About The Commonwealth Ledger
The Commonwealth Ledger is an independent Virginia publication covering government, elections, public policy and the issues shaping the Commonwealth.
Our purpose is straightforward: give Virginians serious information about the decisions being made in their name, the people asking for their votes and the consequences of the choices before them.
Our Point of View
We do not pretend that The Commonwealth Ledger has no point of view. The Ledger approaches public affairs from a conservative perspective, with an emphasis on liberty, constitutional government, accountability and an informed electorate.
But a point of view and factual accuracy are not competing ideas. Readers should be able to distinguish between what happened, what the evidence shows, what we believe it means and what we think should happen next.
“Having a point of view does not relieve us of an obligation to get the facts right.”
Our Standard
Whenever practical, we rely on primary sources such as official government records, legislation, election returns, campaign-finance filings, court documents and candidates’ own statements. When reporting or analysis originates with another publication, pollster or organization, we attribute it. When a claim is disputed, we identify it as disputed. When something cannot be verified, we say so.
We distinguish facts from interpretation and editorial opinion. We do not present another writer’s reporting as our own, and we do not knowingly publish something false simply because it supports our editorial position. When a factual error warrants correction, our standard is to correct it.
News • Analysis • Commentary
News focuses on verified facts, records, events and reporting. Analysis examines what those facts may mean and places them in context. Commentary expresses an editorial viewpoint and includes opinion pieces and endorsements.
Those labels matter. Readers should never have to guess whether they are reading reporting, interpretation or opinion.
Publisher & Editor
Michael Hevener is the publisher and editor of The Commonwealth Ledger. A Virginia pastor, author and community leader, he launched the publication to provide Virginians with substantive coverage of elections, government and public policy from a clearly stated editorial perspective while maintaining a firm commitment to factual accuracy and source transparency.
Defending Liberty. Informing the Commonwealth.
