How We Work
Questions people ask. Honest answers.
Q:
Who pays you?
Advertising. That's it. We don't have investors. We don't do sponsored content. We don't take money from the companies we cover. If we write about your startup, it's because we think it's newsworthy—not because you paid us.
Q:
How do you verify stories?
Multiple sources. Primary documents when we can get them—court filings, SEC docs, public records. We call people for comment before publishing. If we can't verify something independently, we say so in the story.
Q:
Do you use anonymous sources?
Sometimes. When someone could lose their job or face retaliation for talking to us, and when the information serves the public interest, we'll grant anonymity. But we verify their claims independently. And we tell you why they needed to stay anonymous.
Q:
What if you get something wrong?
We fix it. Fast. We add a correction to the article, we explain what was wrong and what's correct, and we log it on our corrections page. Typos get fixed quietly. Factual errors get a public correction.
Q:
How do you decide what to cover?
Does it matter to people who live here? Is something happening that the public should know about? Are powerful people or institutions doing something they'd rather keep quiet? Those are the questions. We're not chasing clicks or trying to go viral.
Q:
News vs. opinion—how do you handle that?
They're separate. Opinion pieces are labeled as opinion. News reporters don't write opinion on their beats. You'll always know which you're reading.
Q:
Can I send you a tip?
Yes. tips@sanfranciscodownload.com. We protect sources. If you need to stay anonymous, tell us and we'll handle it.
Last updated: January 2026