Editorial Policy

Last updated: June 2026

This Editorial Policy governs all journalistic work published by Middle East Chronicle. It applies to all team members, freelancers, and guest contributors. These guidelines reflect the SPJ Code of Ethics, IFJ standards, the Reuters Institute guidelines, and additional standards specific to reporting on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

1. Mission and Editorial Independence

Middle East Chronicle is an independent English-language digital news portal with the tagline "Inside Matters." Our mission is rigorous, nuanced, and impartial journalism covering the political, economic, social, and security dimensions of the MENA region. We seek to go beyond surface-level coverage to illuminate the structural forces, historical contexts, and diverse voices that shape the Middle East.

Editorial independence is absolute. No external party — governments, political movements, religious institutions, business interests, or any other actor — influences our editorial decisions. All decisions rest solely with the editorial team.

2. Truth, Accuracy, and Verification

Rules: two-source principle for all material claims; primary source verification for statistics and data; clear labelling of unverified information; independent corroboration of social media content; accuracy over speed in breaking news; authentication of documents and leaks before publication; particular care with casualty figures, territory claims, and other contested facts in conflict reporting.

3. MENA-Specific Reporting Standards

Middle East reporting requires heightened editorial standards: (a) avoiding religious, ethnic, or sectarian framing that reduces complex conflicts to simplistic narratives; (b) representing all significant perspectives in contested political disputes, including voices often marginalised in Western coverage; (c) exercising extreme care in conflict zone reporting to protect sources, verify casualty claims, and not amplify unverified propaganda from any side; (d) providing historical and geopolitical context essential for understanding MENA dynamics; (e) using terminology carefully, recognising that politically loaded terms (e.g. "terrorist," "militant," "freedom fighter") carry contested meanings and should be used precisely; (f) never publishing information that could endanger the physical safety of sources, journalists, or civilians in the region.

4. Source Transparency and Anonymous Sources

Sources cited as completely as possible. Anonymous sources restricted to cases where: demonstrable public interest overrides identification; credible safety risk to source exists; editorial management knows the identity; decision is documented. Anonymous sources adequately characterised. Information from anonymous sources corroborated wherever possible.

5. Separation of News and Opinion

News reports are objective and factual. Opinion pieces are labelled with the author's name. Analyses are labelled "Analysis." Editorials representing institutional positions are identified. No personal judgements appear in news reports.

6. Corrections and Right of Reply

Errors corrected promptly with dated correction notes. No silent alterations. Erroneous articles may be retracted with explanation. Right of reply: support@harbingerpressmedia.com. Error reports reviewed within 48 hours.

7. Personality Rights and Human Dignity

Private-life information only when overriding public interest exists. Heightened care for conflict victims. No identifying details for minors without guardian consent. No discrimination. Presumption of innocence in criminal coverage. Particular sensitivity for detainees, refugees, and displaced persons.

8. Conflicts of Interest

Journalists do not report on topics in which they have a personal interest. Conflicts reported proactively. Gifts from reporting subjects prohibited. Press trips require approval and disclosure. No reporter may accept payments, contracts, or benefits from governments, political parties, or intelligence services of any country.

9. Source Protection and Safety

Source protection is of the highest priority — especially in the MENA region where press freedom is severely restricted in many countries and sources face real risks of persecution, imprisonment, or physical harm. No confidential source identity is disclosed under any circumstances. Digital security practices are applied to protect communications with sources in high-risk environments.

10. Use of AI

AI-generated content is always reviewed and edited by a human. AI may not fabricate quotes, sources, or events. Substantial AI assistance is disclosed. AI may not produce deceptive images. Human editors bear all responsibility for published content.

11. Complaints and Feedback

Readers with complaints: support@harbingerpressmedia.com. Response within five working days.