Standards for guides, local data, and planning tools.

1. People-first editorial goal

We aim to publish pages that help readers make a real decision, not just match a search phrase. That means adding Treasure Coast context, tradeoffs, and next-step guidance instead of publishing thin answer-box copy.

2. Sourcing and verification

We use local government, school district, emergency management, venue, business, and community sources when pages depend on timely or factual claims. When a page includes important source material, we link it directly in the article or tool page.

• Official public agencies are preferred for permits, taxes, flood, storm, utility, and school assignment details.
• Venue, organizer, and business sources are preferred for hours, event details, ticketing, and policy claims.
• Local reporting, firsthand notes, and reader corrections may be used as context, but factual claims still need verification.

3. How we choose "best" picks

Best-of guides are editorial recommendations, not paid rankings. We look for local usefulness, fit for the reader's situation, geographic spread, reliability, practical tradeoffs, and whether a place or activity meaningfully helps the decision the page is trying to answer. A sponsor does not control guide rankings, recommendations, inclusion, or conclusions.

4. Authorship and updates

Article pages identify Derek Brumby as the current author and editor, include a last verified date, identify publisher review by Brumby LLC, and link back to this standards page. When a guide changes substantially, we update the visible date so readers can judge freshness.

Evergreen guides are reviewed when source details, local context, or reader corrections indicate that an update is needed. Dated event information should be separated from evergreen annual-event guidance so old listings do not appear current.

5. Calculator methodology

Our calculators are planning tools. They are not official tax, permit, flood, insurance, utility, or school assignment determinations. Each calculator should state its assumptions, list the public sources behind defaults when available, and explain what readers still need to verify with the relevant authority.

6. Sponsorship separation

Sponsors do not control editorial guide rankings, recommendations, inclusion, or conclusions. Sponsored placements are sold separately from editorial coverage and should be clearly labeled when they appear. Advertising relationships may support the publication, but they do not decide what a guide says.

7. AI-assisted workflows

We may use software or AI tools to help draft, organize, summarize, or format research. Human editorial review remains responsible for what is published. AI output should not replace source checking, local judgment, corrections review, or final editorial accountability.

8. Corrections

If you see an error, outdated rate, wrong venue detail, or broken source reference, email hello@onthetreasurecoast.com. We review correction requests and update pages when the facts warrant a change.

9. Ownership and accountability

On The Treasure Coast is owned and published by Brumby LLC. Derek Brumby is currently the sole author and editor, and Brumby LLC is responsible for site-level publisher review, privacy policy updates, advertising separation, and correction handling.