Primary sources first
Wherever possible we report from primary sources rather than from summaries of them. These include:
- Court filings, rulings and legal documents
- Government and agency statements, reports and data releases
- Company filings, results and statements
- Peer-reviewed research and official statistics
- On-the-record interviews and direct statements
- Original video, audio and documents
Wire and secondary sources
When our reporting builds on the work of other news organisations or news agencies, we attribute it and, where possible, check it against the underlying material. We link to original reporting when it helps readers follow the story.
How we verify
- Confirm who a source is and how they know what they claim to know.
- Cross-check key facts with at least one independent source where possible.
- Check names, dates, figures and quotations against the original material.
- Read the original document rather than relying on a description of it.
- Check the origin, date and context of images and video before using them.
Anonymous sources
Information from anonymous sources is published only when an editor knows the source’s identity and agrees that it meets the criteria in our Editorial Policy. We explain to readers why anonymity was granted and what the source’s position or access is, as far as we can without identifying them.
Data, statistics and research
When we cite data, we name the publisher and the date, and we note important limits such as small samples, margins of error or preliminary results. We avoid presenting correlation as causation, and we look for the underlying data when a figure is disputed.
Quotations
We quote people accurately. We may shorten a quotation for length but never change its meaning, and we do not invent or composite quotations.
Developing stories
On fast-moving stories, early information is often incomplete. We label developing coverage, distinguish between what is confirmed and what is reported or alleged, and update the article as facts are established.
Transparency
Where it helps, we explain our methods in the article or link to source documents. If you think we have misread a source, tell us through our Corrections Policy.