We verify before we publish. Every fact in our stories is checked against primary sources. We don't rely on secondhand reporting unless absolutely necessary, and when we do, we clearly attribute it.

• All claims must be supported by evidence or clearly labeled as allegations
• We contact all parties involved in a story for comment before publication
• Anonymous sources are used only when necessary and must be approved by senior editors
• We distinguish clearly between fact, analysis, and opinion

We serve readers, not sources. Our journalists maintain independence from those they cover and disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

• Staff members do not accept gifts, favors, or special treatment from sources
• We disclose financial interests that could influence our coverage
• Journalists do not cover stories where they have personal or financial stakes
• We maintain a clear separation between editorial and business operations
• Our funding sources are publicly disclosed on our website

We report without fear or favor. Our coverage is guided by newsworthiness, not ideology. We challenge power regardless of political affiliation.

• We give subjects of negative coverage a chance to respond before publication
• We don't practice "false balance"—giving equal weight to demonstrably false claims
• We seek diverse perspectives and voices in our reporting
• We acknowledge when we don't have all the answers
• We distinguish between news reporting and opinion/analysis

We show our work. Readers deserve to know how we gathered information and made editorial decisions.

• We explain our methodology in investigative pieces
• We link to source documents and data whenever possible
• We clearly label sponsored content and distinguish it from editorial content
• We publish corrections prominently and promptly when we make mistakes
• We respond to reader feedback and criticism

We own our mistakes. When we get something wrong, we correct it quickly, clearly, and prominently.

• Corrections are published at the top of the original article
• We note the date and nature of the correction
• We don't silently edit errors—all changes are documented
• Significant errors warrant a separate correction notice
• We maintain a public corrections log

We balance the public's right to know with individual privacy. We're especially careful when covering vulnerable individuals or sensitive topics.

• We don't identify victims of sexual assault without their consent
• We're cautious about naming minors involved in crimes
• We consider the long-term impact of our coverage on individuals
• We protect confidential sources and their information
• We're sensitive in our coverage of grief and trauma

We respect readers in the digital space. We don't use manipulative design or data practices.

• We don't use clickbait headlines or misleading images
• We're transparent about our data collection and use
• We don't employ dark patterns to manipulate user behavior
• We verify information from social media before using it
• We clearly label AI-generated or AI-assisted content

We strive to reflect the diversity of our audience. Our coverage and our newsroom should represent the communities we serve.

• We actively seek diverse sources and perspectives
• We're mindful of stereotypes and biased language
• We build a newsroom that reflects diverse backgrounds and experiences
• We cover underrepresented communities with depth and nuance
• We regularly examine our coverage for bias and blind spots