Editorial Standards

AtlantaFi.com is a hyper-local publication covering Atlanta news, restaurants, events, jobs, neighborhoods, and lifestyle. Our job is to help readers discover what’s happening in the city—and to do it with accuracy, independence, and a clear line between journalism and advertising.

AtlantaFi covers the city from Midtown to the neighborhoods—news, restaurants, events, and the everyday pulse of the A.

These standards apply to all editorial content on AtlantaFi.com.

• Mission
• Independence
• Separation of News & Advertising
• Sourcing & Verification
• Bylines, Dates & Updates
• Fairness
• Corrections
• Artificial Intelligence
• Images & Media
• Community Submissions & Events
• Contact
• About Us

Mission

AtlantaFi exists to cut through noise and publish a curated, useful record of Atlanta life: local headlines, dining, events, careers, and community stories. We favor original reporting, first-hand observation, and clearly attributed local sources over recycled press releases.

Independence

Editorial decisions are made by the newsroom, not by advertisers, sponsors, or sources seeking coverage.

• We do not accept products, meals, tickets, lodging, or other goods or services in exchange for coverage.
• Advertising, sponsored content, and affiliate relationships do not determine what we cover, how we cover it, or how we rank or describe businesses.
• Staff may not accept gifts or compensation that would reasonably appear to influence coverage.

Questions about advertising belong with the commercial team. Questions about stories belong with the editor.

Separation of News and Advertising

Sponsored, partner, and paid content is labeled as such. Labels appear at the top of the piece and are not buried in fine print.Sponsored content is not presented as independent reporting. The subject of a paid piece is not treated as an “exclusive discovery” or “best of” endorsement unless the editorial staff independently reported and stands behind that claim.Native ads, email sponsorships, and social promotions follow the same disclosure rule.

Sourcing and Verification

We prefer primary sources: public records, on-the-record interviews, official statements, menus, event listings confirmed with organizers, and first-hand visits.

Secondary sources (other outlets, social posts, press releases) are used as leads, not as the last word. Material claims—prices, dates, addresses, job details, allegations, health or safety claims—are checked before publication when reasonably possible.

Anonymous sources are used only when the information is newsworthy, we believe it is reliable, and naming the source would create a legitimate risk. The editor must approve anonymous sourcing.

We distinguish:

• confirmed fact
• attribution (“the restaurant said…”)
• analysis or opinion

Opinion, reviews, and commentary are labeled.

Bylines, Dates and Updates

News and feature articles carry a byline and a visible publication date and time. Substantial updates receive a visible “Updated” note explaining what changed. We do not change a date solely to make an old story look new.

Corrections are not silently overwritten.

Fairness

We give subjects of critical coverage a reasonable chance to respond before publication when time and the story allow. Neighborhoods, businesses, and events are not included or excluded because of advertising status.

Reviews reflect the writer’s experience. A single visit is not presented as a comprehensive ranking of “Atlanta’s best” unless the methodology is explained.

Corrections

If we get a fact wrong, we correct it.

Email corrections to tjohnson@atlantafi.com (mailto:tjohnson@atlantafi.com) with the article URL, the error, and supporting evidence.

We review correction requests promptly. When an error is confirmed, we update the article and add a correction note describing the change. Serious errors may also be noted at the top of the story.

We distinguish:

• Correction — a factual error
• Clarification — wording that was accurate but misleading
• Update — new information after publication
• Retraction — rare; used when a story as a whole cannot stand

Artificial Intelligence

AI tools may be used as an aid: research organization, outlines, grammar, headline options, transcription, or link checks.

AI does not replace reporting, source work, or final editorial judgment. Every article is reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. We do not publish fabricated quotes, invented events, or unsourced “facts” generated by a model.

If generative AI is used in a substantial way on a specific piece (for example, an AI-assisted illustration), we disclose that on the page.

AtlantaFi remains responsible for everything we publish, including material assisted by software.

Images and Media

Photos and video should accurately represent the event, place, or people they depict. We do not digitally alter images in a way that changes the facts of a scene. Illustrations, file photos, and AI-generated or heavily edited images are labeled.

We respect copyright and obtain permission or use licensed/public-domain material.

Community Submissions and Events

Tips about new restaurants, stores, events, and jobs are welcome. Listing or covering a submission is an editorial decision. A press release may be used as a starting point; it is not automatically published as news.

Contact

Editor-in-Chief: Tee Johnson
Editorial: tjohnson@atlantafi.com
Advertising: CJ@atlantafi.com Serious editorial inquiries only. Coverage is not for sale.

Last updated: September 2026