Editorial Policy

Last updated: June 2026

This Editorial Policy sets out the journalistic standards, ethical principles, and editorial procedures of Harbinger Tribune. It applies to all editorial team members, freelance contributors, guest authors, and all others who create or edit journalistic content for Harbinger Tribune. These guidelines are modelled on the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism guidelines, the IPSO Editors' Code of Practice, and the standards of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

1. Mission and Editorial Independence

Harbinger Tribune is an independent English-language digital news portal operating under the tagline "Insight Asia." Our mission is to provide rigorous, fact-based, and impartial reporting on politics, economics, society, technology, and culture across Asia — from the Korean Peninsula to the Indian subcontinent, from Central Asia to the Pacific Islands.

Editorial independence is the cornerstone of Harbinger Tribune. No article, topic, or framing is determined by external influences — regardless of whether they are advertisers, sponsors, political parties, governments, lobbying organisations, investors, or any other third parties. All editorial decisions rest exclusively with the editorial team.

A clear and unambiguous separation between editorial and any commercial content is maintained at all times. Any paid content, sponsored articles, or native advertising — should such formats be introduced in the future — will always be clearly identified as such.

2. Truth, Accuracy, and Due Diligence

Seek truth and report it. This first principle of the SPJ Code of Ethics is the foundation of all work at Harbinger Tribune.

Source verification rules:

All information is verified against reliable sources. The two-source principle applies: every material claim should be supported by at least two independent, credible sources.
Statistics, figures, and data are verified from their primary source (original study, government agency, international organisation) and not uncritically reproduced from secondary sources.
Unconfirmed information, rumours, and speculation are clearly identified as such and never presented as established facts.
Press releases and PR material are not reproduced without independent editorial verification.
Breaking news: accuracy is not sacrificed for speed. Erroneous breaking news items are corrected immediately and prominently.
Social media content, user comments, and eyewitness accounts from online sources are independently verified before being used as a factual basis.
When reporting on pre-publication or leaked documents, authenticity is verified to the extent possible before publication.

3. Source Citations and Transparency

Harbinger Tribune is committed to the greatest possible source transparency. Sources are cited as completely as possible in reports and linked where available, enabling readers to trace and verify the basis of reporting themselves.

Anonymous sources are limited to exceptional cases. Prerequisites:

A demonstrated, overriding public interest in publication exists.
The source has reasonable grounds for requesting anonymity (e.g. risk to professional or personal safety, exposure to retaliation).
The editorial management is informed of the source's identity.
The decision to use an anonymous source is documented internally.
The source is adequately characterised in the article (e.g. "a senior government official familiar with the matter").
Information from anonymous sources is corroborated by documents or additional sources wherever possible.

4. Separation of News and Opinion

Harbinger Tribune strictly maintains the separation of factual reporting and opinion:

News articles and reports describe events and facts objectively and impartially, without the author's personal judgements.
Commentaries and opinion pieces are clearly labelled as such and represent the view of the named author, not necessarily the position of the editorial team.
Analysis pieces combine facts with contextualisation and are labelled "Analysis."
Editorials representing an institutional position of Harbinger Tribune are identified accordingly.

5. Corrections, Updates, and Right of Reply

Harbinger Tribune corrects errors promptly, fully, and transparently:

Corrections are noted at the end of the relevant article in a dedicated paragraph stating the date of correction and the nature of the error.
Articles are not silently altered after initial publication. Any material change after publication is noted as a correction or update.
In cases of wholly erroneous reports, an article may be retracted; this is done transparently with an explanation.
Right of reply: Affected persons have the right to a reply in accordance with press law. Requests should be submitted in writing to: support@harbingerpressmedia.com
Reports of possible errors are reviewed within 48 hours and, if justified, corrected without delay.

6. Personality Rights, Privacy, and Human Dignity

Reporting is conducted with strict respect for the personality rights of all affected persons:

Information from individuals' private lives is only published when a clearly overriding public interest exists.
With victims of crimes, accidents, or disasters, particular restraint and sensitivity are exercised.
When reporting on minors, heightened care applies. Names, photographs, and identifying details are not published unless guardians have expressly consented or an overriding public interest exceptionally justifies it.
Discrimination based on ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability has no place in Harbinger Tribune's reporting.
The presumption of innocence applies until final conviction. Particular care is taken to maintain this presumption in criminal proceedings coverage.

7. Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of interest undermine journalistic credibility. Harbinger Tribune requires full transparency:

Journalists may not report on topics in which they have a direct or indirect personal, financial, or professional interest.
Potential conflicts of interest must be reported immediately and proactively to editorial management.
Acceptance of favours, gifts, or other benefits from persons or institutions about which reporting occurs is prohibited.
Press trips and similar benefits are only permissible with explicit editorial management approval and with appropriate disclosure in the article.

8. Protection of Journalistic Sources

The protection of informants and confidential sources is a fundamental principle of journalism. Information that could lead to the identification of a confidential source is not disclosed under any circumstances — including to third parties or authorities — to the extent legally permissible.

9. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI tools may support journalistic work under the following principles:

AI-generated content is always reviewed, edited, and editorially accountable to a human team member.
AI must not be used to fabricate quotes, sources, events, or persons.
Where AI-generated or AI-assisted content forms a substantial part of an article, this is disclosed transparently.
This also applies to social media content: Harbinger Tribune participates in a shared Instagram account, operated jointly with Harbinger Post, Harbinger Standard, Middle East Chronicle, and El Gazettario, on which AI-assisted video clips, image carousels, and single-image posts summarising selected articles are published; AI assistance is disclosed directly in the caption of each such post.
AI image generation tools may not be used to create misleading or deceptive images.
The final responsibility for every published piece of content lies with the human editor, never with an AI system.

10. Diversity and Inclusion

Harbinger Tribune strives to reflect the diversity of Asian societies in its reporting. This includes the consideration of different perspectives, the inclusion of diverse social groups as sources and interviewees, and the avoidance of stereotypes and clichés in the depiction of persons and communities. We are committed to amplifying underrepresented voices across the region.

11. Reporting on Sensitive Regions

Given Harbinger Tribune's focus on Asia, reporters are expected to exercise particular sensitivity and rigour when reporting on conflict zones, politically sensitive regions, and areas with restricted press freedom. Special care is taken to verify information from regions where direct access is limited. The physical safety of reporters and sources in the field takes priority over any scoop.

12. Complaints and Feedback

Readers with editorial complaints or feedback can contact the editorial team at any time: support@harbingerpressmedia.com

We aim to respond to all enquiries within five working days. For complaints about violations of journalistic standards, independent press councils or media ombudsman services in readers' respective countries may also be contacted.

13. Scope and Updates

These guidelines apply to all content published on harbingertribune.com and all Harbinger Tribune social media presences. They are updated as necessary. The date of last update is shown above.