Editorial Guidelines

At psmedia.ke, we are committed to delivering accurate, fair, and timely news to our readers. These editorial guidelines establish the standards that govern our journalism and ensure we maintain the highest levels of integrity, professionalism, and accountability in our reporting.

1
Our Editorial Mission

"To inform, educate, and empower our readers through accurate, unbiased, and comprehensive news coverage that serves the public interest."

We strive to be Kenya's most trusted source for breaking news, in-depth analysis, and diverse perspectives on the issues that matter most to our community.

Prioritize truth and accuracy above all else
Serve the public interest through responsible journalism
Maintain editorial independence and integrity
Foster informed public discourse and democratic participation

2
Core Editorial Principles

Accuracy and Verification

All facts must be verified through multiple reliable sources
Primary sources are preferred over secondary sources
Corrections must be published promptly and prominently
Unverified information must be clearly labeled as such

Fairness and Balance

Present multiple perspectives on controversial issues
Avoid bias in news reporting and clearly label opinion content
Give subjects of negative coverage opportunity to respond
Represent diverse voices and communities fairly

Independence and Integrity

Maintain editorial independence from commercial interests
Disclose conflicts of interest and potential bias
Refuse gifts, favors, or special treatment that could compromise integrity
Separate editorial content from advertising and sponsored content

Transparency and Accountability

Clearly identify authors and sources when appropriate
Explain our editorial process and decision-making
Respond to reader feedback and concerns promptly
Acknowledge and correct errors quickly and transparently

3
Content Standards and Quality

Writing Standards

Use clear, concise, and accessible language
Follow AP Style guidelines for consistency
Avoid jargon and explain technical terms
Write compelling headlines that accurately reflect content
Ensure proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Story Structure

Lead with the most important information
Use the inverted pyramid structure for news stories
Include relevant context and background information
Maintain logical flow and clear transitions
End with strong conclusions or calls to action when appropriate

Multimedia Standards

Use high-quality, relevant images with proper attribution
Include descriptive alt text for accessibility
Ensure all multimedia content supports the story
Respect copyright and intellectual property rights
Consider mobile optimization for all content

4
Source Guidelines and Attribution

Source Verification

Always verify the credibility and expertise of sources
Seek official statements and documented evidence
Cross-reference information with multiple independent sources
Be skeptical of single-source stories
Verify social media content and user-generated material

Attribution Standards

Attribute all information to specific sources
Use on-the-record sources whenever possible
Clearly identify the basis for anonymous sources
Provide context about source motivations and potential bias
Link to original documents and reports when available

Anonymous Sources

Use anonymous sources only when:

The information is newsworthy and in the public interest
The source could face harm or retaliation
The information cannot be obtained through other means
The source has been verified by editorial leadership

5
Editorial Process and Review

Story Development

Story pitch and approval by editorial team
Research and source development
Writing and initial draft completion
Fact-checking and source verification
Editorial review and revision
Final approval and publication

Quality Control

All articles undergo editorial review before publication
Fact-checking is required for all factual claims
Legal review for potentially sensitive content
Copy editing for grammar, style, and clarity
Final approval by senior editorial staff

6
Ethical Considerations

Privacy and Consent

Respect individual privacy rights
Obtain consent before publishing personal information
Consider the impact on families and communities
Protect the identity of victims and vulnerable individuals
Follow legal guidelines for reporting on minors

Sensitive Content

Handle trauma and tragedy with sensitivity
Avoid sensationalism and exploitation
Consider cultural and religious sensitivities
Provide appropriate warnings for disturbing content
Offer resources and support information when relevant

Conflicts of Interest

All staff must disclose:

Financial interests in covered organizations
Personal relationships with news subjects
Political activities and affiliations
Any potential bias or competing interests

7
Corrections and Clarifications

We are committed to correcting errors promptly and transparently:

Correction Process

Errors are corrected as soon as they are discovered
Corrections are made prominently and transparently
The original error is acknowledged, not hidden
Significant errors may require follow-up stories
All corrections are documented and archived

Types of Corrections

Factual corrections: Incorrect information, dates, names, or numbers
Clarifications: Information that was unclear or misleading
Updates: New information that changes the story context
Retractions: Complete withdrawal of false or unverifiable stories

8
Social Media and Digital Standards

Social Media Reporting

Verify social media content before reporting
Seek permission before using user-generated content
Provide proper attribution for social media sources
Be aware of fake accounts and manipulated content
Consider privacy settings and user intent

Staff Social Media Use

Maintain professional standards on personal accounts
Avoid posting opinions on controversial topics
Disclose affiliation with psmedia.ke when relevant
Respect confidentiality and embargo agreements
Report any social media conflicts or issues

Digital Engagement

Engage respectfully with readers and critics
Respond to legitimate questions and concerns
Avoid arguments and inflammatory exchanges
Moderate comments according to community standards
Promote constructive dialogue and debate

9
Compliance and Continuous Improvement

We are committed to maintaining and improving our editorial standards:

Regular training on journalism ethics and best practices
Ongoing review and updates of editorial guidelines
Feedback collection from readers and community
Compliance with media industry standards and regulations
Accountability measures for guideline violations

All psmedia.ke staff members are required to:

Read and understand these editorial guidelines
Participate in editorial training and development
Report ethical concerns and guideline violations
Commit to upholding our editorial standards

10
Editorial Contact Information

For questions about our editorial guidelines, to report errors, or to provide feedback:

Editor-in-Chief: editorial@psmedia.ke

News Tips: tips@psmedia.ke

Corrections: corrections@psmedia.ke

General Feedback: feedback@psmedia.ke

1Our Editorial Mission

2Core Editorial Principles