Publish what can be defended.

These standards apply to SÙIL ALBA news, investigations, analysis and editorial work. Opinion should be labelled as opinion; it does not receive a free pass from factual accuracy.

Verification

We prefer primary and authoritative sources. Where a central claim cannot be established from a primary source, we seek independent corroboration and describe uncertainty plainly. A social-media post, screenshot or repeated assertion is not automatically evidence of the underlying claim.

Fact, allegation and inference

We distinguish established facts from allegations, estimates, interpretations and analytical judgments. Headlines and visual presentation must not imply greater certainty than the evidence supports.

Fairness and right of reply

Subjects facing serious criticism should normally be told the substance of the relevant claims and given a meaningful opportunity to respond before publication. Their response is represented fairly; silence is not presented as proof.

Privacy, victims and vulnerable people

Public interest is not synonymous with public curiosity. We consider privacy, risk of identification, victims, minors and vulnerable people before publishing names, images, location information or other identifying material.

Images and footage

Illustrative material is labelled and must not be presented as evidence of an incident it does not depict. Rights, provenance, location, date and context are checked where footage forms part of an evidential claim.

Corrections

Substantive factual errors are corrected promptly and visibly. Material changes should explain what changed and, where useful, why.