This policy outlines the retention and disposal guidelines for records maintained by The Salt Lake Tribune to support ethical journalism, legal compliance, operational efficiency and historical preservation. This policy applies to all departments, including editorial, advertising, philanthropy and administrative operations.
Retention Schedules
Editorial records:
Published articles: permanently
Notes, drafts, and working files: subject to individual journalist’s discretion
Photos and multimedia content: permanently
Business and financial records:
Annual financial statements and audit reports: Permanently
Payroll records: 7 years
Advertising contracts and invoices: 7 years
Tax returns and supporting documentation: 7 years
Legal and compliance records:
Contracts and agreements: 7 years after expiration
Litigation records: 7 years after case resolution
Intellectual property documentation: permanently
Administrative records:
Employee personnel files: 7 years after termination
Training materials: 2 years after being superseded
Policies and procedures: permanently
Digital content:
Website articles: permanently archived for historical purposes
Social media posts: Subject to social platforms
Analytics: 2 years
Storage and Security
Physical records:
Digital records:
Disposal procedures
Physical documents:
Digital records:
Responsibility
Department heads ensure compliance with retention schedules
IT ensures secure storage and disposal of digital records
The Director of Budget and Finance oversees adherence to legal requirements
Exceptions
Documents under legal hold due to litigation, audits, or investigations must not be destroyed until the hold is lifted.
Review and updates
The policy will be reviewed every two years or as required by changes in laws or organizational needs
Updates must be approved by senior leadership
