Editorial Policy

Illuminews maintains complete editorial independence in all our reporting and content decisions. Our editorial content is not influenced by:

• Advertising partners or sponsors
• Political parties or organizations
• Commercial interests or business relationships
• Personal relationships or external pressures

Editorial decisions are made solely based on newsworthiness, public interest, and journalistic merit. We maintain a clear separation between our editorial content and any commercial or advertising content.

Accuracy is fundamental to our credibility and the trust our readers place in us. We are committed to:

• Verifying information through multiple reliable sources
• Clearly distinguishing between fact and opinion
• Providing proper context and background information
• Acknowledging when information cannot be independently verified
• Updating stories as new information becomes available

When we make errors, we correct them promptly and transparently in accordance with our corrections policy.

Source Protection

We are committed to protecting the confidentiality of sources who provide information in confidence. We will:

• Honor agreements of confidentiality
• Use secure communication methods when necessary
• Protect source identity even under legal pressure when ethically justified
• Clearly explain the terms of confidentiality to sources

Source Verification

All sources are evaluated for credibility and reliability:

• Sources must be identified and verified by editors
• Anonymous sources used only when necessary and justified
• Source motivations and potential biases considered
• Corroboration sought from additional sources

We are committed to avoiding conflicts of interest that could compromise our editorial integrity:

• Staff members must disclose any financial interests in companies they cover
• Personal relationships that could affect coverage must be disclosed
• Political affiliations and activities are disclosed when relevant
• Gifts and hospitality from sources are declined or disclosed
• Outside employment and consulting arrangements are reviewed for conflicts

When conflicts cannot be avoided, they are clearly disclosed to readers, and alternative arrangements for coverage are made when necessary.

We take errors seriously and are committed to correcting them promptly and transparently:

Correction Process

• Errors are corrected as soon as they are identified
• Corrections are clearly labeled and prominently displayed
• The nature of the error and the correct information are explained
• Corrections are preserved in the article's revision history

Retraction Policy

In cases where an article contains fundamental errors that cannot be corrected:

• The article may be retracted with a clear explanation
• Retracted articles remain accessible with prominent retraction notices
• The reasons for retraction are fully explained to readers

We strive for fairness and balance in our reporting while maintaining our commitment to truth and accuracy:

• Multiple perspectives are sought on controversial issues
• Subjects of criticism are given opportunity to respond
• Context and background information are provided
• Bias is minimized through careful language and presentation
• Opinion content is clearly distinguished from news reporting

Fairness does not require false equivalency between factual and unfactual claims, but rather accurate representation of legitimate viewpoints.

We respect the privacy and dignity of individuals while serving the public interest:

• Private information is published only when it serves a clear public interest
• Victims of crime and tragedy are treated with sensitivity
• Children's privacy is especially protected
• Grief and trauma are respected in our reporting approach
• Personal information is verified and relevant before publication

Content Review

All content undergoes editorial review before publication:

• Fact-checking and source verification
• Legal and ethical review when necessary
• Style and clarity editing
• Headline and presentation review

Publication Standards

• Breaking news is verified before publication
• Developing stories are updated as information becomes available
• Speculation is clearly identified as such
• Sources and methodology are disclosed when relevant

We are accountable to our readers and the public for our editorial decisions:

• Editorial policies are publicly available and regularly updated
• Reader feedback and complaints are taken seriously
• Editorial decisions can be questioned and explained
• Regular review of our editorial practices and standards
• Transparency about our funding and business model

Reader Engagement

We encourage reader engagement and feedback:

• Comments and feedback are welcomed and reviewed
• Corrections can be submitted by readers
• Editorial decisions are explained when questioned
• Regular communication about our editorial approach