Contact

National News Authority serves researchers, journalists, media professionals, and members of the public seeking reference-grade information on the structure, standards, and practices of the news industry in the United States. This page outlines the available channels for reaching the editorial and administrative offices, the geographic scope of coverage, and the information that should be included in any inquiry to ensure a timely and accurate response.

Additional contact options

Beyond the primary message form, structured inquiries can be routed through topical channels based on subject matter. Researchers referencing specific coverage areas — such as FOIA and news reporting, shield laws and journalist protections, or defamation and news media — benefit from directing inquiries to the editorial desk rather than the general administrative inbox. This separation reduces triage time and ensures the message reaches a subject-matter editor rather than a general intake queue.

Topical routing categories include:

1. Editorial inquiries — questions about published reference content, proposed corrections, or sourcing disputes
2. Licensing and syndication — requests to reproduce, cite, or adapt published material in third-party publications or academic work
3. Press and media relations — requests from journalists or producers seeking institutional comment or background
4. Research and data requests — inquiries from academic institutions, think tanks, or policy organizations referencing content on topics such as data journalism, media bias and news, or nonprofit journalism
5. Technical and accessibility issues — reports of broken functionality, accessibility barriers, or display errors

Each category follows a distinct internal review process, and misdirected messages may experience a delay of up to 5 business days while being rerouted.

How to reach this office

The primary contact method is the message form accessible from this page. Messages submitted through the form are logged with a timestamp and assigned a case reference number within 1 business day. This tracking allows both parties to reference the inquiry in any follow-up correspondence.

For inquiries that require attachment of supporting documents — such as correction requests supported by source documentation or syndication agreements requiring review — the form includes a file upload option accommodating standard formats (PDF, DOCX, JPEG) up to 10 MB per submission.

Phone-based contact is not offered at this time. This policy reflects the written-record requirements of editorial operations: decisions involving content corrections, sourcing disputes, or licensing terms are documented in writing as a matter of institutional practice.

Response time benchmarks by category:

Inquiries submitted on federal holidays observed by US government offices are processed beginning the next standard business day.

Service area covered

National News Authority operates at national scope, covering the United States in its entirety. Reference content addresses federal regulatory frameworks, national industry structures, and issues affecting the press sector across all 50 states and US territories where applicable.

The editorial focus extends to:

• Federal-level journalism law and regulation, including First Amendment protections, the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552), and federal shield law proposals
• National industry standards maintained by organizations such as the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the Associated Press
• Nationwide media ownership patterns and cross-market consolidation covered under news media ownership
• Multi-state trends including the documented contraction of local news outlets

Content does not provide legal advice specific to any individual jurisdiction or represent the regulatory position of any state attorney general or state bar association. State-specific media law questions should be directed to licensed legal professionals in the relevant jurisdiction.

What to include in your message

A complete, well-structured message reduces back-and-forth and accelerates the response process. The following breakdown identifies what to include based on inquiry type.

For editorial corrections or sourcing disputes:
- The exact URL of the page in question
- The specific passage, statistic, or claim at issue
- The name of the public source or document that contradicts or updates the published content
- A direct link to that source if available online

For licensing and syndication requests:
- The URL of the content intended for reproduction
- The name of the publication, platform, or institution requesting use
- The intended format (print, digital, broadcast, academic paper)
- The planned distribution scope (regional, national, international)

For research and data requests:
- The institutional affiliation of the requester (university, think tank, government agency, or independent)
- The specific reference pages relevant to the research, such as investigative journalism, fact-checking in news, or corrections and retractions
- The purpose of the inquiry and whether the research is intended for publication

For technical or accessibility issues:
- The device type and operating system in use
- The browser name and version number
- A description of the issue, including any error messages displayed
- A screenshot if the upload function is available at time of submission

Incomplete submissions — particularly those lacking the specific URL of the affected page or the name of a relevant source — are returned to the sender with a request for additional detail before substantive review begins.

References

• 5 U.S.C. § 552