Editorial Standards
The rules our reporting is held to: sourcing, fairness, independence and the use of AI tools.
These standards govern everything we publish. They exist so that readers can judge our work by a stated rule rather than by our reputation alone.
Accuracy
We publish what we can support. Claims of fact are checked before publication against documents, named sources or first-hand observation. Where a fact is disputed, we say who disputes it. Where we do not know something, we say that rather than reaching for a confident phrase that covers the gap.
Sourcing
We prefer sources who are named. Anonymity is granted where a source faces a real risk — to their job, their safety or their legal position — and where the information cannot reasonably be obtained another way. When we grant it, we tell readers why the source is unnamed and what position gives them knowledge of the subject.
We do not publish material from a single anonymous source where the claim is serious and uncorroborated.
Fairness
Anyone facing significant criticism or an allegation in our reporting is given a fair opportunity to respond before publication, and their response is represented accurately. If they decline to comment or do not respond, we say so.
Independence
Editorial decisions are made by our newsroom. Advertisers, sponsors and commercial partners have no influence over what we cover or how we cover it, receive no advance notice of stories, and cannot secure the removal or alteration of published work. Any commercial relationship relevant to a story is disclosed within it.
Conflicts of interest
Contributors do not report on organisations in which they hold a financial interest, or on matters in which they or their immediate family are personally involved. Where a connection exists but the reporting is still in the public interest, the connection is disclosed in the story.
Artificial intelligence
We use software to help with routine newsroom tasks such as transcription, search and formatting. We do not publish machine-generated reporting as the work of a human author, and every published story is reviewed by a person who is accountable for it. AI tools are never the sole basis for a claim of fact.
Updates and corrections
Developing stories are updated as facts change, with the substance of the change made clear. Errors are corrected under our Corrections Policy. We do not delete published stories to resolve a complaint.
Raising a concern
If you believe we have fallen short of these standards, write to [email protected] setting out the story and the standard you think was missed. Complaints are reviewed by an editor who was not responsible for the story.