**Effective Date:** 15 October 2025
**Last Updated:** 15 October 2025
At **NewscrackersNG**, we are committed to upholding the highest journalistic standards. Our mission is to deliver timely, factual, and impactful news and analysis to our readers. This Editorial Policy outlines the principles that guide our journalism and the practices we follow to ensure accuracy, fairness, and transparency.
**Independence and Integrity:**
NewscrackersNG maintains full editorial independence. Our newsroom operates free of undue external influence – whether political, commercial, or personal. We do not allow advertisers, sponsors, or owners to dictate our content. If we publish sponsored content or advertorials, it will be clearly labeled to distinguish it from editorial content.
Our journalists and contributors must disclose any personal or financial interests in the topics they cover. We avoid conflicts of interest. If a potential conflict arises, the story is reassigned or the conflict is transparently mentioned in the article. We will not cover stories where we cannot remain impartial.
**Sourcing and Accuracy:**
We strive for accuracy in every story. Our reporters double-check facts, statistics, and names before publication. We use multiple sources whenever possible and prefer primary sources (official documents, direct interviews, on-the-ground reporting) for confirmation.
– **Attribution:** Information is attributed to its source. If we aggregate a report from another media outlet or news agency, we credit them (e.g., “according to *Premium Times*” or “…told **NAN**”).
– **Anonymous Sources:** We generally avoid unnamed sources. In rare cases where a source’s identity must be protected (for safety or legal reasons), we will describe the source in general terms and only publish the information if it is essential, credible, and verified. Use of an anonymous source requires editor approval.
– **Quotes:** Quotes are reproduced exactly as spoken or written (with minor edits for clarity or grammar in brackets or ellipses if needed). We do not alter the meaning of quotes. Profanity or local dialect in quotes may be gently edited or explained in brackets for a broader audience, without changing the quote’s intent.
– **Fact-Checking:** Major facts and claims in our articles are verified through reputable sources or documents. For complex or investigative pieces, we engage in additional fact-checking. If we cannot independently verify certain information, we either omit it or clearly state that it is unverified or an allegation/opinion.
**Fairness and Balance:**
We believe in covering stories with fairness. This means:
– **Right of Reply:** If a story contains allegations or criticism of an individual or organization, we seek their comment and perspective within the story (or at least indicate attempts made to reach them). (See our [Right of Reply](https://newscrackersng.com/right-of-reply/) policy for details on how we handle responses.)
– **Context:** We provide background and context so readers can understand the full picture. Where relevant, we include historical background, data, or preceding events related to a news story.
– **Diversity of Views:** For contentious issues, we aim to present all major sides. While our Opinion/Editorial pieces may advocate a viewpoint (clearly labeled as such), our news reports strive for an impartial tone and completeness of information.
Our journalists treat sources, subjects, and colleagues with respect. We do not engage in hate speech or derogatory language. Sensitive content (e.g., graphic images) is published sparingly and with warnings if needed, guided by the public interest.
**Plagiarism and Originality:**
Plagiarism is strictly prohibited at NewscrackersNG. All content we publish must be original or properly attributed. Our writers are trained **never to copy-paste** content from elsewhere without attribution. We use plagiarism checks for all submissions (including freelance pieces). Any employee found plagiarizing text or images will face disciplinary action, including possible termination. Our reputation depends on fresh, credible journalism.
For transparency, we do utilize wire services like **NAN (News Agency of Nigeria)** or press releases for some routine news, but even in those cases we rewrite or summarize in our own words and always credit the source. We aim to add value – providing original reporting, local context, or analysis on top of any syndicated information.
**Corrections and Updates:**
Despite our best efforts, mistakes can occur. When NewscrackersNG discovers an error or receives a correction request, we act swiftly:
– *Minor errors* (e.g., misspellings, dates, minor figures) are corrected within the article text quietly, but we add a brief **Correction note** at the bottom explaining the change (e.g., “*Correction (15 Oct 2025): Corrected the minister’s name spelling.*”).
– *Significant errors* that affect understanding (e.g., a misidentified person, a major factual mistake) prompt a clearly noted correction at the top or bottom of the article. Example: “*Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated __; the correct information is __.*” For very significant mistakes, we may also publish a standalone correction article and/or prominently notify readers.
– If a story is updated with new information (in a developing story), we label it **“UPDATE”** at the top and include the time/date of the update. We do not erase content unless absolutely necessary (legal reasons or if content was published by mistake); instead, we update or correct it transparently.
We maintain a [Corrections & Updates page](https://newscrackersng.com/corrections-updates-policy/) listing significant corrections for accountability. Readers are encouraged to report any errors via our Contact channels. We investigate all credible claims of error and respond as appropriate.
**Editorial Structure and Responsibility:**
– **Editor-in-Chief:** [Name] (editor@newscrackersng.com) oversees all content and ensures compliance with this policy. The Editor-in-Chief has final sign-off on sensitive stories and corrections.
– **Section Editors:** Each major section (Politics, Business, Metro, Sports, etc.) has an editor who reviews reporters’ copy for accuracy, clarity, and fairness. Section editors also ensure headlines accurately reflect content (no clickbait or misleading titles).
– **Contributors:** Opinion writers or external contributors’ pieces are clearly marked as such (e.g., “Opinion” or “Analysis”). Views expressed in opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect NewscrackersNG’s view. However, we vet opinion submissions for factual accuracy and will not publish demonstrably false claims. Any conflicts of interest for guest contributors are disclosed within the article or author bio.
**Transparency:**
We believe in transparent journalism. When we make mistakes, we own up to them (as detailed in Corrections policy above). We clearly distinguish news from opinion, and journalism from advertising. Any sponsored content is labeled as “Sponsored” or “Advertorial.” Our news is guided by truth and public interest, not personal or corporate agendas.
By adhering to this Editorial Policy, NewscrackersNG aims to maintain the trust of our readers. Our pledge is to report news honestly, courageously, and without fear or favor. If you have concerns about our coverage or see an area for improvement, please contact the Editor-in-Chief at editor@newscrackersng.com.
*– The NewscrackersNG Editorial Team*
