EastArkNet guidelines
Media & Journalist Guidelines
These Guidelines apply to news organizations, journalists, broadcasters, publishers, documentary producers, digital media outlets, and other media users who obtain information or content through EastArkNet.
EastArkNet can be a useful source of public-safety radio information, but radio traffic is not the same as a verified official statement. Media users are responsible for independently confirming facts before publication.
1. Media Attribution Is Required
Any use, quotation, excerpt, reproduction, rebroadcast, publication, or other use of information or content obtained through EastArkNet by a news organization, journalist, broadcaster, publisher, or other media outlet must clearly attribute the source to Eastern Arkansas Network / eastarknet.com.
Attribution should appear reasonably close to the EastArkNet-derived material and should be clear enough that a reader, viewer, or listener can understand where the material came from.
Examples of acceptable attribution include “Source: Eastern Arkansas Network / eastarknet.com” or a substantially equivalent clear attribution.
Attribution does not imply that EastArkNet approves, endorses, verifies, or participates in the resulting story, broadcast, publication, or production.
2. Verify Before Reporting
Radio communications can be incomplete, delayed, misheard, misidentified, distorted, or later corrected. A transmission may contain preliminary information, speculation, shorthand, or statements that lack important context.
Do not present EastArkNet audio, alerts, talkgroup labels, metadata, or scanner traffic as independently verified fact merely because it appeared through EastArkNet.
When accuracy matters, confirm the information through appropriate official sources, direct reporting, public records, on-scene reporting, or other reliable independent methods.
3. EastArkNet Is Not an Official Agency Source
EastArkNet is an independent service. It is not owned, operated, sponsored, endorsed, authorized, or administered by the agencies, radio systems, governmental entities, utilities, or other organizations whose communications may appear through the Service.
Media coverage must not imply that EastArkNet speaks for a monitored agency or that an agency has verified information merely because its radio traffic was heard through EastArkNet.
4. Sensitive and Active-Incident Information
Use particular care with information involving victims, juveniles, patients, private residences, medical information, tactical operations, searches, manhunts, responder locations, or other details that could create a foreseeable risk of harm if published in real time.
Do not use EastArkNet information to interfere with responders, enter restricted areas, compromise an active operation, expose protected information, or encourage others to do so.
5. Audio, Screenshots, and Other EastArkNet Content
Brief quotation, reference, or limited use may be permitted under these Guidelines and applicable law when the required attribution is provided.
Attribution alone does not grant permission for substantial copying, systematic redistribution, commercial rebroadcasting, creation of a competing archive, bulk reuse, or repeated republication of EastArkNet audio, metadata, alerts, screenshots, or other content.
For uses beyond ordinary reporting or limited quotation, contact EastArkNet before publication or distribution. Nothing in these Guidelines removes rights that cannot legally be waived, including fair use where applicable.
6. Editing and Context
Do not edit EastArkNet-derived audio or information in a way that materially misrepresents what was said, changes the apparent meaning, or falsely suggests a statement came from EastArkNet rather than from a radio user or other source.
When an excerpt could be misleading without context, provide enough surrounding explanation to accurately describe what the audience is hearing or reading.
7. Corrections and Updates
If EastArkNet corrects a talkgroup label, alert, timestamp, description, or other material after you have relied on it, consider whether your reporting should also be corrected or updated.
If you believe EastArkNet itself has published an incorrect label, alert, or other factual description, send the exact URL or identifying information and explain the issue through EastArkNet Support.
8. Media Requests and Nonpublic Information
EastArkNet may answer general questions about the Service, coverage, technology, or publicly available material, but a media inquiry does not create a right to nonpublic listener, installation, security, access-control, support, or operational information.
Requests for nonpublic information are handled according to applicable law and EastArkNet policy, not simply because the requester is a member of the media.
9. Press and Media Contact
Media inquiries, requests to use substantial EastArkNet material, attribution questions, and correction requests should be submitted through EastArkNet Support.
Public email: support@eastarknet.com
Use a clear subject such as EastArkNet Media Inquiry and include the outlet, reporter or producer name, deadline when applicable, and the specific EastArkNet material or question involved.
10. Other Policies Still Apply
Media use of EastArkNet remains subject to the Terms of Service, Acceptable Use Policy, Public Safety Disclaimer, and applicable law.