Editorial Policy
Editorial Policy
Last updated: June 2026
This Editorial Policy governs all journalistic work published by El Gazettario. It applies to all editorial team members, freelance contributors, and guest authors. These guidelines are modelled on the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) global charter, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism standards, and UNESCO's Journalism, "Fake News" & Disinformation handbook.
1. Mission and Editorial Independence
El Gazettario is an independent English-language digital news portal with the tagline "Insight Americas." Our mission is rigorous, fact-based, and impartial reporting on politics, economics, society, technology, science, and culture across the Americas — from Canada and the United States, through Mexico and Central America, to South America and the Caribbean — for an international English-speaking readership. The name pays homage to the tradition of independent gazette journalism that has informed democratic societies since the 17th century.
Editorial independence is unconditional. No article, topic, framing, or headline is shaped by advertisers, sponsors, political actors, governments, investors, or any external party. All editorial decisions are made exclusively by the editorial team. A clear and unambiguous separation between editorial and any commercial content is always maintained.
2. Core Journalistic Values
El Gazettario's journalism is anchored in four core values: Truth — we seek verifiable facts and report them accurately; Independence — we are beholden to no external interest; Fairness — all subjects of reporting are treated fairly, and affected parties are offered an opportunity to respond; Minimising Harm — we are conscious of the potential impact of our reporting on individuals, communities, and societies.
3. Truth, Accuracy, and Verification
Source verification standards:
- Two-source principle: All material claims are supported by at least two independent, credible sources.
- Primary source priority: Statistics and data are verified against primary sources (original studies, official statistics, international bodies). Aggregated secondary source data is cross-checked.
- Unconfirmed information: Clearly labelled as unconfirmed, alleged, or unverified — never presented as fact.
- PR and press releases: Never reproduced without independent editorial verification and contextualisation.
- Breaking news: Accuracy prioritised over speed. Erroneous breaking news items corrected promptly and prominently.
- Social media content: Independently verified before use as a factual basis.
- Document verification: Leaked or pre-publication documents authenticated as thoroughly as possible before publication.
- Misinformation vigilance: The editorial team actively monitors for viral misinformation and will publish corrections or debunks where warranted.
4. Source Transparency and Anonymous Sources
Sources cited as completely and transparently as possible. Anonymous sources restricted to cases where: a demonstrable public interest overrides identification; the source faces credible risk; editorial management knows the identity; the decision is internally documented; the source is adequately characterised; and information is corroborated where possible.
5. Separation of News and Opinion
News articles: objective, factual, no personal judgements. Opinion pieces: clearly labelled, represent the named author's view. Analysis pieces: labelled "Analysis," combining fact with contextualisation. Editorials representing institutional positions: identified accordingly. El Gazettario does not issue editorial endorsements of political candidates or parties.
6. Americas-Specific Reporting Standards
El Gazettario's regional focus on the Americas requires additional sensitivities: (a) avoiding reductive or homogenising narratives about the region — the Americas comprise dozens of distinct countries and territories across North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean, each with vastly different political, economic, and cultural contexts; (b) prioritising local and regional voices, particularly from Latin America and the Caribbean, as primary informants rather than relying solely on U.S. or European institutional sources; (c) contextualising statistics and comparisons within appropriate regional and global frameworks; (d) exercising heightened sensitivity when reporting on political instability, organised crime, human rights concerns, and migration across the region; (e) not reproducing propaganda, disinformation, or manipulation from any governmental or non-governmental actor uncritically; (f) taking particular care to protect the safety of local sources and contributors in environments with restricted press freedom.
7. Corrections, Updates, and Right of Reply
Errors are corrected promptly, fully, and transparently. Corrections carry a dated note at the article end. No silent alterations after initial publication. Retraction of wholly erroneous articles possible, with transparent explanation. Right of reply available to affected parties: support@harbingerpressmedia.com. Error reports reviewed within 48 hours.
8. Personality Rights and Human Dignity
Private-life information only when overriding public interest established. Heightened care for crime, conflict, and disaster victims. No identifying details for minors without guardian consent. No discrimination. Presumption of innocence in criminal coverage. Particular sensitivity for refugees, detainees, marginalised communities, and persons in conflict zones.
9. Conflicts of Interest
Journalists do not report on topics in which they have a personal interest. Conflicts proactively disclosed to editorial management. No gifts from reporting subjects. Press trips require approval and disclosure in the article. No reporter may have undisclosed financial or contractual relationships with governments, political organisations, or companies they cover.
10. Source Protection
Confidential source identities never disclosed — to third parties, authorities, or any other party — to the extent legally permissible. Digital security practices applied to protect communications with sources in high-risk environments. The safety of sources and contributors takes precedence over any editorial consideration.
11. Use of Artificial Intelligence
AI tools may support journalistic work under strict conditions: all AI-generated content reviewed by a human editor; AI may not fabricate quotes, sources, events, or persons; substantial AI assistance disclosed; the same applies to El Gazettario's AI-assisted Instagram content (video clips, image carousels, and single-image posts published on a shared account with the other Harbinger news portals), disclosed in each post's caption; AI may not generate deceptive or manipulated images; human editors bear all responsibility for published content. El Gazettario will periodically review and update its AI policy as the technology evolves.
12. Diversity, Inclusion, and Regional Representation
El Gazettario actively seeks to reflect the full diversity of the Americas in its coverage. This means geographic breadth across North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean; diversity of sources including Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, immigrant and diaspora voices, women, and youth; avoidance of stereotypes and reductive narratives about any country or community in the region; and conscious representation of perspectives from Latin America and the Global South in analyses of hemispheric and international affairs.
13. Complaints and Feedback
Readers with complaints or feedback: support@harbingerpressmedia.com. We aim to respond within five working days.
14. Scope and Updates
These guidelines apply to all content on elgazettario.com and all El Gazettario social media presences. Updated as necessary.