Editorial Standards
The Editorial Standards Code governs every dispatch published by The Russian Issues. It is binding on all staff correspondents, stringers, editors, and contributors — and it is public so that readers can hold us to it.
1. Sourcing & Attribution
Every claim of fact must be traceable to an identified source. We attribute information to named sources whenever it is safe and practicable to do so. When a source is granted confidentiality, we explain why and describe their position with enough specificity for readers to weigh the account.
- Single-source claims of fact are published only with editor approval and a documented reason.
- We never fabricate quotes, composite sources, or invented detail.
- Official statements are attributed to the office, not paraphrased as established fact.
2. Verification & Fact-Checking
No dispatch is published until it has passed a documented verification process. For breaking news, this means independent confirmation from at least two sources or primary documentary evidence. For analysis and historical reporting, claims are cross-referenced against archival records, published scholarship, and on-the-ground reporting.
Primary Sources
Treaty texts, government records, battlefield imagery, and direct testimony take precedence over secondary reporting.
Open-Source Intelligence
Geolocated imagery and verified social-media material are labelled as such, with the methodology disclosed.
3. Corrections & Updates
When we make an error, we correct it promptly and visibly. Every correction is logged, dated, and published alongside the original dispatch — never silently rewritten. Material corrections carry a timestamp and a note describing what changed and why.
A factual error is not a failure of the publication; concealing one is. Editors who learn of an error are obligated to initiate a correction within 24 hours.
4. Source Protection
Confidential sources are protected with operational and legal discipline. Identities are known to the fewest people possible — typically only the reporting correspondent and the assigning editor. We do not record identifying details in shared systems, and we will resist legal compulsion to identify a source to the full extent of the law.
- Source agreements are documented in writing before publication.
- We do not publish details that could inadvertently identify a confidential source.
- Source protection survives the departure of the journalist and the closure of the story.
5. Analysis vs. Opinion
We distinguish clearly between verified reporting, informed analysis, and opinion. Analysis is grounded in evidence and labelled as interpretation; opinion is explicitly marked and separated from news reporting. We do not present analysis as established fact, nor do we bury opinion inside a news dispatch.
6. Imagery & Visual Evidence
Photographs and video are not altered to mislead. Cropping, tonal adjustment, and redaction for safety are permitted and disclosed. We do not composite, reverse, or stage imagery. Historical photographs used for illustration are captioned with their provenance and date.
7. Conflicts of Interest
Staff and contributors disclose any financial, personal, or political interest that could bear on their reporting. We do not accept gifts, travel, or hospitality from subjects of coverage. Freelance contributors may not hold paid positions with parties they cover for us.
8. Newsroom Conduct
Our correspondents identify themselves as journalists and their affiliation with The Russian Issues when gathering information, except in rare cases where disclosure would endanger the journalist or a source and is approved by the Editor-in-Chief. We do not hack, steal, or obtain material by deception.
Independent Ombudsman
An external reader representative reviews complaints against this Code, publishes findings, and can order corrections. The Ombudsman is independent of the editorial chain of command and reports directly to the publisher. Complaints may be sent to ombudsman@therussianissues.com.
When we make an error, we correct it promptly and visibly. Every correction is logged, dated, and published alongside the original dispatch. We do not silently rewrite history — our own or anyone else's.
— The Editorial Standards Code, The Russian Issues