Editorial Policy

These are the standards we use to report, source, review, label, and update our coverage.

Independence

Northstar Herald aims to make editorial decisions independently of advertisers, sponsors, and outside commercial interests. If content is sponsored, promoted, or paid for in another way, it should be labeled clearly.

Accuracy and verification

We try to verify factual claims before publication using the strongest available evidence for the story type. That usually means primary documents, official statements, on-the-record remarks, company filings, court records, direct event results, or multiple credible news reports that can be attributed clearly.

For consequential or disputed claims, we aim for at least two credible sources or one strong primary source.
We do not treat rumor, engagement posts, or unattributed aggregation as sufficient confirmation.
When a claim cannot yet be fully verified, we either hold it or describe the uncertainty plainly.

Sourcing standards

We include visible attribution and source links where available so readers can inspect the underlying material themselves.

We prefer direct links to original reporting, statements, filings, transcripts, or official releases.
We distinguish between confirmed facts, analysis, and what a source or institution claims.
We avoid overstating what a single document, post, or spokesperson can prove.

Single-source and anonymous-source handling

Single-source reporting can be necessary in fast-moving situations, but it raises the bar for caution. We generally do not publish a serious factual claim based only on one unnamed source unless the information is specific, newsworthy, and corroborated in some other way.

We do not publish anonymous tips without independent verification.
When a report relies on a single clearly attributed source, we label it that way and avoid broader claims than the evidence supports.
When sourcing is incomplete, we would rather update later than imply certainty we do not have.

Bylines, review, and accountability

Every published story is assigned to an author or the Editorial Desk. Author pages describe coverage focus and review roles. The Editorial Desk is responsible for standards enforcement, desk review, and corrections oversight.

Article updates and labels

Post-publication changes should help readers understand what changed and why. Substantive changes may be labeled in the article using language such as "Updated," "Clarified," or "Correction."

A routine update adds new developments or context without changing the core factual meaning of the earlier version.
A clarification makes wording more precise when the original phrasing could mislead, even if the central fact pattern remains intact.
A correction fixes a material factual error and should state what was wrong and what has been corrected.

AI-assisted content

Some articles may be drafted with assistance from AI tools and then reviewed by editors before publication. We do not publish AI-assisted work without human editorial oversight, and we do not treat model output as evidence on its own.

Conflicts of interest

Contributors are expected to avoid coverage assignments where a personal or financial conflict could distort judgment. Relevant conflicts should be disclosed internally and, when appropriate, to readers.