Fact-Checking Policy

Every BCN article is fact-checked before publication.

Verification standards

For every story, we verify:

  • Quotes — attributed verbatim, with the speaker named (or anonymity rationale documented).
  • Numbers — sourced from named, primary documents (ABS, state government releases, court documents, company filings, named research reports). Estimates are flagged as estimates.
  • Dates and places — checked against primary records.
  • Spelling of names — confirmed with the named individual or with a definitive primary source.
  • Claims about individuals and businesses — supported by documentary evidence or on-the-record sources, with right of reply offered before publication.

Sources we prefer

In rough order:

  1. The named individual concerned
  2. Official documents (gazettes, court records, regulator filings)
  3. Named officials of organisations with subject-matter authority
  4. Named experts and researchers
  5. Industry data with a transparent methodology
  6. Other newsrooms (always attributed)

We try to avoid:

  • Single-sourced claims
  • Anonymous claims about identifiable individuals (granted only in narrow circumstances — see Editorial Policy)
  • Press releases reproduced uncritically
  • Social media as a primary source

After publication

Where a fact is challenged after publication, we re-verify and correct if necessary. See Corrections Policy.