Accuracy comes first #
We aim to publish only what we can support. When something is not yet confirmed, we say so plainly in the story, not just in the headline.
Sources and verification #
Stories are based on identifiable sources: official statements, the people involved, their verified accounts, court and public records, and our own reporting.
- We prefer primary sources over reposts.
- We say where information came from, and link to it when we can.
- We treat anonymous social posts as leads, not facts.
Before a story is published, an editor checks that each important claim is supported by a named source, and that a claim from a single unconfirmed source is reported as attributed or unverified, not as fact. Every story needs a real, relevant photo that we have the right to use.
Original writing and attribution #
We write our own stories. When we quote, embed or use material from others, we credit them clearly and use it within the rights we hold. See Copyright and takedowns.
How our newsroom uses technology #
We use software to help us find news from the sources we follow, group reports about the same event, flag possible duplicates, and suggest how newsworthy a lead is. People decide what we publish. If we use AI tools to help draft a story, an editor reviews and approves it before publication. Our stories carry the byline “TalkofNaija Newsroom”.
Headlines that match the story #
Headlines must not promise more than the story delivers. We avoid clickbait, invented quotes and misleading thumbnails.
Rumours and developing stories #
When a story is still unfolding we label it Developing and update it as facts are confirmed. We separate what is confirmed, what someone has said, and what is unverified.
- Confirmed — supported by a reliable primary source.
- Attributed — someone said it; we report who.
- Unverified — circulating, not confirmed; only published when it is in the public interest, and labelled.
Corrections and updates #
When we get something wrong we correct it openly and note the change on the story. Corrections are never silently erased. See Corrections and updates.
Privacy and sensitive subjects #
Fame does not remove a person’s right to privacy. We avoid publishing private addresses, health information, children’s identities and intimate material without a clear public interest.
Allegations and fair treatment #
Serious allegations need strong sourcing and, where possible, a chance for the person concerned to respond. We report allegations as allegations.
Copyright and media rights #
We publish photos, video and other media only when we have the right to: our own material, licensed material, material released for publication, or permitted embeds.
Advertising and editorial independence #
Advertisers do not decide what we report. Sponsored content is always labelled Sponsored and never presented as news. The Home feed has at most one ad after every 3 stories on phones, 5 on tablets and 7 on larger screens; Videos has at most one sponsored video for every 12 videos.
Feedback and reporting #
Readers can report a factual problem from any story, report comments, or contact us. We review reports, though we cannot promise a reply to each one.
Who is responsible #
TalkofNaija is operated by PathForge Studio. TalkofNaija takes responsibility for everything it publishes. Editorial decisions are the responsibility of the Publisher of TalkofNaija. We will update this page as our processes change, and date each update.