Editorial standards

Scope

These standards apply to everything published in the department newsroom, including department news, faculty reporting, student journalism, opinion, multimedia and announcements. They also apply to content published on the department's social channels and newsletter.

Every story passes through editorial review by an editor and final approval by a department administrator before it is published. Authors cannot approve their own work.

Accuracy and verification

We verify the facts we publish. Claims should be attributable to a named source, a document or direct observation. Where a claim cannot be verified, it must be attributed clearly and the limitation explained to readers.

Statistics must cite their source and date. Documents should be linked or described precisely enough for readers to assess them. Photographs and video must not be altered in ways that change their meaning.

• Seek primary sources and original documents wherever possible.
• Test and re-test technical or numerical claims before publication.
• Record the verification steps taken in the story's editorial checklist.
• Do not present speculation as fact.

Fairness and right of reply

People and organisations facing significant criticism should be given a meaningful opportunity to respond before publication, with enough detail to understand the allegation and enough time to reply.

Where a response is not available, the story should say so. We report allegations as allegations and avoid language that presumes guilt.

Independence and conflicts

Editorial decisions are made independently of institutional public-relations priorities. Staff and student journalists must disclose any conflict of interest to the editor, including personal, financial or political relationships with subjects.

Sponsored content, if published, is clearly labelled and kept separate from editorial judgement. Opinion pieces are labelled as opinion and do not represent the views of the University of Liberia.

Labelling

Readers should be able to tell what kind of content they are reading. The newsroom uses these labels:

• Department news and reporting: reported and edited by the department newsroom.
• Opinion and analysis: the views of the named author.
• Student journalism: reported by students under editorial supervision.
• Sponsored: paid or partner content, clearly separated from editorial content.
• Announcement: official department or institutional information.

Sources and attribution

We prefer named sources. Anonymous sources may be used only where the information is of significant public interest and the source faces a credible risk, and only with the editor's agreement. The reader should be told why anonymity was granted.

Quotations must be accurate. They may be trimmed for length but not altered in meaning. Paraphrase must be faithful to what was said.

Privacy and harm

We consider the potential harm of publication, particularly to vulnerable people, students and private individuals. We avoid publishing unnecessary personal details such as addresses, contact information or identifying information about minors.

Sensitive reporting should include appropriate content notes and support information where relevant.

AI and automated tools

Automated tools may assist with transcription, research or production, but they do not replace verification or editorial judgement. A named human editor remains responsible for every published story. Images or audio generated or substantially altered with automated tools must be labelled.

Review and enforcement

The editorial team reviews these standards periodically. Complaints about published work are handled through the corrections process. Serious or repeated breaches may be escalated to the department head.