Core Principles of Our Journalism
Every story at Aevum News is guided by six fundamental principles that define who we are and how we operate. These are not suggestions â they are non-negotiable standards.
Our Oath: "We commit to truth above all else. We will not be swayed by power, profit, or prejudice. Every reader deserves journalism that informs, challenges, and ultimately empowers them to engage with the world more fully."
Truth & Accuracy
We verify every fact through multiple independent sources before publication. Guesses, speculation, and unverified claims have no place in our newsroom.
Impartiality
We present balanced perspectives on contested issues. Our reporting does not endorse political candidates, parties, or ideological positions.
Independence
Our editorial decisions are made solely by our journalism team, free from external pressure by advertisers, owners, or political actors.
Accountability
We own our mistakes. When we err, we correct promptly, transparently, and with explanation â never hiding errors or burying them in small print.
Humanity
We treat every subject with dignity. We minimize harm to victims and vulnerable individuals. We remember the human behind every headline.
Transparency
We disclose our methods, sources, and potential conflicts. Readers should always understand how and why we published a story.
Editorial Standards & Practices
These standards apply to all content published under the Aevum News banner, including articles, opinion pieces, multimedia content, podcasts, and social media.
2.1 Sourcing Requirements
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R1
Multiple Sources for Factual Claims
All factual claims in news reporting must be confirmed by at least two independent, credible sources. A single source may be used only when corroborating details from established, verified records (court documents, official databases, peer-reviewed studies).
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R2
Identifiable Sources Preferred
Sources should be named and identified by role or affiliation whenever possible. Anonymous sources are permitted only when the information is critical, unverifiable through other means, and the source faces genuine risk of retaliation.
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R3
Right of Reply
Any individual or organization featured negatively in a story must be given a meaningful opportunity to respond before publication. The response must be included proportionally to the criticism leveled.
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R4
Expert Credentials Verified
When citing experts, their relevant qualifications and any potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed to the reader.
2.2 Language & Tone Standards
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R5
Precise Attribution
Clearly distinguish between confirmed facts, reported allegations, and speculation. Use phrases like "according to," "allegedly," or "experts suggest" where certainty is not established.
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R6
Neutral Language in News Reporting
Avoid emotionally charged, judgmental, or sensational language in news articles. Descriptive language is permitted in analysis and feature pieces where clearly labeled.
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R7
Inclusive & Non-Discriminatory Language
Avoid language that reinforces stereotypes based on race, gender, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. When discussing sensitive demographics, consult our diversity style guide.
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R8
Headline Accuracy
Headlines must accurately reflect the content of the article. Clickbait, sensationalism, and misleading headlines are strictly prohibited.
2.3 Visual & Media Standards
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R9
Unaltered Imagery in News
Photographs and videos used in news reporting must not be manipulated in ways that alter the factual content. Cropping for composition is acceptable only if it does not change context.
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R10
AI-Generated Content Labeling
All AI-generated or AI-assisted visuals must be clearly labeled as such. Synthetic media used to illustrate a story must never be presented as documentary evidence.
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R11
Consent for Portraits
Where practicable, obtain consent before publishing identifiable images of individuals, particularly minors or victims of trauma.
Conflict of Interest Policy
Aevum News personnel must avoid situations where personal interests could compromise, or appear to compromise, their journalistic integrity. Disclosure alone is never sufficient â we must also recuse ourselves when conflicts arise.
3.1 Financial Conflicts
đĢ Prohibited Financial Activities
Aevum News staff members, including editors, journalists, and executives, are prohibited from:
- Holding stock in companies they report on regularly
- Receiving paid consulting from entities within their beat
- Accepting paid travel or accommodations from subjects of coverage
- Maintaining business relationships with current subjects
đ Required Disclosure
All staff must annually complete a conflict of interest disclosure form covering:
- Personal investments and holdings
- Family members' employment relationships
- Outside speaking engagements
- Political affiliations and activities
3.2 Personal Relationships
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C1
Close Personal Ties
Staff must recuse themselves from covering any individual or organization with which they have a close personal, familial, or romantic relationship.
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C2
Former Employment
Staff must recuse from covering organizations they have worked for within the past three years, unless approved by the ethics committee.
Funding Transparency
Aevum News's funding structure is designed to protect editorial independence. We are fully transparent about our revenue sources.
đ Our Revenue Structure
Reader Revenue (72%): Subscriptions and individual contributions. This majority reader-funded model ensures our primary accountability is to our audience, not advertisers or owners.
Event Revenue (18%): Conferences and summits. These events are clearly separated from editorial operations with firewalled governance.
Institutional Grants (10%): Grants from foundations supporting investigative journalism and media literacy. All grants are publicly listed below with full terms and conditions.
| Grantor | Purpose | Amount (2024) | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Media Integrity Foundation | Investigative journalism support | $1.2M | No editorial control |
| Open Democracy Fund | Election coverage technology | $400K | No editorial control |
| Media Freedom Alliance | Press freedom documentation | $250K | No editorial control |
Gifts & Hospitality Policy
To maintain the independence of our coverage, Aevum News maintains strict policies regarding gifts and hospitality from sources, subjects, and other external parties.
â ī¸ Zero-Tolerance Threshold
No Aevum News staff member may accept any gift, favor, or hospitality valued at $50 or more from any individual or entity they cover or could cover. This includes meals, travel, tickets, merchandise, and services. There are no exceptions.
| Item / Situation | Action Required |
|---|---|
| Meals under $15 from a source | Acceptable, but must be disclosed in article if relevant |
| Press travel arranged by a government | Must be approved by editor-in-chief; cost reimbursed to Aevum |
| Gifts from public figures | Must be returned or donated to charity; documented in writing |
| Invitations to events | Attendance is permitted; gifts from the host are declined |
| Equity offers or stock options | Always declined; reported to ethics committee immediately |
Reporter Code of Conduct
Aevum News journalists are held to the highest professional standards both on and off the job. Our reputation depends on the integrity of every individual who bears our name.
4.1 Source Protection
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SP1
Confidentiality Is Sacred
We will never reveal the identity of a confidential source, regardless of legal pressure, unless a court issues a binding order after exhausting all appeals. Our legal team has a documented track record of defending source confidentiality.
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SP2
Secure Communication Protocols
All confidential source communications must use our encrypted channels (Signal, ProtonMail, or our secure drop system). Personal email and messaging accounts must never be used for sensitive source contact.
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SP3
Source Vetting
Even anonymous sources are fully vetted by the reporting team. We do not use anonymous sources who cannot be credibly verified. The identity of every anonymous source is known to at least two senior editors.
4.2 Plagiarism & Intellectual Honesty
đĢ Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism
Plagiarism â presenting another person's words, ideas, data, or creative work as your own â is grounds for immediate termination. This includes self-plagiarism (reusing one's own published work without attribution).
4.3 Social Media & Public Conduct
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CM1
Clear Editorial Separation
Aevum News journalists must clearly separate personal opinions from professional reporting. Personal social media accounts should include a bio identifying their role at Aevum News and a disclaimer that views are their own.
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CM2
Prohibited Public Behavior
Journalists must not publicly endorse political candidates, engage in partisan activism, or participate in protests while covered by their reporting beat. Personal social media activity that brings credible discredit to Aevum News is subject to disciplinary action.
Accuracy & Verification Process
Our multi-layer verification process ensures that every fact in our reporting meets the highest standard of accuracy before it reaches our readers.
âšī¸ Our "Three-Person Rule"
No story containing allegations of wrongdoing, sensitive claims, or unverified data may be published unless at least three independent verification steps have been completed and documented. The reporting journalist, the assigned editor, and a dedicated fact-checker must each sign off independently.
Corrections & Clarifications Policy
Mistakes happen. What matters is how we respond to them. Our corrections policy is among the most robust in digital journalism.
6.1 Correction Tiers
| Tier | Description | Action Required | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Minor typo, spelling error, or incorrect word that doesn't change meaning | In-text note at bottom of article | Low |
| Tier 2 | Inaccurate detail (wrong date, figure, or name) that doesn't alter the story's substance | Inline correction + note at top of article | Moderate |
| Tier 3 | Inaccuracy that changes the meaning or context of a story | Redacted article + prominent correction box at top + social media notice | High |
| Tier 4 | Fabrication, deliberate falsification, or failure to verify critical information | Full retraction + public apology + ethics committee review + staff action | Critical |
6.2 Clarifications
Clarifications are issued when we need to update context or additional information has come to light that affects how a story should be understood. Unlike corrections, clarifications are not necessarily about errors â they are about maintaining the most accurate and complete picture possible.
â Our Pledge
All corrections and clarifications are published within 24 hours of being identified. Each is logged publicly in our Corrections Archive, and the original article is never silently rewritten without notation. Our readers have the right to know what we got wrong and how we fixed it.
Protecting Editorial Independence
Aevum News's governance structure includes explicit firewalls between editorial operations and all other business activities. These protections are legally enshrined in our articles of incorporation.
đĨ The Firewall
Our editorial board operates independently from ownership, advertising sales, event management, and investment operations. The editor-in-chief reports to an independent editorial trust, not to the company's CEO or board of directors. No business executive may influence editorial content, story selection, or staffing decisions.
đ Advertiser Relations
Our advertising sales team operates in complete isolation from the newsroom. Advertisers have no influence over what we publish. We do not publish "sponsored content" that mimics editorial journalism, and any advertisement or partner content is clearly and prominently labeled.
Enforcement & Accountability
Guidelines are only as strong as their enforcement. At Aevum News, we take our ethical obligations seriously, with clear consequences for violations.
8.1 Disciplinary Matrix
| Violation Level | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marginal (e.g., minor sourcing gap) | Written warning & retraining | Final written warning | Reassignment |
| Moderate (e.g., unverified claim) | Final written warning | Suspension without pay | Termination |
| Severe (e.g., plagiarism, fake source) | Suspension + investigation | Termination | Blacklisted |
| Extreme (e.g., fabrication, bribery) | Immediate termination + legal review | N/A | N/A |
8.2 Whistleblower Protection
đĄī¸ Protected Reporting
Aevum News provides a secure, anonymous channel for any staff member to report ethical violations without fear of retaliation. Retaliation against whistleblowers is itself a Tier 4 violation. All reports are reviewed by the independent Ethics Committee within 5 business days, and the reporter is notified of the outcome.
The Aevum Ethics Committee
Our Ethics Committee is an independent body of external experts â legal scholars, veteran journalists, and media ethicists â who have no financial stake in Aevum News operations. They review ethical complaints, update these guidelines, and serve as the final authority on ethics questions.
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E1
Composition
The committee consists of seven independent members appointed for staggered five-year terms. The chair is a former supreme court justice. Members receive no compensation beyond standard meeting expenses.
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E2
Powers
The committee may investigate any ethics complaint, compel testimony from staff, mandate corrections or retraction, and recommend disciplinary action â including termination â to the editorial trust.
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E3
Annual Report
The committee publishes an annual ethics report detailing all complaints received, investigations conducted, findings, and policy updates. This report is publicly available on our website.
Have an Ethics Concern?
If you believe an article published by Aevum News violates these guidelines, or if you wish to report unethical conduct by our staff, please contact our Ombudsman directly. All communications are confidential.
đŦ Ombudsman's Office
Our Ombudsman, Dr. Catherine Walsh, serves as the independent reader advocate. She is not affiliated with the newsroom and reports directly to the Ethics Committee.
Send a Report
Your identity is protected. Reports are reviewed within 5 business days.
đ Annual Ethics Reports
You can review our complete annual ethics reports, correspondence with the ombudsman, and the full list of corrections published each year in our Transparency Archive.