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Dec 19, 2025 — Maine’s Bangor Daily News (BDN) has begun publishing a statement of core journalistic values — a move that strengthens the paper’s commitment to transparency and accountability and mirrors the core principles advocated by the Center for Integrity in News Reporting (CFINR). Starting in the Dec 18, 2025 print edition, the publication began including a summary version of its values statement, accompanied by a QR code linking to the full version. The complete statement, available online , details the newsroom’s commitment to truth‑seeking, independent journalism and public accountability. It articulates standards such as objective reporting, independence from political alignment, and transparency when errors occur. In addition to the official values statement, the paper published a bylined column by Bangor Daily News Executive Editor Dan MacLeod explaining the newsroom’s philosophy and purpose. In What BDN journalism stands for, MacLeod emphasizes the newsroom’s commitment to high‑quality reporting that connects Mainers and upholds objectivity and fairness. CFINR Communications Consultant Cassandra Webb worked closely with BDN Director of Development Jo Easton, who championed the values adoption process internally. Webb praised the publication of the values statement as an important milestone. “We’re thrilled to see the Bangor Daily News formally publish its statement of core journalistic values and to know they’ll be prominently accessible both online and in print,” said Webb. “The standalone page, site links, and QR code are exactly the kind of transparency we hope to encourage.” The Bangor Daily News — founded in 1889 and published six days a week — has been owned by the Towle‑Warren family for four generations. Current publisher Richard J. Warren is the great‑grandson of J. Norman Towle, who purchased the paper in 1895. Since 2018, the Bangor Daily News has been the only independently owned daily newspaper in the state of Maine. Founded in 2024 by Walter E. Hussman Jr., The Center for Integrity in News Reporting is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving public trust in journalism and strengthening the standards that once earned broad public confidence through objectivity and impartiality in news reporting.