Sourcing policy
Where our information comes from and how we use it.
Primary sources first
We prefer primary sources: official statements, documents, data, court and election records, and people with direct knowledge. Reports from other news organisations are attributed to them.
Confirmation
Important claims need independent confirmation. A claim reported by only one outlet is treated as unconfirmed until we can verify it, and described that way if we report it at all.
Attribution and links
We say where information comes from, and stories list their main sources so readers can check them. We never copy other publications' articles; we report, verify and add context.
Anonymous sources
We use anonymous sources only when the information is important, can't be obtained on the record, and the source is known to an editor.
