Sources & Verification
How ASTER documents, attributes and verifies the evidence behind its coverage.
Source provenance
Every article includes inline attribution and a Sources & Methodology block. Primary documents, datasets and direct evidence take priority. We record what each source supports, when it was published and when it was accessed. Attribution does not establish independent verification. AI is never a source.
Fairness and right of reply
People and organizations facing significant criticism are given a genuine opportunity to respond before publication, with a reasonable deadline proportionate to the story.
Harm and privacy
Private individuals are afforded greater protection than public figures. Identifying detail is published only where it serves a clear public interest.
Conflicts of interest
Any personal, financial or institutional interest that could reasonably be seen to affect coverage is disclosed internally and, where material to the reader, in the article itself.