A publication is owed no trust on its own say-so. These are the commitments we intend to be held to, and the grounds on which to complain if we fall short.
Every story carries its sources
Where a claim comes from is named in the piece, not implied. Where a document underpins a report, we say what the document is and how we saw it. If a report cannot be attributed, it does not run.
Reporting and opinion stay apart
News copy carries no editorial line. Where the Journal takes a position, it is labelled as opinion and signed. A reader should never have to work out which one they are reading.
Corrections are public
Errors are corrected on the page where they appeared, dated and described. We do not quietly edit a mistake away, and we do not re-date a story to hide that it changed. See our corrections policy.
An editor signs off on everything
No item reaches a reader without a person having read it, checked it, and taken responsibility for it. This applies to every item, without exception, however it was drafted.
Attribution to other outlets
Where we follow a story first reported elsewhere, we say so and link to it. Credit for original reporting belongs to whoever did it.
What we will not do
- Publish a claim we cannot attribute.
- Present opinion as reporting.
- Republish another outlet’s work as our own.
- Accept payment for coverage, in any form, ever.