Why Trust Us?
If you’re reading this, you probably don’t. Yet. And that’s a healthy place to start.
We here at The Plum have our own backgrounds and biases, just like every news team that has ever existed. We vote for our own preferred candidates, have causes we support, and sometimes we get things wrong.
To combat our own biases, we’ve designed a process for local news coverage that’s more transparent and comprehensive than any other in the state of Utah.
1. We only cover a few topics per week
Most news agencies spread themselves thin by attempting to cover every story. We only cover the biggest, most controversial stories really well. Our goal is that after reading one article from the Plum, you will understand the topic better than 95% of Utahns.
2. We don’t do breaking news
The first 24 hours of a breaking headline is where the most hysteria and misinformation occur.
Our articles typically come out 24-48 hours after the breaking news cycle. Each article takes 10 to 20 hours to research, write, review, edit, and publish. This means we get fewer clicks, shares, and comments online. But it also means that when our article hits your inbox, it’s the highest quality breakdown of the issue that’s been published to date.
3. We present both sides of the story
Most news articles are around 700 words. Ours are around 2,500. Just enough to give you the full background, what critics are saying, what supporters are saying, and the author’s take at the very end.
4. We treat your critiques like gold
As mentioned, we’re human. We have our own biases and blindspots. Our readers — you — help to balance us out.
We want you to tell us when we missed a fact or let our own biases creep in. Often, we’ll respond to your feedback or clarification directly or at the beginning of the next article.
Just remember, the more fair, balanced, and persuasive you are in your critique, the more likely we are to see the error of our ways. The more angry or accusatory you are, the harder it will be for us not to get defensive. :)