Who We Are
Weekly Reporters was based on a simple conviction: good journalism doesn’t need to shout. It just needs to be right. In a media landscape full of noise, opinion masquerading as fact and headlines designed for clicks over clarity, we chose to be different. We describe what happened, why it matters, and what the evidence really shows—nothing more, nothing less.
This policy explains how we reach decisions, how we hold ourselves accountable and what our readers can expect from each story we publish.
Editorial Independence
No advertiser, sponsor, investor or outside party influences what we cover or how we cover it. Our editors make decisions solely based on news value, public interest, and journalistic merit.
We maintain all commercial partnerships entirely outside of our newsroom. The folks selling ads do not attend editorial meetings. That separation is not a formality — it is a founding principle.
Accuracy First
We would prefer to be second with the correct story as opposed to being first with the incorrect one.
The facts behind any piece must be verified before it is published. Claims are traced wherever possible to primary sources — official documents, direct data, interviews on the record, and government records. When we lean on secondary reporting, we say so. Where there is contestation, we say so as well.
The numbers, statistics, and figures quoted are checked against their point of origin. If we can’t independently establish a claim, it doesn’t make the story.
How We Handle Sources
Named, on-the-record sources are always our preference. When a source requests anonymity, we ask ourselves two questions: Is the information important enough to justify it? And can we verify the source’s identity and credibility independently? If the answer to either is no, we don’t proceed.
When anonymous sourcing is used, we tell readers why — not who, but why. Readers deserve to understand the basis on which a claim is being made, even when we can’t name the person making it.
Fairness in Reporting
We don’t go into stories with conclusions already written. Subjects of critical or investigative reporting are always contacted for comment before publication and given a reasonable time to respond. Their response — or their decision not to respond — is included in the story.
On issues where reasonable people disagree, we present the strongest versions of the competing arguments rather than the weakest. We are not in the business of making one side look foolish to make another look right.
Corrections
We make mistakes. When we do, we fix them openly.
Corrections are appended to the original article with a clear note explaining what was wrong and what the correct information is. We do not quietly edit published stories without disclosure. We do not delete pieces to avoid accountability. If you believe something we published is inaccurate, contact our editorial team — we take those messages seriously and respond to every one.
Conflicts of Interest
Staff are required to disclose any personal, financial, or professional connection to a subject they are covering. Where a genuine conflict exists, the journalist is removed from that story. This applies to editors as well as reporters.
We do not cover organizations in which our staff hold financial interests. We do not accept gifts, press trips, or hospitality that could reasonably be seen as influencing our coverage.
Sponsored Content
Paid and sponsored content is clearly labeled at the top of the piece, every time, without exception. It is presented in a visually distinct format from our editorial content. Sponsors have no input into our independent reporting, and no advertiser relationship affects which stories we pursue or how we tell them.
Sensitive Reporting
Stories involving crime, mental health, grief, trauma, or vulnerable individuals are handled with care and proportionality. We ask whether publishing specific details serves the public interest or simply satisfies curiosity. When the answer is the latter, those details stay out.
Private individuals who have not sought public attention are treated differently from public figures. We apply greater scrutiny to any decision to publish personal information about private citizens.
Headlines and Presentation
The headline is a promise to the reader. We keep it. At Weekly Reporters, headlines tell the truth about what is below them. We do not exaggerate, sensationalize or employ ambiguity to create intrigue. The same standard goes for the way we share stories on social media.
Reader Complaints
If you believe that we have not met these standards, we’d like to hear from you. A complaint is reviewed by a senior editor and addressed within five working days. Where a complaint reveals a genuine error or lapse in standards, we act on it—and we say so publicly where appropriate.
Weekly Reporters will continue to review and revise this policy over time as journalism evolves and grows. Our standards do not change — but how we apply those standards to new platforms, formats, and challenges will continue to develop.
- Email: contact@weeklyreporters.com
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