Editorial Standards

These standards guide reporting and publishing decisions at The Spall. They apply to news stories, election coverage, investigations, features, photographs, analysis and opinion.

Our credibility depends on readers being able to trust not only what we publish, but how we arrived at it.

1. Accuracy comes first

We would rather publish a correct story later than an incorrect story first. Names, dates, quotations, numbers, locations and material factual claims should be verified whenever reasonably possible. Press releases, campaign material, social-media posts and public statements are not automatically independent facts.

2. Primary sources come first

Whenever practical, reporting should rely on original material: municipal agendas and minutes, budgets, bylaws, policies, official notices, court and regulatory records, election filings, direct interviews, firsthand observation, original datasets and public records.

3. News and opinion must remain distinct

Straight news should not tell readers what conclusion to reach. Opinion, commentary and analysis will be clearly labelled.

4. Fairness does not mean false balance

People and organizations facing meaningful criticism should normally be given a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication. Fairness does not require treating every assertion as equally supported when the evidence clearly favours one account.

5. Political and election coverage

The Spall does not exist to elect or defeat candidates. Election reporting focuses on records, stated positions, relevant experience, campaign claims and issues. Candidates competing for the same office should, where practical, be assessed using comparable questions and standards. News coverage will not rank, endorse or score candidates.

6. Headlines should inform, not manipulate

Headlines should accurately reflect the story. We avoid misleading clickbait, manufactured outrage and language designed primarily to provoke fear or anger.

7. Rumours are leads, not evidence

A Facebook post, anonymous message or conversation at the coffee shop may point toward a legitimate story. It is not, by itself, enough to publish one.

8. Anonymous sources

Anonymous sourcing should be used sparingly. Anonymity may be justified when a source has important firsthand information and faces a credible risk of retaliation, employment consequences, safety concerns or another substantial harm. Anonymous allegations should receive additional verification.

9. Conflicts of interest

Writers should disclose relationships, financial interests, political involvement or other circumstances that could reasonably cause readers to question their independence on a particular story.

10. Advertising and sponsored content

Paid material must be clearly distinguishable from journalism. Advertisers cannot purchase favourable news coverage or prevent legitimate reporting about themselves.

11. Corrections and updates

Factual errors will be corrected promptly once verified. Material corrections should include a correction notice explaining the substance of the error.

12. Privacy and harm

Something being public does not automatically make it necessary to publish. We weigh legitimate public interest against unnecessary harm, particularly involving children, victims, grieving families and private individuals.

13. Photographs and media

Images should accurately represent the event or subject being reported. Material alterations that change the apparent facts of a news image are not acceptable. Illustrations, generated images, file photographs and staged photographs should be identified when appropriate.

14. Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence may be used as a research, organizational, transcription, editing or analytical tool. It is not an independent source.

There is always an “I” behind AI.

The person whose byline appears on an article remains responsible for its accuracy, fairness and final wording regardless of what tools were used during its preparation. AI-generated factual claims must be checked against reliable sources. The Spall will not fabricate quotations, interviews, photographs, documents, eyewitness accounts or sources using artificial intelligence.

15. Accountability

Readers are encouraged to challenge our reporting. We will not promise every complaint results in a change. We do promise to consider serious complaints in good faith.