Each week, thousands of Ontario's top political insiders rely on us for coverage of the politics, policies and personalities at Queen's Park — and we don't take that lightly. Our job is to deliver fast, well-sourced reporting that's fair, disciplined and transparent. Below, you'll find our editorial standards:

Our independence:

We are an independent media company, operating free from any political party, government, or advocacy or special interest group.

• All editorial decisions are made independently by our editorial team.
• Advertisers, sponsors and business partners have no say over our coverage.
• We do not allow anyone outside our newsroom to review our work before it is published.‍

Revenue:

We're reader-supported — subscriptions help fund our journalism. We also generate revenue through:

• Advertising: Fully labelled placements across our newsletter, website and podcast.
• Sponsored events: We host events and produce content with sponsor support. We control the agenda, the guests and the questions. Sponsors get brand visibility — nothing more.‍

Our integrity:

We keep a clear and enforced firewall between editorial and non-editorial operations.

• All non-editorial activities, including ads, sponsorships and business partnerships, are governed by formal contracts that set out scope and maintain a clear separation from editorial.
• We clearly label all paid placements (e.g., "Presented by," "Sponsored") — and we do not mislead readers.
• Sponsors have zero input in determining what we cover or how we cover it.
• Where the publisher is involved on both the editorial and business sides, decisions are made with a strict commitment to editorial independence and transparency.

Sourcing:

Our reporting is built on a mix of on-the-record, background, and off-the-record sourcing.

• On the record: Information can be attributed directly.
• On background: Information may be used without naming the source, typically described (e.g., "a source").
• Off the record: Information cannot be published but may inform reporting.

We grant anonymity when information is in the public interest and the source faces real professional or political risk. We don't grant it to facilitate personal attacks or spread unverified or misleading information.

Accuracy:

We aim to be accurate, fair and precise. We won't always get it right, and when we don't:

• We correct it promptly.
• We clearly note corrections.
• If a retraction is necessary, we issue it promptly and clearly.
• We don't silently change material facts.

We do not fabricate any part of our reporting, and we'll always provide proper attribution where it is due.

Fairness:

We'll always make a reasonable attempt to:

• Seek comment from individuals or organizations subject to coverage.
• Present relevant perspectives where appropriate.

Our ethics:

We steer clear of any conflicts that could compromise the integrity of our coverage, including:

• Political involvement that creates perceived bias.
• Financial interests tied to subjects of coverage.

Any unavoidable conflicts will be disclosed where relevant.

AI:

We're a new media company — and we're proud of it. We use modern tools to support our work, but not to replace it.

Generative AI may be used to assist with:

• Editing, including enhancing clarity and tone.
• Data analysis.
• Speeding up workflow.
• Image processing (e.g., resizing, formatting or basic enhancements).

Our journalists may use AI's assistance, but they are fully accountable for everything we publish.

We will never use AI for:

• Writing stories or editorial content.
• Inventing, altering or misrepresenting facts.
• Creating or manipulating images, audio or video in a way that could mislead readers.
• Impersonating sources or fabricating quotes.

All reporting is produced by our journalists. Full stop.

Advertising:

We review all advertising materials in advance.

We do not endorse any ad content or views that appear in our newsletter or on our website.

We reserve the right to decline any ad, including those that do not meet our design or content standards, compete with our products, or create a perceived link to editorial content. We may also request supporting material to substantiate factual claims.

We do not permit ad content that:

• Uses "POLICORNER," our logo or branding, editorial content or employees.
• Creates the false impression that it is legitimate journalism or ("breaking news," for example). All promotional content is clearly distinguished from our editorial content.
• Features harmful caricatures or portrayals of individuals or groups or disparages candidates, competitors, institutions or individuals.
• Promotes false or misleading content, including quotes and claims.
• Fails to adhere to ethical standards and promotes harmful or illegal activities.
• Contains violent, sexual or otherwise offensive content.