TXK Today is a local news site for Texarkana, Texas, Texarkana, Arkansas, and the surrounding counties. It is owned by Square World Media, LLC, a Texarkana, Texas, company that Field Walsh founded on April 20, 2014. Field Walsh is the owner and editor and makes the final call on what we publish. These standards describe how we report, how we keep business and news apart and what readers can expect from us.
Who pays for TXK Today
TXK Today is free to read. It is paid for by advertising, reader memberships and clearly labeled sponsored content. Stephen Parker, our business development manager, handles advertising and partnerships. Advertisers and sponsors do not see stories before they are published, do not choose what we cover and cannot buy a place in a news story. Sponsored content is written or supplied by the advertiser, carries a “Sponsored content” label and follows our sponsored content policy. We do not publish paid opinion pieces as news.
Sourcing
Much of our crime and courts coverage comes from public records: arrest reports, probable cause affidavits, indictments, court filings and statements from law enforcement agencies. When a story says “according to a probable cause affidavit,” it means the details come from a sworn statement written by an officer to support an arrest. Those are allegations, not findings of guilt, and we write them that way. When a record is public, we name it and include the case number or a link where we can.
We identify our sources. Anonymous sources are a rare exception, used only when the information is important, cannot be obtained on the record and the editor knows who the source is and why they need protection.
Fairness
When a story accuses or criticizes a person, business or agency, we try to reach them before publication and tell readers when we could not. Everyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent. When charges are dropped, reduced or dismissed, or a defendant is acquitted, we report the outcome and update the original story. Our crime coverage and unpublishing policy explains how we handle names, booking photos and requests to update old stories.
Press releases and outside content
Agencies, schools, nonprofits and businesses send us press releases at [email protected]. Releases we publish are edited for length, clarity and style, filed in our Press Release category and labeled so readers know where the information came from. Stories republished from partners such as The Texas Tribune are credited and point search engines to the original. Obituaries are provided by local funeral homes and credited to them.
Automation
We use automation and AI tools for some intake and formatting work. Our page on how we use automation and AI explains where and how people stay responsible for what is published.
Corrections
When we get something wrong, we fix it and say so. Our corrections policy explains how to report an error and what happens next.
Memberships
TXK Today is a member of Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION) and the Online News Association (ONA).
Contact
Questions about these standards go to Field Walsh at [email protected] or 903-280-7977. Our office is at 5502 Cowhorn Creek, Suite B, Texarkana, TX 75503.
