Last Updated: August 22, 2026
These are the editorial standards First For News applies to its reporting. They govern the daily editorial decisions the newsroom makes about what to publish, how to source it, how to label it, and how to correct it when necessary. They apply to staff reporting, contributed pieces, and any wire or partner material published on the site.
Accuracy
Every factual claim in a piece published on the site should be verifiable. Significant claims are supported by named sources, public records, or, on rare occasion, anonymous sources whose reliability has been judged by a senior editor. Errors discovered after publication are corrected on the record.
Sourcing and Attribution
The publication attributes its claims. Quoted persons are identified by name and role. Studies, public records, and other reporting referenced in the coverage are credited and, where possible, linked. Where reporting was first developed by another publication, that publication is credited on first mention.
Anonymous Sources
Anonymous sourcing is used only when the information genuinely matters and could not be obtained any other way, and only with the knowledge of a senior editor. The source is described as specifically as possible without identifying the individual. The publication does not retroactively grant anonymity; the terms are settled before the information is conveyed.
News, Analysis, and Opinion
News reporting is presented straight. Analysis interprets the reporting and is labeled as such. Opinion advances a position and reflects the writer rather than the publication. The three categories appear in different sections of the site, are tagged distinctly, and are meant to be visibly distinguishable at a glance.
Fairness
Fairness means giving people and organizations covered in the reporting a meaningful opportunity to respond to material allegations before publication. It does not mean treating contested propositions as equally credible regardless of evidence. When the facts on a question are clear, the publication reports them, regardless of any public figure's preference.
Conflicts of Interest
Editors and reporters disclose financial, personal, and political relationships that could create the appearance of a conflict, and step away from coverage where appropriate. Contributors are held to the same standard. Where a relevant interest exists, it is disclosed in the affected piece or in the author's bio.
Corrections
Substantive corrections are appended to the affected article in a clearly marked corrections box, with a dated note describing what changed. Trivial fixes such as typos and broken links are handled silently. Any correction that alters the meaning of a sentence is recorded openly. The publication does not silently rewrite the record.
Wire and Partner Material
Some of what runs on the site originates with wire services, syndication partners, or contributors. Such material is clearly attributed and held to the same accuracy standards as staff reporting. Questions about the provenance of a particular piece may be directed to the editorial address.
A Working Note
These guidelines are not exhaustive. Most editorial decisions in practice are matters of judgment. When the rules and the situation do not line up cleanly, the newsroom returns to the underlying question: is this a piece the publication is prepared to stand behind and explain to a reader? If the answer is yes, the piece publishes. If not, the piece holds.