Editorial Standards
How the Sarasota Scoop chooses what to cover, what money can and can't buy, and how we handle corrections.
Who we are
The Sarasota Scoop is an independent local publication, started in 2024 and edited by Carson B. We cover Sarasota, Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Venice, Osprey, and Nokomis.
What money can and can't buy
- Our guides and Scoop Picks can't be bought. No business can pay for a place in a guide, for a Scoop Pick badge, or for favorable coverage.
- Directory placement can be bought, and it's disclosed. Paid directory listings may appear first in directory pages and links to them are marked as sponsored.
- Advertising is labeled. Ads and sponsored newsletter placements are marked clearly and kept separate from our editorial judgment.
- We turn some things down. We don't accept political, adult, gambling, tobacco, weapons, or payday-lending advertising.
How we choose what to include
We favor independent, locally rooted places that are useful to people who live here or are visiting. Each guide says what it's looking for. We check facts like addresses and event dates against the business or organizer, and we link to our sources.
Our guides say when something is based on public information rather than a first-hand visit. We don't invent experiences, reviews, or testimonials.
How we use AI
We use software, including AI tools, to help gather event listings and check details. A person is responsible for what we publish, and we correct mistakes when we find them.
Corrections and removals
Places close and plans change. If something here is wrong, email carson@thesarasotascoop.com or contact us and we'll fix it. We update guides when the content changes, and only then change their "updated" date.