Sources & Attribution Policy
Where our reporting comes from
Good journalism shows its work. This policy explains how sources information, credits it, and protects the people who help us tell the story.
Readers deserve to know where information comes from. We attribute openly wherever we can, rely on named and primary sources by default, and reserve anonymity for the rare cases where it is genuinely justified.
Named and primary sources first
We prefer on-the-record, named sources and primary evidence — interviews, official records, first-hand observation and authoritative documentation. The reliability of every source is assessed as part of our fact-checking before we rely on it.
Clear, honest attribution
We attribute information to its origin and quote people accurately and in context. Quotations are not invented, materially altered or recombined in ways that change their meaning. When we draw on another outlet's reporting, we credit it.
Linking and citing our work
Where it helps readers verify a claim, we link to primary documents and original sources. We are a publication of record, and our own archive is built to be cited accurately for years to come.
When we grant anonymity
Anonymity is the exception, not the rule. We grant it only when information is in the public interest, cannot reasonably be obtained on the record, and the source faces a genuine risk in speaking. Even then, an editor knows the source's identity and the basis for trusting them.
Protecting confidential sources
When we agree to protect a source, we honour that commitment. We do not disclose confidential sources or unpublished material — including to any third-party tools — and we handle sensitive information with care, consistent with our Ethics Policy.
Editorial Policies
Explore the rest of our editorial standards
Every policy in our editorial suite is public and cross-linked. Read the full framework, or browse each standard individually below.