure outside of its standard advertising framework. 7. No Campaign CoordinationShelbyville NOW will not: • Coordinate messaging strategy with campaigns All submissions must be independently prepared by the candidate or campaign. 8. Social Media AmplificationUnpaid candidate submissions will not receive: • Boosted promotion Any paid promotion must be handled under formal advertising agreements and disclosed accordingly. 9. Legal ComplianceShelbyville NOW operates under the media exemption provisions applicable to news organizations. This policy is designed to preserve that status and ensure compliance with Tennessee campaign finance law. 10. Policy UpdatesShelbyville NOW reserves the right to modify this policy at any time to maintain fairness, transparency, and legal compliance. |
