Source and citation policy

Readers should be able to inspect the material behind a story wherever access, safety and rights allow it.

Original material first

We prefer the original document, recording, testimony, dataset, research paper or first-hand statement over a summary. Secondary reporting is used when it adds original reporting, specialist context or access to material that is otherwise unavailable.

Linking and quotations

Material online sources should be linked directly where practical. Quotations must preserve the speaker’s meaning and should include enough surrounding context to avoid misleading the reader. Long documents may be linked with a page, section or timestamp reference.

Provenance and archives

When source material has been reposted, edited or removed, we try to identify its origin, publication date and chain of custody. Archived copies may be used to preserve a public record, but an archive does not by itself authenticate what the material claims.

Anonymous sources

The reason for anonymity and the source’s basis of knowledge should be described as far as safety permits. An unnamed source is not presented as independent corroboration of their own earlier or derivative account.

Unavailable material

If a central document, recording or dataset cannot be reviewed, the article should say so. We do not imply direct access to material we have not seen.