Accuracy begins before publication. It requires checking names, dates, quotations, documents, and the context in which a claim appears.
Verification before speed
Timeliness matters, but a fast answer is not useful if it is wrong. We look for source material that can be examined directly, identify where information came from, and avoid presenting an unresolved claim as an established fact.
Clear attribution
Readers should be able to understand who is making a claim and what evidence supports it. When a source cannot be identified publicly, that limitation should be explained as clearly as circumstances allow.
Updates and corrections
Developing stories can change. We update coverage when new verified information materially improves the report. When we make a material error, we correct the story and make the change understandable rather than quietly leaving readers to guess what happened.
Readers can report a possible error through our Contact page. Please include the article URL, the passage at issue, and any supporting material.
Joseph is the publisher of Herald News Today, working from New Orleans. His background is in media and business operations, and he holds responsibility for the site's overall direction, financial sustainability, and the independence of the editorial operation from the commercial side of the site. He leaves the day-to-day editorial decisions to the newsroom and writes an occasional column on the business of journalism.
