Our Mission
At The World Signal, we believe that quality journalism is essential to a functioning democracy. Our mission is to seek the truth and help our readers understand the world through reporting that is fair, accurate, independent, and impartial. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of journalistic integrity, and we are committed to maintaining the trust of our readers through transparent and ethical practices.
Accuracy and Verification
Accuracy is the foundation of our work. We are committed to reporting that is factual, precise, and comprehensive. Our journalists verify information before publication, consulting multiple sources and primary documents whenever possible. We do not publish information we cannot verify.
Our fact-checking process involves multiple layers of review. Reporters are responsible for the accuracy of their work, and editors provide additional scrutiny. For complex stories and major investigations, we employ dedicated fact-checkers who trace claims to their original sources and verify statistical data against primary research.
When we make mistakes, we correct them promptly and transparently. We believe that acknowledging and correcting errors is an essential part of our commitment to accuracy.
Fairness and Impartiality
We strive to report with fairness and impartiality. This means presenting multiple perspectives on complex issues and giving subjects of critical coverage the opportunity to respond. We do not allow our personal biases to influence our reporting, and we work to recognize and overcome unconscious bias in our coverage.
Impartiality does not mean false equivalence. We do not give equal weight to unsubstantiated claims in the name of balance, nor do we present fringe theories alongside established science. Our commitment is to truth and accuracy, not to artificial balance.
Independence
Editorial independence is essential to our work. We maintain a strict separation between news coverage and opinion content. Our news reporting is not influenced by our opinion sections, and both operate with independence from commercial and political interests.
We do not allow advertisers or sponsors to influence our editorial decisions. We disclose potential conflicts of interest, and our journalists recuse themselves from covering stories where they have personal connections that could compromise their independence.
Sources and Attribution
We attribute information to specific sources and identify them by name and relevant credentials whenever possible. This transparency allows readers to evaluate the reliability of our reporting.
We grant anonymity to sources only when necessary to protect their safety or to obtain information of significant public interest that cannot be obtained otherwise. When we use anonymous sources, we explain why anonymity was granted and provide as much information as possible about the source's reliability and motivation. Information from anonymous sources is verified through additional sources whenever possible.
Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to inclusive journalism that represents the full diversity of the communities we serve. This commitment extends to our newsroom composition, the voices we include in our reporting, and the language we use to describe people and communities.
We strive to provide fair and accurate portrayals of all communities, with sensitivity to cultural contexts and historical inequities. We regularly review our coverage to identify and address patterns of bias or underrepresentation.
Digital Ethics
Our ethical standards extend to all platforms where our journalism appears. We apply the same standards of accuracy and verification to social media as we do to our website and print publications. We clearly label opinion content and distinguish it from news reporting across all platforms.
We respect privacy in our use of user-generated content and obtain permission when necessary. We disclose digital alterations to images beyond basic editing, and we maintain transparency about our use of algorithmic content recommendations.
Accountability
We are accountable to our readers and to the public. We welcome feedback and criticism, and we respond to concerns about our reporting. We correct errors promptly and transparently, and we learn from our mistakes to improve our practices.
Our editorial leadership regularly reviews our standards and practices to ensure they meet the highest journalistic standards and adapt to evolving challenges in the media landscape.
Contact Us
If you have questions about our editorial standards or wish to provide feedback on our reporting, please contact our standards editor at [email protected].