WBN Ethics & Integrity Charter

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

WBN may publish sponsored content, native advertising, and commercial partnerships. When it does, that content will be clearly and unambiguously labelled so that no reader can mistake it for independent editorial. The label will be prominent, honest, and applied consistently. We will not publish commercial content that we believe to be false, harmful, or contrary to the public interest, regardless of the commercial relationship involved.

WBN's editorial leadership holds final authority over all content published under the WBN name. No business decision — including decisions about advertising, partnerships, technology, or investment — may override editorial judgment on matters of content, accuracy, or ethics. Where commercial and editorial interests appear to conflict, the resolution will always favour editorial integrity.

• Multi-source verification. We do not publish factual claims on the basis of a single source unless the claim is independently verifiable or the single source is a primary document or official on-the-record statement. Where we publish based on a single source, we say so.
• Primary sources preferred. We seek original documents, official records, and direct testimony wherever possible. We identify when we are relying on secondary reporting and attribute it clearly.
• Right of reply. Individuals and organizations subject to significant criticism or adverse claims in our reporting are given a genuine and timely opportunity to respond before publication. Their responses are reflected in the published record.
• Anonymous sources. We use anonymous sources only when the information is of genuine public interest and cannot be obtained any other way, and when we have independently verified the source's credibility. We never use anonymity to enable attacks on individuals.
• Speculation is labelled. When we publish analysis, opinion, or forward-looking assessment, we make clear that it is not established fact. Speculation presented as fact is a breach of this Charter.

In a real-time media environment, the pressure to publish quickly is constant. WBN's position is clear: we will not sacrifice accuracy for speed. We would rather be second with the right story than first with the wrong one. Where a developing story is not yet fully verified, we will say so rather than fill the gap with conjecture.

WBN's news reporting does not take sides on matters of legitimate political, social, or policy debate. We report what is known, what is claimed, and what is contested — and we distinguish clearly between them. Our journalists' personal views do not belong in news reporting, and we have systems in place to ensure they do not appear there.

WBN publishes opinion, analysis, and commentary that is clearly labelled as such. Opinion writers and contributors speak for themselves, not for WBN as an institution. A diversity of perspectives in our commentary pages is a deliberate editorial goal — we do not curate opinion to produce a single ideological outcome.

We apply heightened care when reporting on topics that affect vulnerable communities — including stories involving mental health, addiction, violence, displacement, discrimination, and poverty. We do not publish content that dehumanizes any individual or group on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other characteristic. Sensitivity is not a constraint on honest reporting. It is a condition of it.

Impartiality does not require us to treat all claims as equally valid. Where scientific, legal, or factual consensus exists, we report it as such. We do not manufacture controversy where none legitimately exists, and we do not present fringe positions as equivalent to established fact in the name of balance.

WBN will not use AI systems to generate or distribute content intended to deceive. We will not knowingly amplify disinformation through our platforms or intelligence products. Where our AI systems detect or flag potentially false or misleading content, that information is acted on by human editorial teams — not suppressed or ignored.

As AI capabilities evolve rapidly, WBN commits to evaluating new technologies against this Charter before deploying them. The pace of innovation in AI does not reduce our ethical obligations — it increases the importance of applying them carefully and continuously.

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 public interest in its disclosure that is proportionate to the privacy cost. Curiosity, prurience, and commercial value are not sufficient justifications for privacy intrusion. Accountability, safety, and the exposure of genuine wrongdoing may be.

Private individuals — people who have not voluntarily entered public life — are entitled to a higher standard of privacy protection than public figures. We exercise particular care when reporting on private individuals who find themselves involuntarily connected to a news story, including victims of crime, family members of public figures, and bystanders.

WBN applies the highest level of care to content involving children. We do not publish information that identifies, endangers, or exploits minors, and we apply this standard regardless of whether a child's parents or guardians have consented to publication.

Our Privacy Policy governs the technical handling of personal data. This section addresses the ethical dimension — the obligation not just to handle data lawfully, but to handle it in a way that respects the dignity and humanity of the people it represents. Data is not abstract. It describes real people with real lives, and we treat it accordingly.

• WBN will not reveal the identity of a confidential source without that source's explicit consent, except where ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction after all available legal remedies have been exhausted.
• We take active steps to protect source identity — including through secure communication channels, minimization of identifying information in our records, and careful handling of digital materials that could be used to identify a source.
• We brief sources honestly on the risks of speaking with us and do not make promises we cannot keep. We will not overstate our ability to protect a source in order to obtain information.
• WBN supports the legal right of journalists to protect sources and will provide legal support to journalists who face compelled disclosure.

WBN actively welcomes information from whistleblowers who are aware of wrongdoing in the public interest. We maintain secure channels for confidential tip submission and treat all such communications with the highest level of discretion. Individuals who share information with WBN in good faith will not be identified without their consent, and WBN will not facilitate any investigation or action against a source by a third party.

WBN applies the same editorial standards to all of our global and local editions. We do not lower our standards for markets where press freedom is restricted, where regulatory requirements are weaker, or where commercial pressures are greater. The standard is the standard everywhere.

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

As a media and technology company with a global platform, WBN recognizes its role in shaping how its audiences understand environmental and social issues. We are committed to reporting on these issues with accuracy and seriousness, and to operating our own business in a manner consistent with our stated values — including responsible technology infrastructure, fair labour practices, and meaningful community engagement.

WBN is an active supporter of press freedom globally. We stand with journalists who face threats, censorship, or persecution for doing their work. We report on attacks on press freedom as a matter of significant public interest, and we do not self-censor our journalism in response to pressure from governments, corporations, or other powerful interests.

• Promptness. When an error is confirmed, we publish a correction as quickly as possible — typically within 24 hours of confirmation. We do not wait for a convenient moment.
• Prominence. Corrections are published in a manner proportionate to the prominence of the original error. A significant front-page error does not receive a buried footnote correction.
• Clarity. Our corrections clearly state what was wrong, what the correct information is, and when the correction was made. We do not use vague language designed to obscure the nature of the error.
• Archival integrity. Where a published article contained a significant error, the original article is updated with a clear correction notice and the date of the update. We do not silently alter published content.
• AI-generated corrections. 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 as human errors.

WBN welcomes external scrutiny of its journalism and its ethics. We respond genuinely to complaints, engage with media critics and press freedom organizations, and participate in industry accountability mechanisms. Where an external review identifies a failure of our standards, we take it seriously and report publicly on what we have done in response.

This Charter is a binding standard for all WBN personnel and contributors. Breaches are taken seriously and addressed through WBN's internal review process. Depending on the nature and severity of a breach, consequences may include correction of published content, public disclosure, suspension of a contributor relationship, or termination of employment or engagement. No individual or commercial relationship is exempt from this Charter's requirements.

Anyone — WBN staff, contributors, readers, or members of the public — who believes WBN has breached this Charter is encouraged to raise that concern directly with us. We take every complaint seriously and respond to all good-faith concerns. Where a complaint identifies a genuine failure of our standards, we act on it and say so publicly.

This Charter will be reviewed and updated at least annually, and following any significant development in WBN's operations, technology, or external environment that warrants a revision. Updates will be published on this page with a clear record of what changed and when. Previous versions are available on request.