Last update: 01 September 2024
Why This Matters We believe that trustworthy fact-checking starts with complete independence and impartiality. This policy lays out how we maintain these core values in our daily work and decision-making.
Who Needs to Follow This
Everyone who works with us – whether you’re a full-time employee, contractor, board member, or partner – needs to understand and follow these guidelines when involved in fact-checking or making editorial decisions.
Our Core Beliefs Trust is everything in our line of work. That’s why we:
- Make decisions based on facts alone, not outside pressure or influence
- Check facts with the same rigor regardless of who or what we’re examining
- Are open about our methods, sources, and funding
- Stay out of political endorsements in our professional roles
Protecting Our Independence Money matters shouldn’t influence truth. Here’s how we maintain our independence:
- We accept funding with no strings attached – donors can’t influence our content
- Our team must tell us about any personal, financial, or political connections that might affect their work
- We keep a strict separation between our funders and our editorial decisions
- We bring in outside experts regularly to review our work and independence
Staying Impartial Being fair isn’t just a goal – it’s how we work every day:
- We always check multiple reliable sources before reaching conclusions
- Nothing gets published without careful review from our peers
- We reach out to people we’re fact-checking to get their side of the story
- When we make mistakes (we’re human!), we fix them quickly and openly
When Things Go Wrong We take violations of these principles seriously:
- Breaking these guidelines can lead to disciplinary action
- Showing bias in reporting might mean reassignment or dismissal
- An independent ethics committee reviews any complaints about bias or conflicts