Standards, sourcing, and independence
Every factual claim published by Tehran Dispatch is verified by at least two independent sources before publication. Where a claim rests on a single source, this is disclosed to the reader. We do not publish rumour or speculation as fact. When we are uncertain, we say so.
All articles undergo editorial review before publication. Analysis and opinion pieces are clearly labelled and separated from news reporting.
We use anonymous sources only when the information they provide is of significant public interest and cannot be obtained on the record, and when we have good reason to believe the source has direct knowledge of the events they describe. When we grant anonymity, we describe the source in terms that allow readers to evaluate their credibility without exposing their identity.
We do not pay sources for information. We do not accept exclusivity arrangements that compromise our ability to report independently.
Journalists at Tehran Dispatch are required to disclose any personal, financial, or professional relationships that could create a conflict of interest with their reporting. Staff may not report on individuals or organisations with whom they have a direct financial relationship.
We seek comment from all parties named or implicated in our reporting before publication. Where comment is declined or unavailable, this is stated in the article. We do not present only one side of a contested factual or political question without acknowledging that the question is contested.
Balance does not mean false equivalence. Where there is clear evidence for a particular conclusion, we state it clearly rather than manufacturing artificial controversy.
When we make errors, we correct them promptly and transparently. Corrections are published at the top of the affected article and logged on our corrections page. We do not silently amend published articles. If a significant correction changes the substance of an article, we note when the correction was made and what changed.
No government, embassy, state-owned institution, or politically affiliated funder has any role in our editorial decisions. Our editor-in-chief has full authority over all editorial content. Commercial considerations do not influence our coverage. Advertisers, where we have them, are separated from our editorial operation by a strict firewall.
