UnTelevised

Independent Media

EDITORIAL STANDARDS

THE STANDARDS THAT GOVERN OUR JOURNALISM

Independent journalism carries a responsibility that corporate media has long abandoned. These are the standards we hold ourselves to — in every story, every source, every correction.

OUR COMMITMENT

ACCURACY ABOVE ALL ELSE

We are committed to publishing accurate, fair, and independently verified information. Before any story is published, claims are sourced, cross-referenced, and reviewed. We do not publish rumors, speculation, or unverified allegations as fact.

When we get something wrong, we say so — clearly, promptly, and in the same location as the original error. We do not quietly edit articles without disclosure, and we do not delete reporting to escape accountability.

“A free press can be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom it will never be anything but bad. Independence is not a privilege — it is the minimum condition for honest journalism.”

— UnTelevised Editorial Board

CORE PRINCIPLES

ACCURACY

Every factual claim must be verifiable. We use primary sources wherever possible, disclose when secondary sources are relied upon, and correct errors as soon as they are identified.

INDEPENDENCE

Our editorial decisions are made solely by our journalists and editors. No advertiser, donor, government, or external organization has any influence over what we cover or how we cover it.

FAIRNESS

All parties directly named in a story are given reasonable opportunity to respond before publication. We represent all sides with equal rigor, not equal credulity.

VERIFICATION

We do not publish unverified information as fact. Claims are tested against documents, on-record sources, and official records. Anonymous sources are used sparingly and only when essential.

TRANSPARENCY

We disclose our sources, methodology, and funding to the degree we safely can. Where sources must be protected, we explain why rather than simply omitting the explanation.

ACCOUNTABILITY

We hold ourselves to the same scrutiny we apply to those we cover. Errors are acknowledged and corrected publicly. Staff who violate these standards are held responsible.

VERIFICATION PROCESS

PRIMARY SOURCING

We prioritize first-hand documentation — court filings, government records, leaked documents, on-camera statements, and interviews with direct witnesses. Secondary sources are cited and their limitations acknowledged.

MULTI-SOURCE REQUIREMENT

Significant factual claims require at least two independent sources. Single-source claims are labeled as such, and readers are informed when only one source could be obtained.

DOCUMENT VERIFICATION

Documents are verified for authenticity before publication. Where possible, forensic or expert review is sought. We do not publish leaked materials we cannot authenticate.

RIGHT OF REPLY

Individuals and organizations who are the subject of critical coverage are contacted and given adequate time to respond. Their response — or refusal to respond — is included in the story.

SOURCE STANDARDS

HOW WE USE AND PROTECT SOURCES

Named, on-record sources are always preferred. Anonymous sources are granted anonymity only when they provide essential information that cannot be obtained otherwise, and when the story is of significant public interest.

Editors must know the identity of any anonymous source before a story is approved. The reason anonymity was granted is disclosed in the published article. We do not grant anonymity to sources attacking individuals from hiding.

We protect whistleblowers. All source communications may be made via our Secure Contact or Whistleblower Portal, both of which use end-to-end encryption.

SOURCE TRANSPARENCY PANEL

Every article and live event on UnTelevised Media includes a collapsible Sources & Methodology panel. This panel discloses:

All named sources with their type (document, interview, statement, data, media, on-scene)
The URL or reference location for publicly accessible sources
A flag when a source is anonymous, without revealing their identity
Our methodology — how we gathered and verified the information

CORRECTIONS POLICY

Errors happen. What separates honest journalism from dishonest journalism is what you do when they do. We publish corrections prominently, on the original article, as soon as an error is confirmed — not buried, not deleted, not silently edited.

We use four correction types, each displayed on the article with clear visual labeling:

CORRECTION

A factual error was published. The error is described and the correct information is provided.

CLARIFICATION

The original reporting was technically accurate but misleading or incomplete. Additional context is added.

UPDATE

Significant new information has emerged that changes the picture. The update is noted with a timestamp.

RETRACTION

The story cannot be supported in whole or in significant part and has been retracted. The title is marked and the reason is published.

SUBMIT A CORRECTION REQUEST

If you believe we have published inaccurate information, we want to know. All correction requests are reviewed by a senior editor within 24 hours.

EMAIL CORRECTIONS DESK SECURE CONTACT FORM

Please include the URL of the article, the specific claim you believe is incorrect, and any supporting documentation.

INDEPENDENCE & CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

EDITORIAL FIREWALL

Advertisers and donors have no access to our editorial process. Commercial relationships are disclosed in our financial transparency reports. No story is killed, altered, or commissioned due to commercial pressure.

STAFF DISCLOSURES

Journalists disclose any personal, financial, or political connection to the subjects they cover. Staff cannot report on entities in which they hold financial interests or with which they have personal relationships.

NO POLITICAL ALIGNMENT

We do not endorse political candidates or parties. Staff opinions expressed outside their UnTelevised work are their own and are not editorial positions. We cover all governments and movements with equal critical scrutiny.

FUNDING TRANSPARENCY

UnTelevised Media is reader-funded. We do not accept government grants, political donations, or funding from entities we cover. Our financial model is disclosed to readers.

NATIVE ADVERTISING

Sponsored or promoted content is always clearly labeled and visually distinct from editorial content. Paid partnerships never influence editorial decisions or story selection.

OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT

Staff must disclose any outside employment or consulting arrangements. Secondary work that creates a conflict with their reporting responsibilities is not permitted.

SENSITIVE REPORTING

TRAUMA & GRAPHIC CONTENT

We assess whether publishing graphic or disturbing content serves a genuine public interest that outweighs potential harm. When such content is published, it is preceded by a clear content warning and contextualized appropriately.

SUICIDE & SELF-HARM

We follow established safe messaging guidelines for reporting on suicide and self-harm. We do not publish methods or details that could encourage imitation, and we include crisis resources where relevant.

MINORS

The identities of minors are protected except where they themselves, their guardians, or the public record has already established them — and even then, only when their inclusion is essential to the story.

NATIONAL SECURITY

When reporting involves national security matters, we consult with relevant parties where doing so does not compromise our sources or the public interest. We do not publish information we believe would cause direct, immediate harm to individuals.

QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR STANDARDS?

We are accountable to our readers. If you have a concern about our reporting, our methods, or a potential violation of these standards — contact us.

EMAIL EDITORIAL BOARD ABOUT US

1156 Humboldt St, Denver, CO 80218