Editorial Standards
The rules that govern what ASTER publishes and how.
Accuracy before speed
No story is published to win a race. Where a fact cannot be established in time, ASTER publishes what is known, states plainly what is not, and updates the record.
No invented people, quotes or sources
Every person, quotation and source in an ASTER article corresponds to a real, identifiable origin. Composite characters, illustrative quotes and hypothetical sources are prohibited in reporting.
Source provenance is mandatory
Every article records where its material came from: primary documents, official statements, datasets, on-record interviews, published reports or agency wires. Provenance is stored with the article and surfaced to readers in the Sources and Methodology section.
Source attribution is not verification. Reporting that another outlet or an official body said something is a statement about that claim, never a confirmation of it. Independent verification is recorded separately and labeled as such.
High-risk claims
Allegations of wrongdoing, medical and financial claims, and anything capable of causing material harm require elevated editorial review before publication, and a documented right of reply offered to the parties concerned.
Where a reply is declined or unanswered, that fact is stated in the article.
Imagery and rights
No image is published without secured usage rights. Every asset carries a credit, a rights holder and a rights statement. Assets lacking that record are not published.
Commercial content
Sponsored and partner content is always visibly labeled, is visually distinguished from editorial, and never carries a desk byline.