Editorial standards

An independent publication only earns the right to scrutinise powerful interests if it is careful, fair, and accurate every time. These are the standards we hold ourselves to — and the ones you should hold us to.

Evidence first

We report what can be shown: documents, public records, data, on-the-record statements, and named facts. If a claim can’t be supported by something a reader could in principle check, it doesn’t run. We don’t publish rumour, and we don’t publish to settle scores.

Fact, kept separate from analysis

There is a difference between what happened and what we think it means. We keep them visibly apart. Reporting states the verifiable facts; analysis and opinion are labelled as such, so you always know which one you’re reading and can draw your own conclusions.

Fairness and the right of reply

When a piece is critical of a person or organisation, we make a genuine effort to put the substance to them and to include their response, or to note that they were asked and declined. People are described by what the evidence supports — not by insinuation.

Progress, held to the same bar

Good news is held to exactly the same standard as hard news. A breakthrough, a reform, or a recovery is only reported when it’s real and verifiable — with its limits and open questions stated plainly. Optimism that doesn’t survive scrutiny isn’t worth printing.

Corrections, in the open

We will get things wrong sometimes. When we do, we fix it promptly and say what changed — corrections are noted on the piece, not made quietly. If you spot an error, write to shersashblog@gmail.com.

Independence

shersash is beholden to no campaign, company, party, or advertiser. Coverage isn’t for sale, and no one outside the publication decides what we run. Any relevant interest that could be seen to affect a piece will be disclosed in it.

Protecting sources

Where someone shares information at personal risk, we protect their identity and handle what they send with care. We’ll never knowingly expose a good-faith source. (For how we handle your data generally, see the privacy page.)

---

Questions about how we work, or think we’ve fallen short of this? Tell us at shersashblog@gmail.com.