Editorial Standards, Verification & Code of Practice
The National Wales (thenational.wales) is committed to the highest standards of journalistic integrity, accuracy, and public accountability.
1. Verification of Facts & Primary Sources
Factual accuracy is the cornerstone of our journalism. Every factual assertion, economic figure, legal finding, or political development published on thenational.wales undergoes rigorous verification before release:
- Primary Source Supremacy: Whenever possible, our reporting is anchored directly in official documentation: Senedd committee papers, Welsh Government white papers, statutory audit reports (Audit Wales, NAO), court registers, and council meeting minutes.
- Attribution: We explicitly attribute all information, data points, and direct quotations to named, verifiable sources. We do not present unverified hearsay or rumors as confirmed facts.
- Zero Clickbait or Sensationalism: In compliance with Google Discover and UK media standards, our headlines directly communicate the factual development, the verified location, and confirmed figures without deceptive ambiguity or emotional manipulation.
2. Compliance with UK Media Law
Our journalists operate under rigorous compliance with the legal framework governing English and Welsh journalism:
- Contempt of Court Act 1981: Once proceedings become active (upon arrest, warrant issuance, or summons), our reporting is strictly limited to matters admitted in open court. We never publish previous convictions, prejudicial commentary, or speculative assertions that could influence a jury trial.
- Defamation Act 2013: We rely on solid statutory defenses of Truth (Section 2), Honest Opinion (Section 3), and Publication on Matters of Public Interest (Section 4). All commentary is grounded in established facts.
- Protection of Children & Vulnerable Persons: We adhere rigidly to Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, Section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, and the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, guaranteeing complete anonymity to youth defendants and victims of sexual offenses.
3. Confidential Sources & Whistleblowers
We recognize that confidential sourcing is essential for exposing wrongdoing, institutional failures, and matters of vital public interest. When anonymity is granted to a source, it requires approval from senior editorial leadership led by Eli Nathan. We independently corroborate anonymous information with documentation or secondary verified sources before publishing. The National Wales maintains a strict ban on paying sources for stories (“chequebook journalism”).
4. Conflicts of Interest & Integrity
Our editorial team members must remain free from conflicts of interest. Journalists must not report on organizations, businesses, or campaigns in which they or their immediate family hold financial stakes or executive roles. Hospitality, gifts, and commercial favors are strictly prohibited where they could reasonably be perceived as compromising journalistic objectivity.
5. Non-Partisanship & Right of Reply
When an article contains significant criticism or allegations against an individual or entity, we provide a fair, balanced, and timely Right of Reply prior to publication, giving the subject reasonable opportunity to respond. Their statement is fairly reflected in the published reporting.