TradeWireUK.uk is committed to accurate, trustworthy journalism. Our Fact-Checking Policy sets out the standards and procedures we follow to verify information before publication. All editorial content — including news, analysis, market reports, features and opinion pieces — is subject to rigorous checking to ensure claims, figures and sources meet our editorial standards. This policy is part of our broader Editorial Policy and should be read alongside our Sources & Standards and Market Data Policy.
What We Verify Before Publication
Our editorial team systematically checks the following categories of information before any story is published:
- Figures and data: All statistics, percentages, financial figures and calculations are confirmed against primary sources or authoritative databases. This includes market data, economic indicators, inflation rates, GDP figures and company-reported results.
- Share prices, exchange rates and commodity prices: Market data is sourced from established data providers (e.g. exchange feeds, Bloomberg, Refinitiv) and cross‑checked at the time of publication. Time stamps and price sources are noted where relevant.
- Company names, legal structures and results: Company names, registered numbers, legal status (e.g. public, private, listed) and financial results are verified using Companies House filings, regulatory announcements (RNS, London Stock Exchange), company investor relations pages and official press releases.
- Job titles and affiliations: Job titles, institutional affiliations and professional backgrounds of people quoted or profiled are checked against official bios, corporate websites, regulatory registers and direct contact where possible.
- Net‑worth and salary claims: Any claim about an individual’s net worth, pay or compensation is verified against publicly available filings (annual reports, remuneration reports, regulatory filings) and attributed to a named source. Estimates or rankings are clearly labelled.
- Legal status and regulatory action: Statements about court proceedings, regulatory investigations, FCA enforcement, insolvency or licensing status are verified against official court records, the FCA register, Insolvency Service databases and direct court document review.
- Allegations of wrongdoing or misconduct: Allegations are never published without corroboration from multiple credible sources, documentary evidence or official statements. We seek comment from the subject before publication and include their response where allowed.
- Financial claims and investment returns: Claims about investment performance, returns, yields or financial products are checked against prospectuses, fund fact sheets, regulatory filings and independent data sources. Past performance is clearly caveated.
- Health and medical claims: Health‑related statements — including claims about treatments, supplements or public health — are verified against peer‑reviewed studies, NHS guidance, MHRA approvals and expert consensus. We avoid sensationalism.
- Stories involving minors: Any story that names or identifies a person under 18 is treated with extreme caution. We obtain parental or guardian consent, ensure the information is in the public interest, and apply additional privacy safeguards as set out in our Safeguarding Minors Policy.
- Privacy concerns: We weigh the public interest against an individual’s right to privacy. Personal data, contact details, addresses and sensitive information are not published unless there is a clear editorial justification and legal basis.
Source Hierarchy
We apply a strict hierarchy of source reliability. Primary sources — official company statements and filings, regulatory announcements (e.g. FCA, LSE, RNS), Bank of England and Office for National Statistics data, court documents — are preferred. Direct interviews with named individuals, verified public statements (e.g. Hansard, official press conferences, verified social media accounts of public figures), and established market data providers (Bloomberg, Refinitiv, exchanges) are also considered high‑quality. First‑hand reporting by our own journalists is treated as a primary source when confirmed. Where a source is anonymous or of lower reliability, that is clearly signalled in the story. Full detail is available in our Sources & Standards page.
Rumours and Speculation
TradeWireUK.uk does not present unsubstantiated rumours or speculation as established fact. Any information that has not been independently confirmed is labelled clearly with language such as “according to reports,” “sources suggest,” or “the publication understands.” We do not run speculative content unless it is clearly attributed and carries an editorial rationale, such as market commentary or analyst expectations. Headlines never overstate the certainty of a claim that remains unconfirmed.
Anonymous Sources
We avoid anonymous sourcing wherever possible. When we use it, there must be a clear editorial reason — protecting a whistleblower, avoiding retaliation, or covering sensitive matters of public interest — and the information must be verified through a responsible process that satisfies the Standards & Fact‑Checking Lead. No anonymous source is used for an allegation without corroboration. Anonymous material is never used for personal attacks or unsubstantiated claims.
Standards & Fact‑Checking Lead
Our Standards & Fact‑Checking Lead, Helen Travers, reviews sensitive articles before publication — including stories that involve allegations, legal risk, financial claims, or potential reputational harm. She also oversees corrections, source verification and the enforcement of editorial standards across the newsroom. She can be contacted at helen.travers@tradewireuk.uk.
Reader Reports
Readers can report potential fact‑check issues, inaccuracies or concerns to factcheck@tradewireuk.uk. We treat all reports seriously and respond promptly. If an error is confirmed, we correct it transparently in line with our Corrections Policy. We also encourage readers to consult our Our Team page for direct contacts and our Editorial Policy for further information on our standards.