Our verification process is proportional to the significance and sensitivity of the claim. Breaking news may evolve quickly, but speed does not remove the obligation to attribute and verify.

Source Hierarchy

• Primary documents, court filings, official records, direct statements and original interviews are preferred where available.
• Credible reporting from established outlets may be used with clear attribution.
• Press releases and public-relations material are treated as claims from the issuing organization, not independent verification.
• Social-media posts, screenshots and viral claims should be authenticated before being relied upon for material facts.

Quotes and Context

Quotes should not be altered in a way that changes meaning. Necessary trimming should preserve context. Material allegations should be attributed to the person or organization making them.

Anonymous Sources

Anonymous sources should have credible access to the information and a legitimate reason for confidentiality. Editors should know enough about the source to assess credibility.

Corrections

If verification later shows that a material claim was wrong, the article should be corrected under our Corrections Policy.