Section 5
Verification
Verify first. Publish according to what the evidence supports.
Verification is a continuing editorial process at GSR.
The level of verification required will depend upon the seriousness of the claim, reliability of available sources, potential consequences of publication and urgency of the event.
Extraordinary or potentially damaging claims require correspondingly strong evidence.
GSR Breaking News Alert — BNA
A GSR Breaking News Alert (BNA) is an editorial designation, not simply a graphic format.
A BNA should be reserved for a significant breaking or rapidly developing event that GSR has sufficient grounds to report.
Where facts remain incomplete, the alert should make that limitation clear.
GSR may use the following formulations:
- CONFIRMED \u2014 sufficiently established through reliable evidence.
- OFFICIAL \u2014 announced by an identified competent authority; this describes the source of the claim and does not necessarily constitute independent verification.
- DEVELOPING \u2014 significant facts are established but the situation continues to change.
- CLAIMED \u2014 an identified person, organisation or authority has made the assertion, but GSR has not independently established it.
- UNVERIFIED \u2014 information is circulating but GSR has not obtained sufficient evidence to establish it.
Election results
GSR applies heightened verification standards to election results.
Projections, party claims, unofficial tallies, polling-station reports and social-media figures must not be represented as official results.
Where GSR identifies a result as officially declared, the declaration must originate from the legally competent electoral authority or another source whose authority to declare that result has been established.
Images and video
Visual material should be assessed for authenticity, date, location and context where these matters are material.
Old footage must not be presented as depicting a new event.
Digitally manipulated or synthetically generated material must not be represented as authentic documentary evidence.
Developing information
Verification does not end at publication.
GSR continues to review significant developing reports and should amend, update, clarify or correct them when subsequent evidence requires it.