Editorial Standards and Corrections

Source hierarchy

We prioritize official primary records (agency statements, public documents, first-hand releases). Established newsroom reporting can provide necessary context, but claims about arrests, deaths, identity and recovered persons require especially careful confirmation. We link to the original item and distinguish when a news article is quoting a primary source.

Publishing and updating

New material in a developing article should identify what changed and the date of the event. Updates are published only after their supporting sources have been reviewed. An old page is not assigned a new “last updated” date without substantive editorial work.

Corrections and uncertainty

Incorrect statements should be corrected promptly, with a note explaining material changes. Unverified assertions must be explicitly qualified. Rumors and anonymous accusations should not be repackaged as facts or used to identify people.

Photos and material

Images should be accurately captioned and sourced. Neutral typographic covers are design elements, not photographs of people, places or evidence. Photographs from third parties require appropriate usage rights.

Corrections

When material facts are corrected, the article should explain the change and the date. Sources are included so readers can check underlying information independently.