Editorial Policy | The North Shore Lorikeet

We believe local news is a vital part of keeping people informed across Australia. For more than a decade, volunteer-led and community-based local outlets have struggled to make ends meet, and prominent local media brands have been bought up, sold, and closed entirely.

Online, misinformation has spread rapidly. Many people feel like they don’t know what (or who) they can trust – especially when it comes to media.

At Gazette, we work every day to provide accurate journalism and community service information, reported in a way that people actually understand.

Our ultimate metric of success is a growing audience that trusts us. We take that trust incredibly seriously. For that reason, it’s vital we provide truthful, transparent reporting and content across our channels.

Gazette works with reporters and creators of all experience levels, including community-based writers and contributors just getting started. If you would like to read a more in-depth version of our editorial policy, you can download it here.

If you would like to pitch work to us, you can email [email protected].

Corrections and Amendments to Published Work

Despite our best efforts, mistakes can be made. If we have published something that is inaccurate, we will always let our audience know, being specific about when the error occurred and corrections that have been made.

Sourcing, Quotes, and Attribution

We believe in boots on the ground reporting, which means talking to lots of people from the community. We want our local audiences to see themselves represented in our work, and so we regularly look to them for opinions, information, and insight. All direct quotes are attributed, except in the very rare instance of anonymity. We do not alter these quotes, with the exception of grammatical or spelling errors.

Reaching out for comment for our stories is best practice and should always be done, especially if there are any allegations being made.

When using the reporting of other outlets, we strive to link and attribute this reporting to the original publisher with as much transparency as possible.

We do not pay sources or accept any gifts from sources.

Fact and Accuracy

All stories published across Gazette mastheads are subject to one or more editors, who work with reporters and contributors to ensure accuracy and precise storytelling. Any claims made by sources should be corroborated.

Our job is to report on what is happening, who it is happening to, how it is happening, and what the impact will be. We never stage scenes or fabricate stories. We will never knowingly publish information that is false or misleading, or omit facts from a story in order to better suit a particular narrative.

Plagiarism

Plagiarising damages both an individual reporter’s reputation and Gazette’s reputation. If any of our reporters are found to have plagiarised, serious action will be taken, which may include disciplinary measures or termination. Where we have reproduced any content under licence, the story will be appropriately attributed and linked to the original source. Our commitment to journalistic integrity requires that all content reflects original reporting or is duly credited to uphold the trust of our audience.

Conflict of Interest

Gazette upholds a strict conflict of interest policy to maintain the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Reporters are required to disclose any personal or financial interests related to the subjects they cover. In cases where a conflict of interest may affect impartiality, reporters may be reassigned, or alternative coverage arrangements will be made.