Leading Reporters is an online news publisher based in Abuja, Nigeria. Our job is to report accurately and fairly on the people and institutions that shape public life in Nigeria, and to hold them to account. This policy sets out the standards every reporter, editor and contributor works to.
Accuracy
- We verify facts before we publish. Where a claim cannot be confirmed, we say so.
- We name our sources wherever possible and link to primary documents such as court filings, budgets, official statements and reports.
- We use anonymous sources only when the information is in the public interest, cannot be obtained on the record, and at least one editor knows the source’s identity.
- Photographs and videos are not altered in ways that mislead. Illustrations and archive images are labelled.
Fairness and right of reply
- People and organisations facing serious allegations are given a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication, and their response is reported fairly.
- If someone declines to comment or does not respond, we say so in the story.
Independence
- Editorial decisions are made by our editors, not by advertisers, sponsors, politicians or owners.
- Reporters do not accept money, gifts or favours in exchange for coverage.
- Staff must declare any personal or financial interest in a story they work on.
Separating news, opinion and paid content
- News reports are kept separate from opinion. Opinion pieces are labelled Opinion and reflect the views of their writers, not of Leading Reporters.
- Paid content is labelled Sponsored, and press releases published unedited are labelled Press Release. See our Sponsored Content Policy.
Investigations
Investigative reports are reviewed by a senior editor before publication. We keep records of documents and interviews that support each investigation, and we protect the identity of whistleblowers who come to us in confidence.
Children, victims and vulnerable people
We do not identify children involved in crime or abuse cases, or survivors of sexual violence, without informed consent and a clear public interest. We avoid graphic images unless they are essential to the story.
Corrections
When we get something wrong, we correct it quickly and openly. See our Corrections Policy.
Contact the editors
Questions or complaints about our journalism can be sent through our Contact page. Please include the link to the story and the specific concern.