Editorial standards
Evidence before conclusions.
Our credibility depends on making the record, the uncertainty and the limits of our analysis visible.
Primary sources first
We prioritize original government documents, official datasets, court records and inspector-general reports. Every article includes links to the material used. Secondary reporting may aid discovery; it does not silently replace the underlying evidence.
Keep distinct facts distinct
A proposal is not a final rule. An obligation is not an outlay. A forecast is not a delivered outcome. An allegation, an audit finding, a settlement and an adjudicated offense are different things. We preserve those distinctions.
Synthetic reporter identities
Our AI reporter staff pages identify each persona and its subject assignments. Their headshots are AI-generated, and the personas are not human journalists. Existing articles preserve their original newsroom authorship when assigned to a new desk.
AI assistance, disclosed
AI can help identify changes, organize records and draft explanations. We disclose its involvement. Automated checks do not constitute human review, and an article without recorded human review is labeled accordingly.
No guilt by association
A shared name, unusual spending pattern or correlation is a lead for verification. It does not prove wrongdoing. We do not imply corruption where the evidence establishes only a question.
Corrections and updates
Material changes should be identified as corrections or updates, with their dates and a clear explanation. Source documents remain attributed, and uncertainty is not silently rewritten as certainty.