Editorial Standards & Ethics
Last updated: April 27, 2026
Seasonal Entertainment Source (SES) is a trade publication serving professionals in the seasonal and live entertainment industry. Our mission is to inform readers in ways that make them better at their work. This page describes the editorial standards we hold ourselves to and how we maintain integrity in our reporting.
Our Editorial Mission
SES exists to document how the best practitioners in seasonal entertainment, themed entertainment, and attractions solve hard problems. We focus on people and projects, not products and processes. Every story we publish is held to a single standard: it must teach the reader something useful about their craft or their business.
We are journalism, not publicity. We do not run press releases without rewriting them, we do not accept payment for editorial coverage, and we do not allow advertisers or sponsors to influence what we cover or how we cover it.
Sourcing & Attribution
We rely on primary sources whenever possible. This includes direct interviews with the people doing the work, on-the-record statements from companies and venues, official announcements, and original documents such as press releases, court filings, patent applications, and corporate communications.
When we report claims that come from secondary sources, we attribute them clearly. We distinguish between what is confirmed by a primary source, what is reported by another publication, and what is our own analysis or extrapolation.
Direct quotations are reproduced accurately and attributed by name and title. We do not fabricate quotes, composite quotes from multiple statements, or alter quotes for clarity without indicating that we have done so.
Fact-Checking Protocol
Before publication, every article is reviewed against its source materials. Specific claims, including dates, figures, names, titles, and corporate relationships, are verified against the underlying documents or statements. When source materials conflict, we note the conflict in the article rather than choosing one version silently.
When a claim cannot be independently verified, we either omit it, attribute it to its source so readers can evaluate it themselves, or label it as our own analysis.
Distinguishing Reporting from Analysis
SES publishes both straight news reporting and analysis or opinion pieces that interpret industry developments. We label these differently. News articles report what happened. Analysis pieces are clearly identified as such, and when an article extrapolates from limited information, such as analyzing a patent filing or interpreting a corporate strategy from public signals, we say so explicitly. When relevant, we include a section noting what the source documents do and do not actually say.
Objectivity & Independence
SES is owned by Philip Hernandez, who also serves as CEO of Gantom Lighting Controls. Gantom provides operational funding for SES as part of its content marketing strategy. The full ownership and funding disclosure is published on our Ownership & Funding page.
This relationship does not influence our editorial decisions. Gantom does not review articles before publication, does not approve or veto coverage, and does not direct which companies, projects, or people we cover. SES regularly covers companies, designers, and projects with no Gantom involvement, and our editorial standards explicitly require coverage that maintains independence from any single commercial relationship.
When SES covers Gantom, a Gantom product, or a paying Gantom client as the primary subject of an article, we disclose that relationship within the article itself. See our Corrections Policy for the specific disclosure language and triggering conditions.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
SES uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in the production of editorial content. AI is used as a drafting and research aid under the direction of human editors. All AI-assisted content is reviewed, fact-checked, edited, and approved by Philip Hernandez before publication.
We do not publish content generated by AI without human editorial review. We do not use AI to fabricate quotes, sources, or events. AI does not make editorial decisions about what we cover or how we frame stories.
Conflicts of Interest
When a writer, editor, or contributor has a personal, financial, or professional relationship with the subject of a story, we disclose it. This includes business relationships through Gantom Lighting Controls, friendships with industry figures, and any compensation received from sources or their representatives.
Writers do not cover companies in which they have a financial stake beyond the disclosed Gantom ownership relationship.
Corrections & Accountability
When we make a factual error, we correct it. Our complete corrections policy is published on our Corrections Policy page.
Reader Contact
Editorial questions, story tips, and feedback can be sent to [email protected]. Corrections requests should follow the procedure on our Corrections Policy page.
Seasonal Entertainment Source
PO Box 1115
Canyon Country, CA 91386