This policy describes the standards LeadNest Newsapplies to reporting, editing and publishing. It is reviewed periodically by the newsroom’s standards editor.

Sourcing

We prefer named, on-the-record sources. Anonymity is granted only when a source faces genuine risk for speaking and when at least one editor knows the source’s identity. We do not publish single-source claims of consequence without corroboration.

Independence

Reporters and editors do not accept gifts, travel or payment from subjects they cover. Financial holdings that could present a conflict are disclosed internally and reporters are recused from related coverage.

News vs. Opinion

Opinion and Editorial content is clearly labeled and produced separately from news reporting. Columnists are held to the same factual-accuracy standard as reporters, even where they argue a position.

Corrections

Material errors are corrected as soon as they are confirmed, with a visible note attached to the article describing what changed. See our Corrections Policy for details.

Fact Checking

Every story is checked against its original sources before publication — quotes against recordings or transcripts where available, figures against the underlying document or dataset, and claims of fact against at least one source independent of the person making the claim. Fact-checking is an editor’s responsibility, not the reporter’s alone.

AI Policy

AI tools may assist with research, transcription and copyediting, but do not write reporting or generate quotes, facts or sources. Any article substantively assisted by an AI tool in its drafting is labeled as such. A human editor is accountable for every published fact regardless of what tools were used to help produce the draft.

Sponsored Content Policy

Sponsored content is written and commissioned separately from the newsroom, is never edited or reviewed by news editors, and is labeled “Sponsored” in the byline position and in the article’s metadata. Advertisers have no input into news coverage, and no payment of any kind influences what we report or how.

Transparency

Authors, editors and their expertise are published on our author directory. This policy itself is public, dated, and revised in the open rather than silently.