Every story published on NewsPrism.co.uk begins with a commitment to transparency about where information comes from and how it has been checked. Our journalists draw on official documents, public meetings, direct interviews, and first-hand observation. We attend council meetings, visit sites we report on, conduct interviews with named sources wherever possible, and include details of those experiences in articles so readers can assess the weight of the evidence. When we rely on anonymous sources, we explain the reason for anonymity and the steps taken to verify the information. Our approach is grounded in the principles set out in our fact-checking policy and editorial policy. All editorial content is reviewed by a human editor before publication, and any use of digital tools to support research, formatting or transcription is disclosed in stories where relevant — see our AI and automation policy for details.
Official and primary sources
Wherever possible, we build our reporting on material from original, authoritative sources. The following are among the primary sources we consult regularly:
- GOV.UK — central portal for UK government publications, policy papers, consultations, press releases and statutory guidance.
- UK Parliament — Hansard transcripts, committee reports, bills, parliamentary debates, written questions and answers, and member registers of interests.
- Office for National Statistics — official data on inflation, employment, GDP, population, earnings, trade and public sector finances.
- Bank of England — monetary policy decisions, financial stability reports, inflation forecasts, minutes of policy committee meetings, and supervisory publications.
- Ofcom — communications market data, broadcasting standards rulings, spectrum decisions, and regulatory research on digital platforms and media consumption.
- National Cyber Security Centre — threat advisories, security guidance for businesses and the public, and technical reports on cyber incidents.
Regulatory and standards bodies
We hold ourselves to the standards enforced by the UK’s independent regulators and we report on their decisions when they affect the public interest. Key bodies we monitor:
- IPSO (Independent Press Standards Organisation) — adjudicates complaints about editorial content in British newspapers and magazines, and publishes guidance on journalistic ethics.
- ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) — enforces data protection, freedom of information, privacy and electronic communications law; a source for enforcement actions and guidance.
- Advertising Standards Authority — regulates advertising across all media; complaints, rulings, and policy statements used in reporting on marketing claims and affiliate disclosure.
- Companies House — register of company filings, director details, accounts and ownership structures, used for due diligence on businesses and organisations we write about.
What we rely on day to day
Our editorial team works from a consistent set of proven source types. Nothing is published without a clear basis in at least one of the following:
- Official government documents (White Papers, Bills, statutory instruments, departmental reports).
- Company statements, annual reports, regulatory filings and investor communications.
- Regulatory filings with bodies such as Ofcom, the Competition and Markets Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Information Commissioner’s Office.
- Public meetings, including parliamentary committee hearings, council meetings, planning committees, and public inquiries.
- Press conferences, media briefings and organised Q&A sessions.
- Verified public social media posts from verified or directly confirmed accounts belonging to officials, companies and recognised experts.
- Public records, including court documents, land registry entries, company registers, and electoral rolls.
- Direct interviews conducted by our journalists with named sources. Where sources cannot be named for safety or other compelling reasons, we disclose the reason and the steps taken to corroborate the information.
- First-hand reporting — attendance at events, site visits, and in-person observation.
Rumours, speculation or unverified claims are never presented as fact. Any piece of information that cannot be confirmed through one of the above methods is clearly labelled as unconfirmed, a claim under investigation, or attributed to a source whose credibility is explained. If we later discover that something we reported is inaccurate, we correct it promptly — see our corrections policy.
How to challenge our reporting
We take accuracy seriously and welcome scrutiny. If you believe something we have published is incorrect, misleading, or lacks appropriate attribution, you can raise it directly with our team:
- Corrections: Email corrections@newsprism.co.uk. Our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Oliver Reeves, reviews every request. See our corrections policy for details on timelines and how corrections are published.
- Complaints: If you have a formal complaint about an article or editorial decision, please follow our complaints procedure. Complaints are handled by the Editor-in-Chief, Victoria Harcourt, and we aim to respond within five working days.
- Fact-check requests: Send details to factcheck@newsprism.co.uk. We will review the claim and, if appropriate, update the story or publish a clarification.
We also welcome tips and source material at our tip page or via tips@newsprism.co.uk. All communications are treated as confidential.