# Acceptable Sources > **Scope:** Defines approved sources for McClatchy content. All facts must be verified and all links must point to sources that meet these standards.

Health & Wellness

| Source | URL | Type | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | Mayo Clinic | [mayoclinic.org](https://www.mayoclinic.org) | Medical/Nonprofit | Evidence-based health info; widely cited for symptoms, conditions, treatments. Great for service articles on conditions & prevention. | | CDC | [cdc.gov](https://www.cdc.gov) | Government | Official U.S. public health data, guidelines, seasonal health alerts. Seasonal content hooks (flu, allergies, heat safety). | | NIH / MedlinePlus | [medlineplus.gov](https://medlineplus.gov) | Government | Plain-language health encyclopedia backed by NIH research. Good for explainers and FAQ-style content. | | Harvard Health Publishing | [health.harvard.edu](https://www.health.harvard.edu) | Academic | Expert-reviewed wellness articles; strong on nutrition, mental health, aging. Often ranks well for health queries. | | NAMI | [nami.org](https://www.nami.org) | Nonprofit | Mental health conditions, treatment options, support resources. Essential for mental health service content. | | WHO | [who.int](https://www.who.int) | International Govt | Global health data, disease info, public health guidelines. Useful for broader context and global stats. | | Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials | [health.clevelandclinic.org](https://health.clevelandclinic.org) | Medical/Nonprofit | Consumer-friendly health articles from top-ranked hospital system. Good model for tone in service health journalism. | | Psychology Today | [psychologytoday.com](https://www.psychologytoday.com) | Media/Expert | Therapist directory and accessible mental health articles. Helpful for sourcing expert quotes and trends. |

Home / DIY / Gardening

| Source | URL | Type | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | This Old House | [thisoldhouse.com](https://www.thisoldhouse.com) | Media | Expert-backed home improvement guides, how-tos, product reviews. Strong SEO presence; good for DIY content benchmarking. | | USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map | [planthardiness.ars.usda.gov](https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov) | Government | Official planting zone data for regional gardening guidance. Essential for localized gardening calendars. | | Cooperative Extension System (USDA) | [nifa.usda.gov](https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/how-we-work/extension) | Government/Academic | University-backed local gardening, pest control, and home science resources. Hyper-local angle for regional publications. | | National Association of Realtors (NAR) | [nar.realtor](https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics) | Industry Assoc. | Housing market data, homebuyer trends, affordability stats. Key source for home-buying service content. | | EPA Indoor Air Quality | [epa.gov](https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq) | Government | Guidance on mold, radon, VOCs, and healthy home environments. Great for seasonal home safety articles. | | The Spruce | [thespruce.com](https://www.thespruce.com) | Media | Broad home, garden, and decor coverage; Dotdash Meredith brand. Competitive benchmark for Everyday Living vertical. | | Houzz | [houzz.com](https://www.houzz.com) | Platform/Media | Design inspiration, contractor directory, renovation cost data. Good for decor trend pieces and renovation budgets. |

Personal Finance / Money

| Source | URL | Type | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) | [consumerfinance.gov](https://www.consumerfinance.gov) | Government | Consumer finance guides, complaint data, regulatory info. Authoritative for credit, mortgages, student loans. | | Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) | [fred.stlouisfed.org](https://fred.stlouisfed.org) | Government | Economic indicators, interest rates, inflation data. Useful for data-driven money content. | | IRS.gov | [irs.gov](https://www.irs.gov) | Government | Tax deadlines, forms, credits/deductions explainers. Must-have for tax season content calendar. | | NerdWallet | [nerdwallet.com](https://www.nerdwallet.com) | Media/Fintech | Credit cards, banking, investing guides; strong SEO competitor. Key benchmark; great for understanding what ranks. | | Bankrate | [bankrate.com](https://www.bankrate.com) | Media | Rate data, calculators, personal finance guides. Competitor and data source for rate-related content. | | Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) | [bls.gov](https://www.bls.gov) | Government | Employment, wages, CPI/inflation, cost of living data. Strong for jobs and cost-of-living articles. | | Social Security Administration | [ssa.gov](https://www.ssa.gov) | Government | Benefits info, retirement planning, disability resources. Key for retirement and benefits service content. |

Food & Recipes

| Source | URL | Type | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | USDA FoodData Central | [fdc.nal.usda.gov](https://fdc.nal.usda.gov) | Government | Nutrition data for any food item; official U.S. source. Back up nutrition claims in food/recipe content. | | FDA Food Safety | [fda.gov/food](https://www.fda.gov/food) | Government | Recalls, food safety guidelines, labeling rules. Essential for food safety and recall coverage. | | Serious Eats | [seriouseats.com](https://www.seriouseats.com) | Media | Science-driven recipes and technique explainers. Competitive benchmark for food content quality. | | Bon Appétit | [bonappetit.com](https://www.bonappetit.com) | Media | Trend-forward recipes, restaurant culture, food trends. Good for food trend sourcing. | | Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics | [eatright.org](https://www.eatright.org) | Professional Assoc. | Evidence-based nutrition guidance, dietitian resources. Authoritative for nutrition claims and expert sourcing. |

SEO & Content Strategy

| Source | URL | Type | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | Semrush Blog | [semrush.com/blog](https://www.semrush.com/blog) | Industry/Tool | SEO trends, keyword research guides, content marketing insights. Complements your Semrush tool usage. | | Google Search Central Blog | [developers.google.com/search/blog](https://developers.google.com/search/blog) | Platform | Official Google algorithm updates and search best practices. Primary source for algorithm change coverage. | | Moz Blog | [moz.com/blog](https://moz.com/blog) | Industry/Tool | SEO strategy, link building, domain authority insights. Good for staying current on SEO methodology. | | Content Marketing Institute | [contentmarketinginstitute.com](https://contentmarketinginstitute.com) | Industry | Content strategy frameworks, editorial planning, distribution. Useful for strategic planning and team training. | | Nieman Lab | [niemanlab.org](https://www.niemanlab.org) | Academic/Media | Future of journalism, audience trends, digital media innovation. Great for staying ahead on industry shifts. |

General News & Reporting

| Source | URL | Type | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | AP News | [apnews.com](https://apnews.com) | Wire Service | Breaking news, fact-checked reporting, editorial style standards. Foundational for newsroom standards. | | U.S. Census Bureau | [data.census.gov](https://data.census.gov) | Government | Demographic data, population trends, community profiles. Localizes any story with regional data. | | Pew Research Center | [pewresearch.org](https://www.pewresearch.org) | Nonprofit/Research | Public opinion polling, media trends, demographic research. Excellent for trend stats and audience insights. | | Statista | [statista.com](https://www.statista.com) | Data Platform | Aggregated statistics across industries; charts and infographics. Quick stats for any vertical (some content paywalled). | | Data.gov | [data.gov](https://data.gov) | Government | Open data catalog for U.S. government datasets. Great for data journalism and investigative pieces. |

Entertainment & Celebrity

| Source | URL | Type | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | People | [people.com](https://people.com) | Media | Celebrity news, human interest, entertainment. Primary benchmark for voice, tone, and format in celebrity content. | | Entertainment Weekly | [ew.com](https://ew.com) | Media | Film, TV, music, and celebrity coverage. Strong for entertainment explainers, reviews, and awards coverage. | | Variety | [variety.com](https://variety.com) | Trade/Media | Entertainment industry news, box office, awards, deals. Authoritative for credits, industry data, and business-side sourcing. | | The Hollywood Reporter | [hollywoodreporter.com](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com) | Trade/Media | Film/TV industry, talent news, awards coverage. Good for authoritative industry sourcing and talent credits. | | Billboard | [billboard.com](https://www.billboard.com) | Trade/Media | Music charts, artist news, tour and album data. Primary source for chart positions and music industry facts. | | IMDb | [imdb.com](https://www.imdb.com) | Database | Film/TV credits, cast and crew, release dates, episode data. Authoritative for credits, filmography, and release info—cite the record, not editorial content. | | Rotten Tomatoes | [rottentomatoes.com](https://www.rottentomatoes.com) | Aggregator | Film/TV critic and audience scores. Use for consensus ratings; note score and review count when citing. | | Deadline Hollywood | [deadline.com](https://deadline.com) | Trade/Media | Breaking entertainment industry news, casting, deals, ratings. Fast-moving; verify before citing. |