Editorial Policy

Last Updated: April 1, 2026

Action News is committed to producing journalism that is accurate, fair, independent, and accountable. This Editorial Policy outlines the principles and standards that guide our newsroom. Every member of our editorial team — reporters, editors, and contributors — is expected to uphold these standards in all published work.

1. Editorial Independence

Our newsroom operates independently of commercial, political, and external interests. Editorial decisions — including what stories to cover, how to frame them, and what prominence to give them — are made solely by our editorial team based on news value, public interest, and journalistic merit.

Advertisers, sponsors, and business partners have no influence over our editorial content. Sponsored content and advertisements are clearly distinguished from editorial content and are never produced or approved by the editorial team.

2. Accuracy and Fact-Checking

Accuracy is the foundation of our journalism. We adhere to the following practices:

• All facts, claims, and data points are verified before publication.
• We use multiple sources to corroborate key claims whenever possible. Single-source stories are published only when the source is highly credible and the information is of significant public interest.
• Direct quotes are reported accurately. Paraphrasing preserves the speaker's meaning and context.
• Statistics and data are presented with context, including sources and dates. We avoid misleading framing or selective presentation of data.
• Headlines accurately reflect the content of the article. We do not use clickbait or deliberately misleading headlines.

3. Sourcing Standards

We hold ourselves to rigorous sourcing standards to ensure the reliability and credibility of our reporting:

• On-the-record sources are preferred. Named sources allow readers to assess the credibility and potential biases of information.
• Anonymous sourcesare used sparingly and only when the information is of significant public interest and cannot be obtained on the record. When anonymous sources are used, we explain why anonymity was granted and describe the source's position to provide context.
• Official documents, reports, and data are cited and linked wherever available.
• We clearly attribute information to its source. Wire service content and syndicated material are properly credited.

4. Fairness and Balance

We are committed to fair and balanced coverage:

• Stories involving allegations, disputes, or criticism provide affected parties a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication.
• We present multiple perspectives on complex or contentious issues, without false equivalence. Not all viewpoints are equally supported by evidence, and our reporting reflects this.
• News reporting is kept separate from opinion and analysis. Opinion pieces and editorials are clearly labelled.
• We do not suppress information to favour any party, nor do we amplify information to harm any party.

5. Corrections and Accountability

We take errors seriously and correct them promptly and transparently:

• Factual errors are corrected as soon as they are discovered or brought to our attention. Corrections are clearly noted within the article.
• Significant corrections and clarifications are documented on our Corrections Policy page.
• We do not silently alter published content to remove errors. Changes to published articles are transparent and timestamped.
• Readers can report errors or request corrections by contacting editor@actionnews.online.

6. Conflicts of Interest

Our editorial team is expected to avoid conflicts of interest that could compromise — or appear to compromise — the integrity of our journalism:

• Journalists do not cover stories in which they have a personal, financial, or political interest without disclosing that interest to their editor.
• Gifts, travel, or other benefits from sources, subjects, or potential subjects of coverage are not accepted unless they are of negligible value and relevant to the reporting.
• Reporters and editors recuse themselves from stories where a real or perceived conflict exists.

7. Ethical Standards

We uphold the following ethical principles:

• Minimizing Harm: We are sensitive to the impact our reporting may have on individuals, particularly victims, minors, and vulnerable communities. We do not identify victims of sexual assault or minors involved in legal proceedings unless there is a compelling public interest and appropriate consent.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Our coverage reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We avoid stereotypes and strive for inclusive language and representation.
• Plagiarism: Plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited. All content must be original or properly attributed.
• Fabrication: Fabricating quotes, sources, events, or data is a terminable offense and a fundamental violation of journalistic ethics.
• Deception: We do not use deceptive methods to obtain information except in rare cases where the information is of vital public interest and cannot be obtained by other means, and only with editorial approval.

8. Images and Multimedia

Photographs, videos, and other visual content must accurately represent the events or subjects they depict. We do not digitally alter images in ways that distort reality. Photo illustrations and composite images are clearly labelled. All visual content is properly credited.

9. Breaking News

During breaking news events, information is often preliminary and subject to change. We clearly label developing stories and update them as new information becomes available. We prioritize getting it right over getting it first, while still moving with appropriate urgency.

10. Reader Engagement

We value our readers' input and encourage constructive engagement. Readers may contact us with tips, corrections, feedback, or story ideas at editor@actionnews.online or through our Contact page.