How to be a source
We rely on people with firsthand experience: students, families, counselors, educators, researchers, and practitioners. Here is what you can expect when you share information with us.
Who we hear from
We seek input from a wide range of people affected by postsecondary pathways and workforce outcomes, including:
- Journalists sharing context, documents, or leads on stories we should examine
- Educators and counselors describing what students and families actually face
- Families and students with lived experience navigating college, training, debt, or career transitions
- Researchers and practitioners with data, methods, or field knowledge relevant to our work
On the record
We prefer on-the-record conversations. When we quote or attribute information to you, readers should be able to understand who is speaking and why they have relevant knowledge.
Anonymous sourcing is rare and requires editor approval. We use it only when disclosure would put someone at meaningful risk and the information cannot be verified another way. We will explain our reasoning if we ask to use your information without naming you.
How to reach us
- Story ideas and general outreach: hello@pathwaysandoutcomes.org
- Source relationships and sensitive inquiries: contact@pathwaysandoutcomes.org
If you see an error in our published work, contact corrections@pathwaysandoutcomes.org separately. That inbox is handled by our corrections process, not general editorial intake.
No pay-for-play
Sharing information with us is never contingent on payment, donations, sponsorship, or favorable coverage. We do not accept fees to include sources in research, and sources cannot buy access to our editorial process.
Institutions, vendors, and advocates are welcome to provide factual information and on-the-record perspective. Our conclusions follow the evidence, not the interests of any single source.
What we ask of sources
- Be accurate. If you are unsure, say so
- Disclose conflicts of interest that could affect how readers interpret your comments
- Understand that we may verify claims with documents, data, or other sources before publication
- Do not ask us to read back quotes before publication as a condition of speaking with us
Related policies
Our standards for accuracy, transparency, and independence are set out in our Code of Ethics and Editorial Policy. We encourage you to read them before sharing sensitive information.