Editorial standards

Every factual claim is attributable. We name people and organisations, and we say when someone declined to comment. We do not publish anonymous quotes except where naming a source would put them at risk — and we say when that is why.

A devotional is a reflection. A news article is reporting. They are labelled, styled and filed differently, and we do not let one borrow the authority of the other.

We correct on the page where the error appeared, with a dated note saying what changed. Significant corrections are repeated in the following morning’s email. We do not silently edit a published piece.

We publish a figure only with its source and date. Where we cannot verify a number we leave it out rather than round it into something quotable.

We disclose any relationship between the publication and an organisation we cover, in the piece itself, not in a footer.

Prayer requests and directory submissions are read by a person before publication. We publish first names only unless asked otherwise, never email addresses, and we remove anything on request.

We do not publish machine-written devotionals, prayers, or reporting under a human byline. Where a tool assists with research or subediting, the responsibility for what appears remains the editor’s.

Photographs are captioned and credited. We do not use imagery that implies an event or a person that is not in the story. Illustrative images are labelled as such.

If we have not put something right, write to the editor and say so directly. We will reply.