Speed matters to us, but accuracy matters more. This page explains how we check what we publish and how we show our work.
How claims are verified
Every factual claim in a story must be traceable to a source. Before publication, an editor reviews the key claims, names, figures and dates, and confirms that each can be supported. A claim that cannot be supported is cut, softened or clearly attributed.
Source tiers
- Primary sources: original documents, datasets, filings, direct observation and first-hand interviews.
- Established secondary sources: peer-reviewed research, official statistics and reporting from outlets with a record of correcting their errors.
- Self-reported material: press releases, company statements and project announcements. We use these, but we label them.
- Unverified material: social posts, rumors and anonymous claims. We do not publish these as fact.
Labelling self-reported figures
When a number comes from the people running a project or selling a product, we say so, using phrases such as "organizers report" or "according to the developers." We do not present such figures as independently confirmed unless they are.
Numbers and units
We check arithmetic, percentages and units. We state what a figure measures, the period it covers and what it is compared with. Where a number is approximate, we use words such as "roughly" or "about" and avoid false precision. In stories that mix measurement systems, we give the original unit first.
Illustrative scenarios
During our launch edition, some stories use illustrative scenarios. We do not attach invented statistics, quotes or claims to real people, real organizations or real products. Quotes from generic sources are described by role only.
Embargoes
We may agree to an embargo, which means holding a story until a set time, when it helps us verify facts and gives sources fair opportunity to respond. We do not accept embargo terms that dictate our framing or conclusions, and we will tell readers when a story rests heavily on material released under embargo.
Update stamps
Stories can change after publication. When we make a substantive update, we add a visible update stamp that says what changed. Minor edits such as typos are corrected without a stamp. Errors are handled under our corrections process, described on the Corrections Log page.
Your role
If you spot something wrong, tell us at [email protected]. Please include the story title and the specific claim, and, if you can, a source that supports your view.
Limits of verification
No process catches everything. Some facts cannot be independently confirmed within a news cycle, and where that is the case we say so instead of presenting the claim as settled.