Fact-Checking Policy

Last Updated: April 18, 2026

Accuracy is the bedrock of everything we publish at Action News. This page explains how our newsroom verifies information before it reaches you, how we handle errors when they happen, and how you can flag a claim you believe is wrong. It sits alongside our Editorial Policy and Corrections Policy.

1. Our Fact-Checking Workflow

Every news article goes through a staged verification process before publication:

Reporter verification. The reporter confirms every factual claim against at least one primary source (official statement, public record, on-the-record interview) or two independent secondary sources.
Editor review. A section editor reviews the draft, challenges weak sourcing, and may send it back for more reporting.
Copy check. Names, titles, dates, numbers, quotations and translations are re-checked against source material.
Legal and sensitivity review. Stories involving allegations, minors, victims or active legal proceedings receive an additional review before publication.

2. Source Standards

Primary sources preferred. Where possible, we verify directly from official documents, data releases, public records, court filings, or named interviewees.
At least two independent sourcesfor any contested or high-stakes claim that isn't already on the record.
Anonymous sources are used only when identity cannot be revealed safely, the information is of clear public interest, and an editor has approved the arrangement.
Wire copy and syndicated material are credited in full. We do not present third-party reporting as our own.
User-generated content (photos, videos, social posts) is verified for authenticity, time and place before republication.

3. Handling Data, Numbers & Charts

All statistics are attributed to their originating source (e.g. RBI, ECI, WHO) with the reporting period clearly noted.
Charts and tables we publish link back to the underlying dataset whenever one is public.
We avoid selective framing — partial trends, cherry-picked windows and misleading axes are not acceptable.

4. Breaking News

During fast-moving events, information is often incomplete. When we publish quickly, we:

Label the story as developing or live.
Show the current best information with attribution.
Update the article with timestamps as new details are verified, and roll back anything that turns out to be wrong — with a visible correction note.

5. AI-Assisted Reporting

Some of our workflows use AI tools to help with transcription, translation, summarisation and research. No article is published without a human reporter and editor signing off on every factual claim. AI-generated text is never treated as a source of truth.

6. When We Get It Wrong

When an error is confirmed, we follow our Corrections Policy: the error is fixed promptly, a correction note is added to the article, the timestamp is updated, and serious corrections are flagged to readers who may have seen the earlier version.

7. Report a Claim for Fact-Checking

If you think something we've published is wrong, or you'd like us to fact-check a specific claim circulating online, write to us at actionnews@actionnews.online or use our Contact page. Please include:

A link to the article or claim.
What you believe is inaccurate and why.
Any source or evidence you can share.

We aim to acknowledge every correction request within two working days.