Editorial Policy | The Gazette News | Independent. Human-Centred. Impactful

Effective Date: March 2026 | Last Updated: March 2026 | Version 1.0

Our Editorial Commitment

The Gazette News exists to serve one constituency above all others — the reader. Not the government of the day. Not the political party with the loudest voice. Not the advertiser with the largest budget. Every editorial decision we make is guided by a single question: does this serve the public’s right to accurate, fair, and independent information?

This Editorial Policy sets out the standards that govern every story, every headline, every photograph, and every word published on thegazette.ng. It is not aspirational language. It is the operational code by which our journalists and editors are held accountable — by their editors, by our readers, and by the traditions of journalism that this publication is proud to uphold.

1. Independence

The Gazette News is an editorially independent publication. Our editorial decisions are made by our editors and journalists, free from the influence of political parties, government agencies, corporate interests, advertisers, or any individual with a financial or political stake in our coverage.

We do not accept editorial direction from our commercial partners. Advertising revenue supports our operations but exercises no influence over our story selection, framing, timing, or prominence. The newsroom and the business side of The Gazette News operate separately, and that separation is absolute.

We are not affiliated with any political party. No journalist or editor of The Gazette News holds an active political party card or serves in any elected or appointed government position while working for this publication. Any such affiliation must be declared immediately and will result in reassignment or suspension from editorial duties.

2. Accuracy and Verification

Accuracy is the foundation of everything we publish. A story that is compelling but wrong is worse than no story at all. We apply the following verification standards to every piece of reporting before publication:

The Two-Source Standard

Every significant factual claim in a news report must be verified by a minimum of two independent, credible sources before it is published as fact. Sources must be independent of each other — two sources who have obtained the same information from a single origin do not satisfy this standard.

Primary Sources

Official documents, court records, verified government releases, publicly filed financial statements, and authenticated multimedia evidence may serve as a primary source. They must be reviewed in full — not cited from secondary reports.

Social Media

Social media posts, screenshots, and viral content are never accepted as primary sources. They must be independently verified against official statements, primary contacts, or original documentation before any claim derived from them is published.

When Verification Is Incomplete

When a significant claim can be confirmed by only one source and publication cannot wait, the story must clearly state that the claim could not be independently verified: “The Gazette News could not independently verify this information.” Publishing unverified information as confirmed fact is a disciplinary matter.

Photographs and Video

All photographs and video content used to illustrate news events must be verified for authenticity, correct attribution, and accurate context before publication. Journalists must use reverse image search tools, metadata analysis, and direct source confirmation to verify visual content, particularly when it originates from social media or is submitted by members of the public.

3. Fairness and Impartiality

The Gazette News is committed to fair, balanced, and impartial reporting. Fairness does not mean giving equal weight to claims of unequal evidential merit — it means ensuring that all parties relevant to a story have been heard, that all available facts have been considered, and that no individual or group is subjected to coverage that is motivated by prejudice, politics, or personal interest.

Impartiality in News Reporting

News reports published on thegazette.ng do not contain the personal opinions of the journalist. The journalist’s role in a news report is to gather and present verified facts, not to advocate for a position. Where analysis is included in a news report, it is clearly identified as analysis and grounded in evidence.

Contested Issues

On matters of genuine political, social, or empirical controversy, The Gazette News presents the strongest credible arguments from all significant perspectives. We do not present one side of a contested issue as settled fact unless the evidence conclusively supports it.

Electoral Coverage

During election periods, The Gazette News is especially vigilant about impartiality. We do not endorse political candidates or parties in our news coverage. Opinion pieces may take positions, but all electoral opinion content is clearly labeled and accompanied by the standard disclaimer.

4. Source Policy

Named Sources

Named sources are always the first preference of The Gazette News. A source willing to attach their name to a claim lends credibility, accountability, and transparency to our reporting. Journalists must always make every reasonable effort to obtain on-the-record comment before accepting a request for anonymity.

Anonymous Sources

Anonymous sources are permitted only when all three of the following conditions are satisfied:

The information is of significant public interest and material to the story being reported
The source faces a credible and verifiable risk of professional, physical, legal, or personal harm if identified
The information cannot be obtained by any other means

All use of anonymous sources requires the prior approval of the editor. The editor must be informed of the source’s true identity, even when the source is not published. This identity is held in strict confidence.

How Anonymous Sources Are Referenced

Anonymous sources must be described as specifically as possible without compromising their identity. The following formulations are acceptable:

“A senior official in the Federal Ministry of Finance, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly…”
“A source with direct knowledge of the transaction, who requested anonymity citing fear of retaliation…”

The following formulation is not acceptable and is prohibited at The Gazette News:

“Sources say…” without any further qualification of who the sources are or why they are anonymous

Source Protection

The Gazette News will not reveal the identity of a confidential source under any circumstances, including legal pressure, without the explicit, freely given consent of that source. Journalists who are threatened with legal action to compel source disclosure must immediately notify the editor, who will take appropriate legal advice.

5. Right of Reply

Every individual, institution, company, or government body that is the subject of a negative factual allegation in a Gazette News story has the right to respond to those allegations before the story is published.

Procedure

The journalist responsible for the story must:

Contact the subject by email, official correspondence, or direct phone communication — using the most appropriate method for the gravity of the matter
Provide a clear and specific summary of the allegations being reported, in writing where possible
Provide a minimum response window of 24 hours for standard news stories, and 48 hours for complex investigative or feature stories
Keep a written record of all contact attempts, including times, dates, and methods used

Handling Responses

Where a response is received, it must be included in the published story in full, or substantively and fairly summarised. Where a response is received after publication deadline, it may be added to the published article with a note indicating it was received after initial publication.

Where No Response Is Received

If the subject does not respond within the stipulated time, the story may be published with the following notation: “[Name / Institution] did not respond to The Gazette’s request for comment sent on [date] by [method].”

If the subject declines to comment, the story must state: “[Name / Institution] declined to comment when contacted by The Gazette News.”

Under no circumstances may a story be published without a documented attempt to obtain comment from the subject of a negative factual allegation, except in the specific circumstances described in Section 5a below.

Section 5a — Breaking News Exception

Where a story involves an imminent threat to public safety, an unfolding emergency, or time-critical information whose public benefit clearly outweighs the delay required to obtain comment, the editor may authorise publication without full right-of-reply procedure. In such cases, contact with the subject must be made simultaneously with publication, and any substantive response received must be incorporated in a follow-up update as soon as possible.

6. Conflicts of Interest

The Gazette News requires full transparency from all journalists, editors, and contributors regarding any actual or potential conflict of interest. A conflict of interest exists wherever a journalist’s personal, financial, political, or social relationships could — or could reasonably be perceived to — influence their reporting.

Declaration Requirement

Every journalist and contributor must declare to the editor any potential conflict of interest before accepting or continuing a story assignment. Conflicts include but are not limited to:

Personal, romantic, or family relationships with news subjects or their associates
Financial interests — including shares, investments, business partnerships, or consultancy work — in companies or institutions being reported on
Current or recent employment by an organisation that is the subject of coverage
Membership of political parties, religious organisations, or advocacy groups whose activities are being reported on
Previous public statements or published positions that could compromise the appearance of impartiality on a specific story

Editor’s Determination

The editor will assess whether a declared conflict is material and will determine the appropriate action — which may include reassignment of the story, a disclosed disclaimer on the published piece, or suspension from a specific beat.

Gifts and Hospitality

No journalist or editor of The Gazette News may accept gifts, cash, vouchers, meals of significant value, or travel from news sources, political figures, government agencies, or companies they cover. Press trips and travel to cover events may be accepted only where The Gazette News retains full editorial control over what is published and where the trip is disclosed in any resulting articles.

7. Separation of News and Opinion

The Gazette News maintains a strict and visible separation between independently reported news content and opinion, analysis, and editorial content.

News Reports present verified facts, named sources, and documented evidence. They do not contain the personal views or advocacy positions of the journalist.

Analysis pieces apply journalistic judgment to interpret the significance of reported events. They are grounded in verified facts and clearly labeled “Analysis” at the top of the page.

Opinion pieces represent the views of their named authors only. They are clearly labeled “Opinion” at the top of the page and carry the following disclaimer: “The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Gazette News.”

Editorials represent the institutional voice of The Gazette News on matters of public significance. They are written by or under the direct supervision of the Editor-in-Chief and are clearly labeled “Editorial”.

Opinion writers are held to the same factual standards as news journalists. Opinions may be robust, contested, and challenging — but they may not contain deliberate falsehoods, defamatory statements, or unsubstantiated allegations of criminal conduct.

8. Sponsored and Branded Content

The Gazette News publishes sponsored content and branded partnerships as a source of commercial revenue. The following standards govern all sponsored content:

All sponsored content is clearly and prominently labeled “Sponsored” or “Advertiser Content” at the top of the page, before the headline
Sponsored content does not appear in the same editorial feed or column as independently reported news content without clear visual separation
Sponsored content is never labeled as news, investigation, analysis, or any other editorial format
Sponsors and advertisers exercise no editorial control over any The Gazette News content — sponsored or otherwise
Sponsored content must meet The Gazette’s factual accuracy, ethical, and professional standards before publication
Journalists who produce sponsored content are not assigned to cover the sponsoring organisation’s news beats during the same period

9. Corrections Policy

The Gazette News corrects factual errors promptly, transparently, and without concealment of what was originally published. We do not silently delete or rewrite factual errors without acknowledgment. For our full procedure on corrections, updates, and clarifications, see our Corrections Policy at https://thegazette.ng/corrections-policy/

10. Privacy and Newsgathering

The Gazette News respects the privacy of private individuals while recognising that public figures in the exercise of their public duties have a reduced expectation of privacy. We apply the following standards:

We do not publish private information about private individuals unless there is a clear and proportionate public interest that outweighs their right to privacy
We do not use deceptive means to obtain information or access — such as misrepresenting our identity — except in rare cases of significant public interest investigative journalism, and only with senior editorial approval
We do not photograph or film individuals in private spaces without their consent
We protect the identities of sources, whistleblowers, and vulnerable individuals at all times

11. Sensitive Coverage Guidelines

Suicide and Self-Harm

The Gazette News follows the international safe messaging guidelines on suicide reporting published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). We do not describe the method of suicide. We do not sensationalise, romanticise, or present suicide as a solution to personal difficulties. We use the phrase “died by suicide” — not “committed suicide”. Where relevant, we include signposting to crisis support resources.

Sexual Violence

Victims of sexual violence, sexual assault, and rape are never identified by name or any identifiable detail without their explicit, informed, and freely given consent. Graphic details of sexual violence are not reported unless they are directly relevant to a court finding. Alleged perpetrators are referred to as “alleged” until conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Children and Minors

Children under the age of 18 involved in crime, abuse, trafficking, or other sensitive circumstances are not identified by name, photograph, or any detail that could lead to their identification. Parental or guardian consent is required before any interview with a minor is conducted or published. Children are not interviewed about traumatic events in the absence of a responsible adult.

Ethnic and Religious Identity

Ethnicity and religion are reported only where directly relevant to the substance of a news story. We do not identify suspects or convicted individuals by their ethnic or religious identity unless it is a specific and documented element of the matter being reported. We do not publish content designed to inflame, exploit, or aggravate ethnic or religious tensions in Nigeria or elsewhere.

Mental Health

Mental health conditions are reported clinically, factually, and without stigmatising language. The Gazette News does not use derogatory terms to describe individuals with mental health conditions. Where a mental health condition is relevant to a news story, it is reported in its proper medical context and with the dignity the subject deserves.

12. Images and Visual Journalism

The Gazette News holds its visual journalism to the same ethical standards as its written journalism.

We use original photography, images licensed from authorised agencies, or content verified as being in the public domain
We do not alter or manipulate news photographs in any way that changes the meaning of the events depicted
We do not use AI-generated images to illustrate news events, emergencies, crime scenes, or any factual reporting
All image credits are provided
Graphic imagery — including images of death, severe injury, or explicit violence — is published only where it is clearly in the proportionate public interest, and is accompanied by a content warning

13. Artificial Intelligence in the Newsroom

The Gazette News uses artificial intelligence as a tool to support research, editorial efficiency, and workflow operations. Our AI policy is as follows:

All published articles are reported, verified, written, and edited by human journalists
AI tools may be used to assist research, transcription, translation, and data processing — but may not generate publishable content without full human journalistic oversight, verification, and editorial accountability
AI-generated content used as a research aid must be independently verified against primary sources before any claim derived from it is published
We do not use AI to generate quotes, fabricate sources, or produce content that misrepresents the facts of a situation

14. Accountability and Complaints

Editorial Complaints

Readers, sources, or subjects who have a complaint about the accuracy, fairness, or conduct of Gazette News journalism are entitled to a response. Complaints should be submitted to: editor@thegazette.ng

We will acknowledge all complaints within 48 hours and provide a substantive response within 10 working days. Where a complaint is upheld, we will take appropriate corrective action in accordance with our Corrections Policy.

Correction Requests

To report a specific factual error in a published article: corrections@thegazette.ng

External Oversight

The Gazette News supports the work of press freedom organisations and professional journalism bodies in Nigeria and internationally, including the Nigerian Press Council and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). We comply with applicable Nigerian media law and support the development of independent press regulation in Nigeria.

15. Amendments to This Policy

This Editorial Policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect changes in journalism standards, law, technology, and the operating environment of The Gazette News. Material amendments will be noted with an updated version number and effective date at the top of this page.