Code of Ethics
The standards our journalists work to, written down so you can hold us to them.
Accuracy first
Speed never outranks accuracy. If a claim cannot be verified before deadline, we either hold the story or publish it with the uncertainty stated plainly in the text.
Independence
No advertiser, political party, government office or investor gets a say in what we publish. Journalists declare outside interests, and anyone with a personal stake in a story steps away from covering it.
Fairness and right of reply
Anyone facing a significant allegation in our reporting is given a fair opportunity to respond before publication, and their response is carried in the story.
Reporting on harm
We report on crime, violence and grief without sensationalising them. We do not publish graphic imagery for effect, we protect the identity of minors and survivors, and we consider the consequences of naming people who have not been charged.
Corrections
Errors are corrected on the page, promptly, with a dated note saying what changed. We do not quietly delete stories, and we do not remove reporting because it is inconvenient.