Independent journalism only means something if readers can trust it. This page explains exactly how The Christchurch Chronicle does its work, the standards we hold ourselves to, and what you can do when you think we've fallen short.
We review and update this policy regularly. Last updated: March 2026
Everything we publish is guided by four principles: accuracy, fairness, independence and accountability. They are not aspirational — they are the baseline.
Accuracy means we verify before we publish. We check facts, confirm sources, seek documentary evidence and do not publish what we cannot stand behind.
Fairness means we give people a right of reply, present a full picture, and do not misrepresent or oversimplify — in headlines, in summaries, or in the body of a story.
Independence means our editorial decisions are made by journalists, not advertisers, sponsors, donors or any other outside interest. There are no hidden agendas here.
Accountability means we take responsibility for our work, correct our mistakes openly, and answer for our decisions when asked.
We do not publish what we cannot verify. Before any significant factual claim goes to publication, we seek to confirm it through at least two independent sources — one of which may be documentary evidence. Where we cannot reach that standard, we say so clearly in the story.
We do not tolerate plagiarism, fabrication or misrepresentation of any kind. These are grounds for immediate termination.
We fact-check headlines, captions, pull quotes and social media posts with the same rigour as the body of a story. A headline that misrepresents the article it promotes is an inaccuracy.
We identify our sources wherever possible. We grant anonymity only when the information is significant, the source is reliable, there is a clear reason they cannot be named, and there is no other way to obtain the information. Anonymity is approved by a senior editor, who must know the source's identity and the reason for the request.
When we grant anonymity, we describe the source as fully as we can — their role, their relationship to the story, their reason for not being named — so readers can assess their credibility.
We protect our sources. Confidential sources will not be disclosed without their explicit consent.
When we report negative information about a person or organisation, we make a genuine effort to seek their response before publication. We give subjects reasonable time to reply — not a last-minute request designed to be declined. Where someone declines to comment or does not respond, we say so in the story.
We do not publish accusations as facts. We distinguish clearly between what is alleged and what is established.
We present a full range of credible perspectives on contested issues. We do not platform fringe views simply for the appearance of balance, nor do we reduce complex issues to two opposing poles.
Our newsroom operates independently from all commercial, political and personal interests.
Advertisers and sponsors have no influence over editorial decisions, story selection, coverage angles or publication timing. Our commercial team and editorial team operate separately — the newsroom does not know the details of commercial arrangements, and commercial relationships do not give any party access to unpublished content.
Journalists on our staff may not cover organisations, companies, or individuals in which they have a financial interest, a close personal relationship, or any other conflict of interest without prior disclosure to and approval from a senior editor. Where a conflict cannot be managed, the journalist recuses themselves from the coverage.
We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and all sources of revenue.
We distinguish clearly between reporting, news analysis, commentary and sponsored content.
News reporting presents verified facts and the perspectives of relevant parties. It does not advocate.
News analysis applies editorial judgment to explain context, significance and implications. It is labelled as analysis.
Opinion and commentary represents the views of named writers. It is clearly labelled and visually distinct from news content.
Sponsored and partner content is always prominently labelled. It is produced separately from the newsroom and does not represent the editorial views of The Christchurch Chronicle.
We do not publish political endorsements.
We make mistakes. When we do, we correct them quickly, prominently and transparently.
Corrections are published on the original story page, clearly labelled. We do not quietly edit stories without noting the change. The nature of the error and the correct information are both stated.
We distinguish between corrections (factual errors), clarifications (additional context that changes the meaning or impression of a story) and updates (new developments after publication). Each is handled and labelled differently.
As a matter of editorial policy, we do not unpublish stories on request. Removal is considered only in exceptional circumstances — where continued publication would cause serious harm that outweighs the public interest, or where a story is found to be fundamentally unsound.
To report an error, contact us at news@scholastica.com. Senior editors review all correction requests and respond within 5 business days.
We respect the privacy of individuals. Intrusion into private life is justified only when there is a clear and proportionate public interest that cannot be served another way.
We exercise particular care in coverage involving:
We follow established best-practice guidelines on the reporting of suicide and self-harm, and consult relevant guidance when covering other sensitive topics.
We do not alter the editorial substance of photographs or video. Technical improvements — cropping, colour correction, noise reduction — are permitted. Anything that changes what actually happened is not.
Photo illustrations, composites and graphics are always labelled as such.
We do not publish images of identifiable deceased individuals or graphic depictions of violence without clear editorial justification and senior editorial approval.
We use AI tools to support our journalism, not to replace the judgment of our journalists.
AI may be used for tasks such as transcription, data processing, research assistance and administrative functions. It is not used to write, report or edit news stories without full human review and editorial accountability.
We do not publish AI-generated content as original journalism. Where AI tools have played a meaningful role in the production of a story — for example, in processing a large dataset — we disclose this in the story.
We will regularly review and update our approach to AI technologies to ensure it remains rooted in our values and is communicated clearly to our audiences.
Our journalists' public social media activity reflects on The Christchurch Chronicle. We expect staff to exercise the same standards of accuracy and fairness on social platforms as in their published work.
Journalists do not express personal opinions on matters they cover. They do not share, amplify or endorse political content. They do not engage in public disputes with sources, subjects or readers in ways that could compromise their impartiality or the publication's credibility.
If you believe we have breached our editorial standards, we want to know.
Contact our editorial team at news@scholastica.com with a clear description of the specific concern, the story or content in question, and what outcome you are seeking. Senior editors review all complaints. We aim to respond within 10 business days.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may refer your complaint to the relevant press standards body or regulatory authority in your jurisdiction.
Journalism is not static, and neither are its ethical challenges. We review this policy at least annually and update it when our practices change, when new issues arise — such as emerging technologies — or when we believe our standards can be strengthened.
Questions about this policy? Contact us at news@scholastica.com.