Standards

Ethics Policy

Our standards for accuracy, fairness, sourcing, and editorial independence.

The Signal's editorial standards are not a legal document — they are a commitment to our readers. This policy explains how we make editorial decisions, how we handle errors, and what we will and will not do.

Core principles

Accuracy above speed

We do not publish a story until we are confident it is accurate. We will never publish a claim we cannot verify to protect a scoop or hit a publish deadline.

Name your sources or don't use them

We use anonymous sources only when the information is essential, cannot be obtained on the record, and the source faces genuine risk from identification. Every anonymous claim requires corroboration.

Right of reply

Any individual or organization subject to criticism in our reporting is always offered the opportunity to respond before publication. We publish their response or note that they declined.

Corrections are published, not buried

When we make factual errors, we correct them promptly at the top of the affected article, note the correction clearly, and do not silently edit published pieces.

Editorial and commercial are separate

Sponsors and advertisers have no influence over what we cover or how we cover it. No amount of advertising revenue will protect a subject from coverage that serves the public interest.

Conflicts of interest

Journalists at The Signal do not write about companies or individuals they have financial relationships with. Staff must disclose potential conflicts to the editor before beginning any assignment. We disclose relevant conflicts to readers when they exist.

Sponsored content

Sponsored content published on The Signal is always clearly labeled as such. It is written by our team in our voice, but readers should know when content involves a commercial relationship. We do not accept sponsored content that makes false claims or contradicts our editorial coverage.

Reporting on private individuals

Private individuals who have not entered public life have a greater expectation of privacy than public figures. We take care to minimize harm to private individuals while reporting in the public interest.

Reporting corrections

If you believe we have published an error, contact us with the specific claim you believe is incorrect and the evidence you have. We will respond within 48 hours and publish a correction if warranted.