Politikjournal24 maintains a rigorous fact-checking policy to ensure every published article meets the standard of trustworthy Swedish journalism as defined by our editorial mission. The policy governs what we verify, how we prioritise sources, how we handle rumours, and the procedures for reader reports and corrections.
What does Politikjournal24 verify before publication?
Politikjournal24 verifies all factual claims contained in every article drafted by a named writer and reviewed by an editor before publication. This includes data, statistics, quotes, dates, names, titles, institutional references, historical events, and any assertion presented as fact.
Verification extends to claims made by politicians, officials, organisations, and other third parties that appear in news coverage. Our fact-checkers, led by Daniela Vogt (Ansvarig för faktagranskning), cross-reference each claim against primary sources such as official documents, peer-reviewed studies, court rulings, parliamentary records, and direct statements from named individuals. We do not rely on second-hand reports without independent confirmation.
What is the source hierarchy at Politikjournal24?
Politikjournal24 uses a clear source hierarchy that prioritises primary, verifiable evidence over secondary or anonymous material. Primary sources—official government databases, public registries, direct testimony, original research, and legally binding documents—are ranked highest.
Secondary sources such as reputable news agencies, academic journals, and authorised institutional summaries are used only when primary sources are unavailable, and are always cited transparently. Anonymous sources are strictly prohibited unless the information is of significant public interest and the source’s identity is known to the Chefredaktör, Simon Engels, who must approve its use in writing. Every source is linked where possible on our dedicated Sources & Standards page, which details the specific databases and organisations we regularly rely upon.
How does Politikjournal24 handle rumours and unverified claims?
Politikjournal24 does not publish rumours as news. Any claim that cannot be verified by a primary source or a named, credible secondary source is explicitly labelled as an unverified claim or a rumour in the text, and the context—who is making the claim and why—is fully disclosed.
When reporting on a rumour circulating in public discourse, our journalists clearly state that the information has not been independently confirmed and explain what verification steps are underway. Such content is reviewed by the Redaktionschef, Katrin Fischer, before publication and is never presented as established fact. Rumours are not used to frame headlines, pull quotes, or lead paragraphs. If a rumour later proves false, a correction is issued promptly under our corrections policy.
Who reviews sensitive or high-impact factual claims?
All articles that touch on criminal allegations, public health data, financial markets, national security, or the reputation of an identifiable individual or organisation are flagged for review by our Standards Lead, who is Daniela Vogt. She oversees the fact-checking team and determines whether additional external verification or legal review is required before publication.
The Chefredaktör, Simon Engels, is automatically notified of any sensitive article and may pause publication until his approval is given. This escalation process is documented internally and applies equally to staff-written pieces, sponsored content, and any material produced with AI-assisted tools. The aim is to prevent errors that could cause demonstrable harm while preserving editorial independence.
How can readers report a potential factual error to Politikjournal24?
Readers can report potential factual errors directly to the dedicated fact-checking email address: factcheck@politikjournal24.de. Our fact-checking team acknowledges every report within two business days and begins investigating the claim against our source hierarchy.
The email is monitored by Daniela Vogt and her team. When a report is received, we log the details, compare the claim against our published evidence, and if an error is confirmed, we follow the procedure set out in our corrections policy. Reports that do not identify a specific error but raise broader concern are forwarded to the editorial team for review under our complaints procedure. All correspondence is treated confidentially, and the identity of the reporter is not disclosed without consent.
What happens after an error is confirmed?
Once an error is confirmed by the fact-checking team, the article is corrected immediately online, and a correction notice is appended to the bottom of the article explaining the nature of the mistake and the date of correction. Major errors—those that change the meaning of the article or could mislead a reader—are also announced in our weekly newsletter and on our social media feeds.
Every correction is logged by Daniela Vogt and reviewed monthly by the Chefredaktör, Simon Engels. Persistent or systemic errors trigger an audit of our editorial processes. The full procedure, including transparency obligations and reader rights, is laid out in our dedicated corrections policy and is also referenced in our overarching editorial policy. All corrections are permanently linked from the relevant article.
Our commitments
- We verify every factual claim against primary or highly credible secondary sources before publication.
- We clearly label any unverified claim or rumour and never present it as established fact.
- We maintain a dedicated fact-checking team led by Daniela Vogt and overseen by the Chefredaktör, Simon Engels.
- We correct errors promptly and transparently, with a permanent notice on the affected article.
- We welcome reader reports via factcheck@politikjournal24.de and investigate every submission thoroughly within two business days.