Standards

Editorial policy

These are the rules our newsroom works to. They apply to staff, freelancers and every automated tool that touches our publishing system.

Last updated: November 2026

1. Accuracy before speed

We publish when a story is verified, not when it is merely available elsewhere. If a claim cannot be verified we say so, attribute it to whoever made it, and explain what we could not confirm.

2. Sourcing

• Prefer primary documents, data and named on-the-record sources.
• Anonymous sources are used only when information is in the public interest, the source has direct knowledge, and the editor knows their identity.
• Every article lists its sources, with links where they are public documents.
• We do not fabricate quotes, sources, numbers, dates or events.

3. Fact-checking and approval

Articles move through a workflow: draft → review → (fact check) → approved → published. Publication requires a recorded approval from an editor. A fact checker may attach a verification checklist to specific claims. The article page shows who approved it and when, and the revision number.

4. Headlines and metadata

Headlines must be supported by the article. We do not use misleading framing, false urgency, or claims the reporting does not establish. Search metadata is written to describe the story accurately, never to bait clicks.

5. Corrections

Errors are corrected promptly and visibly, with a dated note in the article and a revision entry. Our corrections policy explains how to report an error and how we classify corrections, clarifications and retractions.

6. Artificial intelligence

ALP News uses software agents for narrow, auditable tasks: collecting public story leads, auditing SEO metadata, summarising our own analytics, checking operational health, and scaffolding a draft from facts supplied by a human editor.

• Agents cannot publish, approve, unpublish or delete journalism.
• Agents cannot invent quotes, sources or facts; missing information is marked for a human.
• Every agent run is recorded in an activity log, including refusals.
• Agent-assisted drafts must be completed and verified by a named human before publication.

7. Sponsored content and advertising

Sponsored articles carry a visible label and a disclosure field. Advertising is separated from editorial and cannot be styled as reporting. We do not publish deceptive advertisements or fake interface elements.

8. Independence and complaints

Editorial choices are made by editors. Complaints about accuracy should go to corrections@alpnews.com; complaints about standards to editorial@alpnews.com. We respond to substantive complaints within five working days.

Questions about this page? Contact the newsroom.