About

Editorial Standards and Ethics

How we write, source, label, and update the work on this site.

Who we are and what we cover

Up in The Rafters is an independent sports publication. We cover the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, golf, the Olympics, college sports, and more. We publish explainers, history pieces, and sharp takes for fans who want more than a game recap.

Opinion vs. reporting

We write both analysis and opinion. Opinion pieces are labeled as Opinion on the article page. If a piece is not labeled Opinion, treat it as reporting or analysis grounded in sourcing and context—not a personal rant dressed up as news.

Sourcing

We link primary sources when we can. Stats come from official league sites or reputable outlets. If we lean on someone else's reporting, we say so. We do not invent quotes, numbers, or sources.

Independence

We do not accept paid placements without a clear Sponsored label. Editorial decisions are not for sale. See our Disclosures page for more on sponsorships and affiliates.

Conflicts of interest

If a writer has a material conflict—financial stake, close personal relationship, or paid work tied to a team, league, or company in a story—we disclose it in the piece or we do not publish that writer on that topic. We do not currently have standing affiliations or conflicts to list site-wide.

Image use and credits

Featured images should carry a credit or caption when the source requires it. We pull credits from the Contentful asset description when present. If you spot a missing credit, tell us via Contact.

AI-use policy

We use AI tools to help with research and editing. Every post is reviewed, fact-checked, and approved by a human editor before publishing. AI does not publish under its own byline here.

Updating old articles

We only change the Updated date after substantive edits. Typos and small cleanups do not reset the clock. Factual errors are handled under our Corrections Policy—we do not silently rewrite history.

Guest contributors

Guest pieces go through the same editing bar as staff work. Guests keep their voice; we keep the facts straight. Pitches go to Contact.