Editorial Policy

Our Commitment

Smart Digests is committed to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. This Editorial Policy outlines the principles, processes, and ethical commitments that guide our work. Every member of our editorial team — staff writers, editors, fact-checkers, and freelancers — is expected to uphold these standards.

Core Principles

Accuracy

Accuracy is the foundation of trustworthy journalism. At Smart Digests, we:

• Verify all factual claims against primary sources — original research papers, government data, corporate filings, court documents, and expert interviews — before publication.
• When primary sources are unavailable, we clearly attribute claims to secondary sources and note any limitations.
• Double-check statistics, dates, names, and technical specifications.
• When we make an error, we correct it promptly and transparently (see Corrections, below).

Independence

Smart Digests is editorially independent. We:

• Do not accept payment or favours in exchange for coverage.
• Maintain a strict firewall between editorial and advertising operations. Advertisers and sponsors have no influence over editorial content, story selection, or editorial priorities.
• Do not allow our writers or editors to accept gifts, travel, or other benefits from entities they cover. Review copies of books, software, or products may be accepted for evaluation purposes but must be disclosed in the resulting article.
• Disclose any financial interests, personal relationships, or other conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing our coverage.

Fairness

We strive to be fair in our reporting. We:

• Seek comment from parties who are the subject of critical reporting, providing reasonable opportunity to respond before publication.
• Present multiple perspectives on contentious issues where credible disagreement exists among experts.
• Distinguish clearly between news reporting, analysis, and opinion. Opinion pieces are clearly labelled.

Transparency

We are transparent about our methods, sources, and limitations. We:

• Identify and link to our sources whenever possible.
• Explain our methodology when presenting original data analysis.
• Note when reporting is based on anonymous sources (used only when essential and when the source’s safety or livelihood would be jeopardised by identification) and explain why anonymity was granted.
• Clearly label any content that is sponsored or produced in partnership with external organisations.

Fact-Checking Process

Every article published on Smart Digests undergoes the following fact-checking process:

1. Writer verification: Writers are responsible for verifying all factual claims in their drafts and providing source links or citations.
2. Editor review: At least one editor reviews each draft for factual accuracy, logical consistency, and adherence to our style guide. Editors spot-check key claims and verify citations.
3. Technical review: For articles involving complex technical or scientific content, we may consult subject-matter experts (internal or external) to review accuracy.
4. Final review: A senior editor performs a final review before publication.

Corrections Policy

Despite our best efforts, errors can occur. When they do, we are committed to correcting them promptly and transparently.

Types of Corrections

• Minor corrections: Typographical errors, minor factual clarifications, or broken links. These are corrected without a formal correction notice, though the original text may be noted as “updated.”
• Substantive corrections: Significant factual errors that affect the meaning or conclusions of an article. These are corrected with a clear correction notice appended to the article, explaining what was corrected and when.
• Retractions: In rare cases where an article is found to be fundamentally flawed or based on fabricated information, it will be retracted with a prominent notice explaining the reason.

How to Report an Error

Readers who believe they have identified an error should email [email protected] with the subject line “CORRECTION,” including a link to the article and specific information about the suspected error. We investigate all correction requests.

Ethics

Plagiarism

Smart Digests has zero tolerance for plagiarism. All work published on our platform must be original or properly attributed. We use plagiarism-detection tools as part of our editorial workflow. Any writer found to have plagiarised will face immediate termination of their relationship with Smart Digests.

Confidentiality

We respect the confidentiality of our sources. When we agree to protect a source’s identity, we will do so, subject to applicable law. We do not pay sources for information.

Privacy

We respect the privacy of individuals in our reporting. We do not publish private information about individuals without a clear public interest justification. We are particularly mindful of the privacy of minors, victims of crime, and vulnerable individuals.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to ensuring that our coverage reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We seek out diverse voices as sources, experts, and contributors. We avoid stereotypes and stigmatising language.

Governance

This Editorial Policy is maintained by our editorial board and reviewed annually. Material changes are approved by the Editor-in-Chief. Questions about this policy should be directed to [email protected].