Editorial Policy

Last updated: November 10, 2026

North Carolina Backstory publishes stories about North Carolina and American history for general readers. This page explains the standards we hold ourselves to.

Accuracy comes first

We include only facts that are well established in published histories, archives and primary sources. We don’t invent quotes, and we don’t present legend as fact. When historians disagree, or when the record is thin, we say so in the story.

Sources

Our writing draws on books and journal articles by historians; state and federal archives; museum and library collections; National Park Service and state historic site materials; and newspapers and documents from the period. Where one source carries a key claim, we name it in the text.

How we use AI tools

We use AI tools to help research topics and prepare first drafts. AI-assisted articles are reviewed for accuracy against published sources, and our editors are responsible for everything we publish. We never use AI to create images that could be mistaken for historical photographs.

Images

We illustrate stories with historical photographs, paintings, engravings and maps from public archives and openly licensed collections, such as Wikimedia Commons and the Library of Congress. Each image is credited with its creator, license and source. If you hold the rights to an image we’ve used and believe it is credited incorrectly, contact us and we’ll fix it promptly.

Corrections

When we get something wrong, we fix it. Send corrections through our contact page with a link to the story and, if possible, a source. We correct confirmed errors promptly, and significant corrections are noted at the end of the article.

Independence

Our editorial choices are our own. Advertising, sponsorships and partnerships never decide what we cover or what we say, and any sponsored content is clearly labeled.

Questions

Have a question about these standards? Contact us.