This page explains how Civic Affairs verifies every claim we publish—so you know what to expect from our reporting, and how to raise concerns if something doesn’t add up. We’re a digital news publication focused on UK civic affairs, operated by Sliema Media Limited (Malta), but our editorial work is rooted in British public life. Use this policy to understand the steps we take before a story goes live, and where to find the sources behind our work.
What we verify before publication
We check every factual assertion that appears in our articles—from official statistics and policy claims to council decisions, regulatory filings, political statements, legal claims, financial figures, and institutional announcements. If a story involves health claims, minors, public safety, or privacy concerns, we apply extra scrutiny. Rumours and speculation are always labelled as such and never presented as fact. We do not publish unverified material, and any information that cannot be reliably sourced is either omitted or explicitly caveated.
Our verification process covers:
- Official statistics – cross-checked against original government or agency releases.
- Policy claims and council decisions – confirmed via recorded votes, meeting minutes, or direct statements from the relevant body.
- Regulatory filings and company documents – sourced from Companies House, regulators, or published filings.
- Political statements and legal claims – verified against transcripts, Hansard, court documents, or direct recordings.
- Financial figures – traced to audited accounts, Budget statements, or official datasets.
- Health claims and public safety information – reviewed with authoritative sources such as NHS, Public Health England, or academic consensus.
- Stories involving minors – handled with extra care to protect identity and meet safeguarding standards (see our Safeguarding Minors Policy).
Our source hierarchy
We rank sources by reliability. Official government data, council documents, parliamentary records, court documents, company filings, and regulator statements sit at the top. Next come direct interviews and first-hand reporting carried out by our journalists. Verified public statements from named individuals follow. Anything below that—such as third-hand accounts or unattributed briefings—requires clear justification and is always flagged.
Anonymous sourcing is avoided unless there is a compelling editorial reason (for example, protecting a whistleblower) and the information can be responsibly verified through other means. Every source is documented internally. For a full breakdown of our sourcing principles, see our Sources & Standards page.
How this works in practice
Let’s take a recent example. We reported on a council’s claim that a local service had been “cut by 30%” following a budget vote. First, our correspondent obtained the official council minutes and the budget resolution document. Then we cross-checked the percentage against the actual funding figures published in the council’s annual statement. After that, our Public Affairs & Governance Editor interviewed the council’s finance lead and a opposition councillor for verification. The Standards & Fact-Checking Lead reviewed the piece before publication to ensure no key source was missing. The final story included a direct link to the budget papers. That’s the process every article goes through.
Who oversees this work
Diane Forbes, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, has final responsibility for verifying sensitive stories, handling corrections, and maintaining our editorial standards. She reviews any article that involves significant public interest, legal risk, or vulnerable subjects. Readers can submit factual queries or report potential errors to factcheck@civicaffairs.uk. We take every report seriously and respond within two working days. If we find an error, we correct it promptly and note the change on the article. See our Corrections Policy for details. Our broader editorial approach is outlined in the Editorial Policy, and you can meet the full team on our Our Team page.
Transparency about our funding and ownership
Civic Affairs is operated by Sliema Media Limited, registered in Malta (company number C 84217, registered office Level 3 Tower Business Centre, Tower Street, Swatar, Birkirkara BKR 4013, Malta). Our funding comes from display advertising, affiliate links, commercial partnerships, sponsored content, newsletter sponsorships, content licensing, and event partnerships. All sponsored or commercial material is clearly labelled, and affiliate links are disclosed. Commercial relationships never determine editorial conclusions. For a full breakdown, see our Ownership & Funding page.
In short
We aim to give you accurate, well-sourced journalism you can trust. Every fact is checked against original documents or direct testimony before publication, and we are transparent about where our information comes from. If you ever spot something that looks off, please tell us—we’ll investigate and correct it openly.