Membership

Statement Regarding Membership, Content Use, and Copyright

The Jones Journal operates on a registration-based access model. Membership is currently free. Readers may register at no cost and access subscriber content directly through the website.

In the future, a paid tier will be introduced for premium investigative and long-form reporting. Independent local journalism requires time, research, and financial sustainability to continue expanding coverage.

Each published article involves review of public records, verification of timelines, cross-referencing documentation, ongoing updates, and editorial oversight. Maintaining the platform also involves operational expenses including website hosting, domain registration, publishing software, editing tools, document storage, and research systems.

The registration structure helps:

• Protect original reporting

• Preserve context and formatting

• Track readership and engagement

• Sustain long-term viability of the publication

Under United States copyright law, the author of an original written work holds exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute that work. Posting an entire article without permission may constitute copyright infringement, particularly when it bypasses a registration or subscription structure. While limited excerpts for commentary may qualify as fair use, full reproduction of an article generally does not.

Courts have consistently upheld the rights of publishers to prevent unauthorized reposting of complete articles. Intellectual property protections exist to ensure independent reporting can continue in a sustainable and structured way.

Direct links to articles are always welcome and encouraged. Reproducing the full text outside of the platform, however, undermines the framework that supports the reporting.

The Jones Journal supports open discussion while also protecting the integrity of its original work.

Blessings!

The Jones Journal Staff