Republication Guidelines

Overview

The Center Square produces original, taxpayer-focused journalism for distribution to media organizations at no cost. Our work is created by professional journalists and follows a rigorous editorial process designed to ensure accuracy, clarity, and relevance.

Media partners may republish our content without contracts or fees. In return, we require proper attribution and adherence to the guidelines below.

Our reporting provides:

• Timely coverage of state and local government and economic issues
• Clear, factual reporting from a taxpayer perspective
• Investigative and enterprise journalism that examines public spending and policy outcomes
• Ready-to-use content for print, digital, broadcast, and audio platforms

Attribution Requirements

All republished content must clearly credit The Center Square.

For full republication:

• Include the reporter’s byline
• Include the dateline: (The Center Square) –

For partial use or reference:

• Clearly cite The Center Square as the source within the body of the story

Content may not be presented in a way that implies it originated from another organization.

Content Integrity

Republished articles must not be materially altered in a way that changes meaning, context, or tone.

Permitted edits:

• Headline adjustments for style or length
• Minor formatting changes
• Excerpts with proper attribution

Not permitted:

• Adding opinion or commentary within the original article
• Editing in a way that misrepresents facts or conclusions

Image and Photo Use Policy

The Center Square maintains strict standards for image sourcing and copyright compliance. These standards were updated following a full audit completed October 31, 2025.

What Images May Be Used

All images currently published by The Center Square (uploaded on or after October 5, 2025) fall into one of the following permitted categories:

• Public domain images
• U.S. government works
• Creative Commons–licensed images (with required attribution)
• Free-use stock images (e.g., Unsplash, Pexels)
• Images used with explicit permission from the source (clearly labeled)
• Original images produced by The Center Square staff

These images are generally safe for republication, provided that:

• The original credit line is preserved exactly as published
• Any required attribution or license terms are followed

What Images May Not Be Used

Images appearing on stories published before October 5, 2025, should not be republished without independent verification of usage rights. Those images may have originated from subscription-based services whose licenses do not extend to The Center Square distribution partners.

Credit Line Requirements

• Always retain the full original credit line that appears with the image
• Do not alter, remove, or truncate attribution
• If a license requires attribution (e.g., Creative Commons), partners are responsible for ensuring compliance

Partner Responsibility

• Verifying that image use aligns with their own editorial and legal standards
• Following all attribution and licensing requirements
• Exercising independent editorial judgment when selecting images

If you have questions about a specific image, contact us before republishing. When usage rights are unclear, omit the image or substitute one you have independently licensed or originated.

Questions and Support

For questions about republication, image use, or partnership opportunities, contact:

John Derr
Director of Affiliate Partnerships
jderr@thecentersquare.com