Every story published by NewsPrism.co.uk is built on a foundation of verifiable fact. Our Fact-Checking Policy sets out the rigorous standards we apply before any article reaches our readers. This policy is overseen by our Editor-in-Chief, Victoria Harcourt, and administered daily by our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Oliver Reeves.
What We Verify Before Publication
Our editorial team systematically checks a wide range of claims and information. This includes, but is not limited to: government decisions and parliamentary votes; public spending figures and departmental budgets; economic data from the Office for National Statistics and the Bank of England; company statements, financial results and market disclosures; technology and artificial intelligence claims made by corporations or public figures; cybersecurity breach reports and vulnerability disclosures; crime statistics and public safety information attributed to official sources; health information from the NHS, NICE and public health bodies; education claims, including school performance data and university admissions figures; legal disputes, court rulings and regulatory decisions; allegations of wrongdoing or misconduct against individuals or organisations; claims made by public figures, politicians and commentators; and any information involving minors or that raises privacy and safety concerns.
Source Hierarchy and Standards
We operate a clear hierarchy of sources, prioritising those with the highest degree of accountability and transparency. Our primary sources include official government documents, public records, company filings with Companies House, regulatory filings from bodies such as Ofcom and the Financial Conduct Authority, platform policy documents, product documentation and specifications, police statements and incident reports, NHS information and clinical guidance, court documents and tribunal decisions. We also rely on direct interviews with named sources, public meeting minutes and recordings, verified public social media posts from official accounts, and our own first-hand reporting, including product testing and on-the-ground observations.
Where we refer to industry reports, academic research or third-party data, we link directly to the underlying source material. A comprehensive guide to our sourcing methodology is available on our Sources & Standards page.
Rumours, Speculation and Anonymous Sources
Rumours and unverified speculation are always clearly labelled as such, and are never presented as established fact. Anonymous sourcing is avoided unless there is a clear and compelling editorial reason — for example, to protect a whistleblower or a vulnerable individual from retaliation. In such cases, the material is subjected to additional verification by the Standards & Fact-Checking Lead before publication, and the reason for anonymity is explained to readers in the article.
Verification Process and Editorial Oversight
All factual claims are cross-checked against at least one independent, reliable source. Where multiple sources conflict, we note the disagreement transparently and, where possible, seek official clarification. Articles involving sensitive topics — such as allegations, legal disputes, stories about minors, or information that could cause reputational or physical harm — are flagged for review by Oliver Reeves, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, before any decision to publish is made. Our full Editorial Policy outlines the broader framework governing our content decisions.
Reader Reports and Corrections
We welcome reports from readers who identify errors or omissions in our reporting. If you believe something we have published is inaccurate, please email factcheck@newsprism.co.uk with the article title, URL, and the specific claim you believe is incorrect, along with supporting evidence. Our fact-checking team will review your report promptly. Where an error is confirmed, we publish a correction in accordance with our Corrections Policy and update the article to reflect the accurate information.
Our Commitment to Accuracy
NewsPrism.co.uk is committed to holding power to account and providing our readers with trustworthy information. Our fact-checking process is designed to be thorough, transparent and responsive. For more detail on the people who make this possible, please see Our Team page. If you have a specific complaint about editorial conduct, please consult our Complaints Procedure.