WBN Editorial Standards™

Every factual claim published by WBN must be accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. That means verified against reliable sources before publication — not assumed, not inferred without evidence, and not accepted on the basis of a single unverified account. Where a claim cannot be verified to the standard required, it is not published as fact. It may be published as an allegation, a claim, or a developing situation — but only when that characterisation is made explicit to the reader.

• Multiple sources. Significant factual claims require verification from more than one independent source. A single source — however credible — is not sufficient for claims that carry significant consequence for individuals, organisations, or public understanding.
• Primary sources preferred. Original documents, official records, direct testimony, and on-the-record statements from authoritative sources are preferred over secondary reporting. When we rely on another news organisation's reporting, we say so and attribute it clearly.
• Right of reply. Any individual or organisation that is the subject of significant criticism, adverse findings, or serious allegations in our reporting is contacted for a response before publication, given reasonable time to reply, and has their response reflected in the published record — whether they respond or decline.
• Developing stories. When a story is still developing and full verification is not yet possible, we say so clearly. We report what is confirmed, distinguish it from what is alleged or unconfirmed, and update our coverage as the facts become clearer.
• Data and statistics. Numerical claims — statistics, financial figures, poll results, and quantitative data — are verified against primary sources. We identify the source of all data we publish, note its methodology where relevant, and are transparent about its limitations.

WBN operates in a real-time media environment where the pressure to publish quickly is constant. Our position is unambiguous: we will not sacrifice accuracy for speed. Being second with a correct story is always preferable to being first with a wrong one. Where time pressure is genuine, we publish what is verified and label clearly what remains unconfirmed — rather than guessing or filling gaps with speculation presented as fact.

WBN's news reporting does not take sides on matters of legitimate political, social, or policy debate. We report what is known, what is credibly claimed, and where genuine disagreement exists — and we are honest about the distinction between these. Our journalists' personal views belong to them, not to their reporting, and we have editorial processes in place to ensure that personal opinion does not contaminate factual news coverage.

Balance does not mean treating every claim as equally valid regardless of the evidence behind it. Where scientific, legal, or factual consensus exists, we report it as such. We do not manufacture false controversy by presenting fringe positions as equivalent to established fact in the name of appearing balanced. True impartiality means following the evidence — not creating artificial symmetry between positions that are not symmetrically supported.

We apply the same editorial standards to all people and organisations regardless of their power, prominence, or relationship with WBN. A government, a corporation, a public figure, and a private individual all receive the same standard of fairness. We do not apply tougher scrutiny to those we disagree with or easier treatment to those we find sympathetic.

WBN serves a global audience. Our commitment to fairness extends across every jurisdiction, culture, and community we cover. We do not apply one standard to stories in our home market and a different standard to stories elsewhere. We are alert to the cultural assumptions embedded in our own perspectives and work actively to counter them.

Editorial decisions at WBN are made by editors and journalists on the basis of newsworthiness, public interest, accuracy, and ethical soundness. Advertisers, sponsors, investors, and commercial partners have no role in editorial decisions. Political parties and government bodies have no role in editorial decisions. This separation is absolute. Any attempt to influence WBN's editorial content through commercial, financial, or political pressure will be refused — and where appropriate, reported.

Advertising and sponsorship relationships do not entitle any organisation to positive editorial coverage, protection from critical reporting, or advance notice of stories that concern them. Nor do they entitle any organisation to suppress coverage they find unfavourable. WBN's editorial decisions about any organisation are made on the same basis as decisions about any other — the editorial merit of the story and its value to our audiences.

WBN's editorial leadership holds final authority over all content published under the WBN name. Business decisions — including decisions about advertising, technology partnerships, investment, or product strategy — do not override editorial judgment on matters of content, accuracy, or ethics. Where commercial and editorial interests appear to conflict, the resolution always favours editorial integrity.

WBN does not endorse political candidates, parties, or ideological movements. Our political reporting is guided by the facts and by genuine public interest. We are sceptical of all sources of political power — including governments of every stripe — and we apply that scepticism consistently. We do not grant favourable treatment to political figures or institutions in exchange for access.

WBN strongly prefers on-the-record sourcing — information provided by identifiable sources who are willing to be named in our reporting. On-the-record reporting is the most transparent form of journalism and the easiest for our audiences to evaluate. We pursue on-the-record accounts actively and accept anonymous sourcing only when the conditions described below are met.

Sometimes the most important information comes from people who face genuine personal or professional risk if identified. WBN uses anonymous sources when the following conditions are all satisfied:

• The information is of genuine public interest and cannot be obtained through any other means.
• The source's credibility has been independently assessed and their account corroborated where possible.
• The source understands the terms under which their information will be used and has consented to them.
• A senior editor has reviewed and approved the use of anonymous sourcing for this story.

When we use anonymous sources, we tell our readers as much as we can about who the source is — their role, their relationship to the events described, and why they cannot be named — without identifying them. Anonymous sourcing is never used to enable personal attacks or unsubstantiated allegations against individuals.

WBN's commitment to protecting confidential sources is absolute. We do not reveal the identity of a source who has been promised confidentiality, except where ordered to do so by a court after all available legal remedies have been exhausted. We take active steps to protect source identities — including through secure communications, minimisation of identifying records, and careful handling of digital materials. We provide legal support to journalists facing compelled disclosure.

• Direct quotes reflect exactly what a source said. We do not alter direct quotes for grammar, preference, or effect.
• Paraphrasing accurately reflects the substance and meaning of what was said, without distortion.
• Secondary reporting — information drawn from another news organisation's work — is clearly attributed to that organisation. We do not present others' reporting as our own.
• Documents and data are identified by type and source. We do not misrepresent the nature, provenance, or status of documents we publish or cite.

• Promptness. When an error is confirmed, we publish a correction as quickly as possible — typically within 24 hours. We do not delay corrections to manage news cycles or protect reputations, including our own.
• Clarity. Corrections state plainly what was wrong, what the correct information is, and when the correction was made. We do not use vague language that obscures the nature or significance of the error.
• Prominence. The prominence of a correction reflects the prominence of the original error. A significant error in a major story is not corrected with a minor footnote. Readers who saw the original error should, wherever possible, see the correction.
• Archival integrity. Where a published article contained a material error, that article is updated with a clear correction notice including the date of the update. We do not silently alter published content. We do not delete accurate reporting because it has become inconvenient.
• AI error disclosure. Where an error originates in AI-generated or AI-assisted content, this is disclosed in the correction. AI errors are treated with the same seriousness and the same correction standard as errors produced by human journalists.

WBN takes complaints about its journalism seriously and investigates all good-faith complaints promptly. Where a complaint identifies a genuine error or failure of our standards, we act on it and reflect that in our published record. We respond to complainants directly and do not ignore concerns because they are uncomfortable. Complaints may be directed to editorial@wbnn.news.

WBN welcomes scrutiny from media critics, journalism standards bodies, and the public. We engage genuinely with external review processes and take their findings seriously. Where an external review identifies a failure of our standards, we report publicly on what we have done in response.

News reporting at WBN is factual, impartial, and free from the personal opinions of those who produce it. News journalists do not advocate for positions or express personal views in their reporting. Their job is to establish and communicate what is true, what is credibly alleged, and where genuine uncertainty exists.

WBN publishes opinion, analysis, and commentary that is clearly labelled as such. Opinion writers — whether staff or contributors — speak for themselves and not for WBN as an institution. The presence of an opinion on WBN's platforms does not imply WBN's endorsement of that view. We curate opinion with a deliberate commitment to diversity of perspective. We do not publish commentary solely because it reflects a view WBN or its leadership finds convenient.

WBN may publish content that is funded by commercial sponsors. When it does, that content is clearly and unambiguously identified as sponsored at the point of first encounter — not buried in small print, not disclosed only on a separate page, and not labelled in a way designed to obscure rather than reveal the commercial relationship.

Sponsored content published on WBN platforms must meet our content standards for accuracy and decency. We do not publish sponsored content that is false, misleading, or contrary to the public interest, regardless of the commercial value of the relationship involved. The production of sponsored content is handled separately from our news and editorial teams to preserve the integrity of both.

WBN actively seeks out a diversity of authoritative voices in its reporting — across geography, gender, background, expertise, and experience. We are alert to the tendency of media organisations to return repeatedly to the same narrow pool of sources, and we work deliberately to counter it. A broader range of perspectives in our reporting produces better journalism and better serves our global audience.

The language we use in our reporting shapes how people understand the subjects we cover. WBN uses language that is accurate, fair, and respectful — without euphemism that obscures truth and without language that demeans, stereotypes, or dehumanises. We use the terminology that individuals and communities use to describe themselves where it is accurate and editorially appropriate to do so.

WBN applies heightened care to reporting on topics that involve vulnerability, trauma, or personal harm — including mental health, suicide, addiction, abuse, crime victimisation, and displacement. We follow established responsible reporting guidelines for these areas, apply senior editorial oversight, and always consider whether publication serves a genuine public interest proportionate to the potential harm.

WBN will not publish content that incites hatred, discrimination, or violence against any individual or group on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic. This prohibition applies to original WBN editorial content, to submitted and contributed content, and to AI-assisted content. It is not subject to exception on grounds of newsworthiness or commercial value.

Before publishing information that engages an individual's privacy, WBN applies a genuine public interest test. The question is not whether information is interesting to the public — but whether there is a legitimate and proportionate public interest in its disclosure. Curiosity, entertainment value, and commercial appeal are not sufficient justifications for privacy intrusion. Accountability for the exercise of public power, genuine matters of public safety, and the exposure of significant wrongdoing may be.

Public figures — politicians, executives, celebrities, and others who have voluntarily entered public life — accept scrutiny of their public roles and the exercise of their public responsibilities. They retain a private sphere, and intrusion into that sphere requires a clear public interest justification. Private individuals who find themselves involuntarily connected to a news story are entitled to a higher standard of protection and receive it.

WBN applies its highest standard of care to content involving children. We do not publish information that identifies, endangers, or exploits minors in any circumstance — including when parents or guardians have consented to publication. The welfare of a child takes precedence over editorial considerations in every case.

• Accountability journalism that scrutinises the exercise of power by governments, corporations, financial institutions, and other significant organisations.
• Investigative reporting that uncovers wrongdoing, corruption, or systemic failure that would otherwise remain hidden.
• Explanatory journalism that gives audiences the context to understand complex issues affecting their businesses, their communities, and their world.
• Intelligence and data journalism that uses WBN's analytical capabilities to identify patterns, trends, and signals that are not visible to individual observers.
• Coverage of underreported stories — communities, markets, and issues that receive insufficient attention from mainstream media.

Some of WBN's most important journalism will be uncomfortable — for the subjects of our reporting, for our commercial partners, and sometimes for our audiences. We publish difficult journalism when it serves a genuine public interest that is proportionate to the discomfort it causes. The editorial leadership of WBN stands behind this journalism and supports the journalists who produce it.

• AI does not make editorial decisions about what to cover, how to frame a story, or what conclusions to draw.
• AI does not publish content to WBN platforms without human review and approval.
• AI does not determine whether a story meets WBN's ethical and editorial standards — that judgment belongs to a human editor.
• AI does not fabricate quotes, sources, or factual claims. Any AI output containing fabricated information is an error and is treated as such under our corrections standard.

When AI has contributed materially to the creation or editing of published content, that contribution is disclosed to our readers. We do not present AI-assisted content as purely human-authored work. The disclosure is clear, placed prominently, and written in plain language. The standard for what constitutes material AI contribution is applied consistently across all WBN platforms and products.

• Images must accurately represent what they depict. A photograph must not be presented in a context that misrepresents the event, location, or time it shows. Captions must be accurate and verified.
• Images must not be materially altered. Cropping, colour correction, and standard technical adjustments are acceptable. Alterations that change the factual content of an image — adding, removing, or significantly changing what the image shows — are not permitted in news content.
• File photographs must be clearly identified as archival when used in a news context where timeliness is relevant. We do not present old images as current without clear disclosure.

WBN does not publish AI-generated images in news contexts without clear disclosure that the image is AI-generated. We do not use AI-generated images of real people in news reporting. In editorial and commercial contexts where AI-generated images are used, they are labelled clearly and distinguishable from photographic content.

We do not publish images or video that gratuitously depict violence, suffering, death, or degradation without a clear and proportionate public interest justification. When covering traumatic events, we consider the impact of graphic content on our audiences — including those directly affected — and apply senior editorial oversight to publication decisions. We do not publish images of children in distressing circumstances without exceptional public interest justification and senior editorial approval.

WBN publishes only visual content for which it holds the appropriate rights or licence. All visual content is attributed to its creator or source. We respect the intellectual property rights of photographers, videographers, and other visual content creators — including through fair compensation in our commercial relationships with them.

These Standards are owned by WBN's editorial leadership and are reviewed and updated at least annually. They are binding on all WBN editorial staff, regular contributors, and partners operating under the WBN name. Adherence to these Standards is a condition of editorial engagement with WBN.

WBN's editorial leadership is responsible for the interpretation and application of these Standards and holds final authority over editorial decisions. Where a situation is not explicitly covered by these Standards, the editorial leadership applies the principles underlying them — accuracy, fairness, independence, transparency, and responsibility — to determine the appropriate course of action.

The media environment, the technology we use, and the ethical challenges we face are all evolving. WBN is committed to continuous learning — for our journalists, our editors, and our editorial systems. We invest in ongoing training in journalism ethics, AI literacy, data journalism, and editorial standards. We engage with the broader journalism community — including standards bodies, academic researchers, and peer organisations — to ensure our practices remain at the leading edge of the profession.

We treat errors not just as corrections to be made but as opportunities to understand how they occurred and to improve our processes. We treat our successes as opportunities to understand what we are doing well and how to do more of it.

Trust is the most valuable thing WBN has — and the hardest to earn back once lost. We treat it accordingly. We do not take shortcuts with accuracy when we are under deadline pressure. We do not suppress inconvenient truths because they are commercially inconvenient. We do not tell our audiences what they want to hear instead of what is true. We believe that readers who trust us to tell them the truth, even when it is complicated or unwelcome, are the most valuable audience a news organisation can have.

These Editorial Standards will be updated as WBN's editorial practices, technology, and global context evolve. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this document reflects the most recent revision. Previous versions are available on request. Material updates will be communicated to all editorial staff and contributors before they take effect.