Editorial statute

Translated into English for information purposes only. To view the original document in German, please click here: https://correctiv.org/redaktionsstatut/

The editorial statute, together with comprehensive transparency of our finances, guarantees our editorial independence.

I. Team dynamics

  1. We are not lone wolves and are not in competition with each other.
  2. We share our knowledge with each other.
  3. At the beginning of each investigation, we collectively consider and discuss which format best supports our storytelling, drawing from a full range of multimedia resources.  We involve each other in our work.
  4. We constantly strive to become better.
  5. We express necessary criticism openly, directly and early on. We are collegial and do not hold grudges.
  6. We take advantage of training opportunities and pass on our knowledge.

II. Identification of topics

  1. We focus on topics that are of particular relevance to the everyday lives of our readers.
  2. With our investigations, we aim at revealing problematic structures instead of publishing disconnected scoops. Our research is not event-oriented but structure-oriented.
  3. We want to surprise with our topics and our publications.

III. Sources, whistleblowers & research process

  1. We identify ourselves to our interviewees as journalists from CORRECTIV and only conduct undercover research in justified exceptional cases.
  2. When we make promises to our informats, they can rely on us to keep those promises.
  3. We do not disclose the identity of our confidential sources, even within the CORRECTIV editorial team, unless the sources have given their explicit consent.
  4. If this consent is not given, an open and critical debate about the reliability and trustworthiness of the source as well as about possible dangers of instrumentalization by the source must still be made possible without revealing the identity of the source.
  5. We protect our sources to the best of our ability.
  6. We do not accept any benefits or other material advantages in our capacity as CORRECTIV journalists.
  7. CORRECTIV journalists do not engage in PR.
  8. We develop working hypotheses, but our investigations are open-ended. 
  9. We involve lawyers we trust at an early stage in the research process.
  10. Uninvolved third parties do not receive any information about our investigations.
  11. We discuss matters openly among ourselves.
  12. We strive for the greatest possible transparency in our work process and regularly publish research protocols.

IV. Publications

  1. We understand our role as journalistic enlighteners, we go where it hurts, and we are wary of power.
  2. We publish according to the principle: “Be first. But first be sure.”
  3. We make the respective basis of a factual claim as transparent as possible to our readers. We also publish, to the extent possible, the documents and data on which our pieces are based.
  4. We only publish information that is based on at least one of the following:
    1. A written document in our possession that comes from a credible source
    2. A data set we have analysed ourselves that comes from a credible source
    3. The information of a credible person who is demonstrably competent in the respective subject area
  5. The following conditions must be met for us not to disclose the identity of an individual source to our readers and users in exceptional cases:
    1. The person explicitly insists on protecting his or her identity. And this wish is reasonable from an outsider’s perspective.
    2. We have tried intensively – but unsuccessfully – to find an alternative source for the same information that can be quoted by name.
    3. There is a second anonymous person who independently confirms the information provided by the first anonymous source quoted.
    4. We may disclose the environment or employer of at least one of the two anonymous sources.
    5. In cases sensitive to press law, we obtain an affidavit from the anonymously quoted source prior to publication.
  6. For each of our publications, the four-eyes principle applies as a minimum: Every author has the obligation to have his or her piece critically checked by a CORRECTIV colleague in terms of content and style.
  7. We do not conceal from our readers any information that contradicts our evaluations and conclusions.
  8. If our pieces or parts of them should have errors despite all care and caution, we publicly and self-critically acknowledge this, apologize, and correct the errors.
  9. We are committed to the standards of the Code of the German Press Council.

V. Non-partisanship & fairness

  1. CORRECTIV reports on grievances and on measures that can remedy such grievances. CORRECTIV is non-partisan and independent. We do not publish content with the intention of promoting the interests of a party, but only with the intention of reporting on a problem and, where appropriate, offering suggestions for solutions, regardless of the ideas of a political association or party. In this sense, we aim to portray reality as accurately and clearly as possible in a generally understandable language. We are always fair, listen to all sides, try to understand all arguments, and disclose conflicts of interest. We do not deliberately omit any information to direct the result of the investigation in a certain way.
  2. We ensure that the employees of our organization reflect diversity and not homogeneity of opinions. We realize that this can be uncomfortable but welcome discussions and exchanges as part of our organizational culture. This diversity of opinion relates exclusively to the democratic spectrum: we reject all totalitarian attempts.
  3. We encourage the employees of our organization to bring different points of view into internal discussions with the aim of:
    1. Finding the best solutions to the most difficult problems of our society we are confronted with.
    2. Identifying the most relevant topics to be addressed by us.
    3. Initiating the necessary projects that we implement.
  4. The employees of our organization are aware that diversity of perspectives and of opinions are important to us in discussions. They are taken into account as advice by those responsible for making decisions. We value, respect and honour dissenting opinions.
  5. The obligation of neutrality for all employees in the fact-checking team is particularly important. Even the semblance of partiality must be avoided. The employees of our organization know that special rules to avoid prejudice apply to all members of the fact-checking team, as set out in the Code of Standards of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), which we are committed to complying with. The fact-checking team therefore takes measures to ensure that both the perception of interests and statements of team members on political issues are handled in such a way that an outsider does not perceive the team’s work as biased.
  6. The employees of our organization cannot simultaneously work in an exposed manner for parties or party-political groups or support them in a bold manner, e.g. on social media, or advertising for them publicly.
  7. The employees of our organization cannot belong to groups that pursue or support totalitarian aspirations. The employees of our organization must either give up the affiliation with groups that could damage the reputation of our organization or leave our organization. The respective criteria are set out in the employment contract.
    • “The political stance of the journalistic body is non-partisan and independent, it is decidedly social and committed to the well-being of the community and society, rejecting all totalitarian aspirations. The journalistic body is committed to pioneering not-for-profit journalism.”

VI. Funders & donors

(As of 17/06/2024)

On the acceptance of donations and grants

A key factor for CORRECTIV’s credibility is that we apply the same standards to our own conduct as we do to judge others journalistically and critically. At the same time, as a non-profit project, we must meet the highest possible standards of transparency to make possible conflicts of interest visible.

Therefore: We disclose all incoming grants and donations on our website. Publication takes place promptly in each case.

On this basis, the following rules apply:

1. As a principle, all donations and grants exceeding one percent of the annual revenue of CORRECTIV gGmbH are made public. All grants from government bodies or government-controlled institutions are always made public, regardless of the amount, naming the body or institution making the grant.

Institutional donors and grants

In justified individual cases, donations and grants from institutional donors exceeding one percent of the annual revenue may remain undisclosed. In this case, they are submitted to the supervisory board, which checks whether the reasons for non-publication are justified. If the supervisory board refuses its approval, the donations or grants must either be disclosed or declined.

It is not possible to avoid the disclosure of grants from government bodies or government-controlled institutions.

Private individual donors

3. All donations and contributions from private individuals of more than 1,000 euros are regularly submitted to the supervisory board for approval in the form of a donation list, including the donor’s name and the amount of the donation. The supervisory board monitors the diversity and the amounts of individual donations. All amounts received are published quarterly. Upon the respective donors’ consent, the names of private individuals may also be published.

Avoidance of conflicts of interest

4. We reserve the right to decline donations and grants from donors whose ethical principles we do not share.

5. Donors have no influence on editorial content, investigations or any other decisions made by CORRECTIV’s editorial team and staff.

6. We disclose potential conflicts of interest between donors and the work of CORRECTIV’s staff or CORRECTIV’s editorial team. If we identify conflicts of interest, individual employees can be excluded from research on a specific project, or entire investigations may even be discontinued by CORRECTIV’s editorial team. If this occurs, we disclose it.

VII. Cooperation with media partners

  1. We are generally interested in publishing our research in partnership with other media.
  2. Exclusive media partners are given access to our primary sources for fact-checking. The condition here is that sources who wish to remain anonymous also remain anonymous to exclusive media partners; they must not be threatened with exposure.
  3. CORRECTIV must be named as a source by the respective media.
  4. Other media wishing to publish our stories subsequently must name CORRECTIV as the source.
  5. Under no circumstances may our texts be edited by other media in a way that distorts their meaning. We format our texts (including long pieces) at least once to a 100-line piece.
  6. CORRECTIV is liable under press law only for publications of its own authors on its own website or in its own print products (magazine or books). The same as when working with freelance authors, the press law risk when CORRECTIV stories are taken over by other media is borne by these media.

VIII. Our positioning

  1. We do not see our work as competition to established media, but as complementary.
  2. We do not engage in media bashing.
  3. We are independent, non-profit and investigative, covering the entire German-speaking area. We are committed to serving society and public interest, not individual interests.
  4. We have an educational mission: We want to acquire and pass on knowledge.
  5. We are convinced that investigative journalism is system-relevant in a democracy and therefore…
    1. … has an educational mission,
    2. … serves the public interest of citizen education,
    3. … must therefore be perceived and understood as a cultural asset that is just as eligible for support as educational institutions, museums or theatres.

IX. Community

  1. CORRECTIV’s reporting only comes to life through interaction with our readers. Interested parties can participate with comments on CORRECTIV, Facebook and Twitter, by e-mail and by correspondence. We are very grateful for our audience’s participation.
  2. Only through interaction with our audience can we create spaces in which many people enjoy exchanging ideas. To make a discussion interesting and fun, our principle for comments is always: quality over quantity.

X. Ethics Board and Supervisory Board

  1. The Ethics Board advises the management of CORRECTIV with regard to the ethical compatibility of CORRECTIV’s editorial activities with good journalistic work.
  2. The members of the Ethics Board are not bound by instructions. They represent their personal convictions and are subject only to their conscience.
  3. If the concern of a conflict of interest arises in relation to a specific issue for a member of the Ethics Board, the member concerned shall report this to the Chairperson or the two Vice-Chairpersons and hold a discussion with them on the matter. If there is no agreement on the existence of a conflict of interest, the Ethics Board shall decide in the absence of the person concerned about his/her participation in the relevant discussion and resolution.
  4. The Ethics Board shall be informed by the management at regular intervals, but at least once per calendar quarter, about the main developments and programs in terms of content, as well as about any significant incidents related to content.
  5. The Ethics Board shall meet at least once a year. It may, by resolution, request information and reports from the management at any time on all matters relating to the content of the work of the company, insofar as this does not concern the protection of sources.
  6. The Ethics Board shall consist of at least one chairperson and two deputies. All statements of the Ethics Board shall be made on behalf of the Ethics Board by its Chairperson or, if the Chairperson is unable to do so, by one of his or her deputies.
  7. The Ethics Board shall be appointed for the first time by the shareholders. In the event of the resignation of a member, the shareholders shall appoint a new member in consultation with the remaining members of the Ethics Board.
  8. The members of the Ethics Board are appointed for three years. Multiple appointments are permitted.
  9. The resolutions of the Ethics Board shall be adopted at meetings. Outside of meetings, resolutions may also be adopted in text form and/or through conference calls. The meetings of the Ethics Board shall be convened and chaired by the chairperson or, if he/she is unable to do so, by one of his/her deputies, in writing or in text form, with a 14-day notice. The management shall participate in the meetings of the Ethics Board without the right to vote, unless and insofar as the Ethics Board decides otherwise. The Ethics Board shall constitute a quorum if at least half of its members, including the chairperson and one of his/her deputies or, in the absence of the chairperson, his/her two deputies, are present at the meeting. At least half of the members of the Ethics Board must participate in a vote, including the Chairperson and one of his/her deputies or, in the absence of the Chairperson, his/her two deputies. Voting shall be by simple majority. Each member of the Ethics Board shall have one vote; in the event of a tie, the Chairperson shall have the casting vote.
  10. The Ethics Board shall meet in private. Its deliberations shall be confidential. If necessary, only the results of the deliberations shall be reported, not the individual positions of the Ethics Board members. 
  11. The decisions of the Ethics Board shall be recorded in minutes. The minutes shall be forwarded within four weeks to the members of the Ethics Board, the members of the Supervisory Board, the management and the shareholders.

The role of the Supervisory Board

  1. The Supervisory Board supervises the economic management of CORRECTIV. It may inspect the company’s books and writings at any time. It may also commission third-party experts with this task.
  2. The Supervisory Board has three members: a Chairperson and two deputies.
  3. The Supervisory Board meets at least twice a year and is informed on a quarterly basis.
  4. The Supervisory Board is appointed by the shareholders. If a member of the Supervisory Board resigns, the shareholders shall appoint a new member in consultation with the remaining members of the Supervisory Board.
  5. The members of the Supervisory Board are appointed for three years.
  6. The resolutions of the Supervisory Board shall be recorded in the minutes.

XI. Principles for the use of artificial intelligence

  1. Our goal is to explore constructively, openly and at the same time critically how we can use artificial intelligence and tools based on it in our daily work. AI tools can support our work but not replace it. When using AI, the obligation to exercise journalistic due diligence is our topmost priority.

  2. We may use AI in an editorial context, for example to support an investigation or to suggest texts, headlines or teasers. Any content created with AI support must be checked by us for accuracy before publication as part of our journalistic due diligence. The usual production steps, such as fact checking and final approval of the content by the respective editorial team apply. The final decision is always made by a responsible person.
  3. We may use AI-based tools as a means of support, but not as a meaningful source for research. A verification shall always be conducted.
  4. We shall only publish images, videos and charts generated by AI if we clearly mark them as AI-based. We may develop AI-based visualizations in which the creative part of the work predominates.
  5. We will only use AI support for unpublished research if our content is at least password-protected on the respective platform. We do not pass on confidential content or personal information to AI systems that could endanger the security of the informants.
  6. We are transparent about our use of AI tools.
  7. We experiment with AI tools internally. We train ourselves in the use of generative AI tools and pass this knowledge on to society with the purpose of strengthening media literacy concerning AI.