Editorial
Standards

1.Editorial standards

The principles that guide every piece of content we publish.

1. 01

   Accuracy first

   We do not publish a story until we are confident in its accuracy. Speed is never prioritised over correctness. If we cannot verify a claim, we do not report it as fact.

2. 02

   Source transparency

   We always identify and link to the original source of a story. Where a story originates from a press release, social media post, or another outlet, we credit and link accordingly.

3. 03

   Editorial independence

   Our editorial decisions are made independently of advertisers, sponsors, and commercial partners. Paid content is always clearly labelled as "Sponsored" or "Paid Partnership" and is kept editorially separate from our news coverage.

4. 04

   Fair representation

   We strive to represent all subjects fairly and without bias. Where a story involves criticism of an individual or organisation, we make reasonable efforts to include their perspective or note if they were unavailable for comment.

5. 05

   Clear labelling

   We clearly distinguish between news reporting, opinion/commentary, and sponsored content. Readers should always be able to tell what type of content they are reading.

6. 06

   Responsible reporting

   We are mindful of the potential impact of our reporting, particularly on sensitive topics. We follow established best practices for reporting on mental health, tragedy, and vulnerable individuals.

2.Fact checking process

How we verify every story before it goes live.

At CoveredGeekly, fact checking is not an afterthought - it is built into our editorial process from the moment a story is identified. Our goal is to always trace a story back to its original, primary source before publishing.

1. 1

   Source identification

   When a story comes to our attention - whether through social media, another outlet, or a press release - our first step is always to identify the original primary source. We trace the story back to its origin: the original interview, official statement, social media post, or press release.

2. 2

   Cross-verification

   We verify claims against multiple independent sources wherever possible. A story reported by a single outlet without a primary source is treated with caution and clearly caveated if published. Where we cannot independently verify a claim, we say so.

3. 3

   Context and accuracy check

   Before publishing, we review the article to ensure claims are presented in their correct context. Quotes are checked against the original source to ensure they have not been taken out of context or misrepresented.

4. 4

   Source linking

   Where possible, we link directly to the primary source within the article so readers can verify claims themselves. We believe in transparency and want our readers to be able to follow the evidence trail.

5. 5

   Post-publication monitoring

   We continue to monitor stories after publication. If new information emerges that affects the accuracy of a published article, we update the article and note the update clearly at the top of the piece.

3.Corrections policy

We get things wrong sometimes. Here's what we do about it.

Despite our best efforts, errors can occur. When they do, we are committed to correcting them promptly, transparently, and without attempting to hide that a correction was made. We believe that how a publication handles its mistakes is as important as how it handles its reporting.

1. Level 1

   Minor corrections

   Typos and small errors

   Typographical errors, spelling mistakes, and minor factual errors, such as an incorrect date or name spelling, are corrected directly in the article. A brief note is added at the bottom of the article stating that a correction was made and what was changed.

   Example note: "Correction (25 March 2026): An earlier version of this article misspelled the director's name. This has been corrected."

2. Level 2

   Significant corrections

   Factual errors

   Where a factual error significantly affects the meaning or accuracy of an article, we correct the article and add a clearly visible correction notice at the top of the piece, before the article body. The original incorrect text is not silently removed - the correction note explains what was wrong and what the correct information is.

   Example note: "Correction (25 March 2026): This article originally stated that [X]. This was incorrect. The correct information is [Y]. We apologise for the error."

3. Level 3

   Retractions

   Serious errors

   In rare cases where an article contains errors so significant that the article cannot be corrected and should not remain published, we will retract it. A retraction notice will be published in place of the original article, explaining why the article was retracted. We do not simply delete articles without explanation.