Editorial Policy

Editorial Policy

Last Updated: September 2025

Bear Market News is committed to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. This Editorial Policy describes the principles, processes, and standards that guide our reporting. Every member of our editorial team — from staff writers to the Editor-in-Chief — is bound by these standards.

Our Core Principles

Accuracy

Accuracy is the foundation of trust. We verify all factual claims before publication. No story goes live with unverified facts, no matter how tight the deadline. Our goal is zero factual errors. When errors occur — and in any human endeavor, they will — we correct them promptly and transparently.

Independence

Bear Market News is editorially independent. Our editorial decisions are made solely by our editorial team. We do not accept payment for coverage, and advertisers have no influence over what we publish or how we cover any story. If an advertiser threatens to pull spending over a story, we publish the story anyway and find new advertisers.

Fairness

We present all relevant perspectives, especially from those who may be criticized in our reporting. We give subjects of critical coverage a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication. We don’t misrepresent or selectively quote to distort meaning.

Transparency

We are transparent about our sources, methods, and limitations. When we rely on anonymous sources, we explain why. When data is incomplete or analysis is uncertain, we say so. When we update a story, we note what changed. Readers deserve to know how we know what we report.

Fact-Checking Protocol

Every article published by Bear Market News undergoes the following fact-checking process:

1. Author Verification (First Pass): Before submission, the writer verifies all factual claims, statistics, quotes, dates, and numbers against primary sources. Writers must maintain a source file documenting their verification trail.
2. Editor Review (Second Pass): The section editor reviews the article for factual accuracy, spot-checking key claims against the writer’s source documentation. Any claim that can’t be verified is either removed or clearly labeled.
3. Source Audit: For data-heavy articles and investigative pieces, at least two of the following are independently verified: key statistics, direct quotes, financial figures, dates, and named attributions.
4. Final Review: The Editor-in-Chief or Deputy Editor performs a final review of major stories before publication.

Source Requirements

Every article must cite at least two primary sources. A primary source is an original document, dataset, firsthand account, interview, or official statement — not another news article. Secondary sources (reporting by other outlets) may supplement primary sources but cannot replace them.

Acceptable primary sources include:

• Official company filings, earnings reports, and press releases
• Government data, regulatory filings, and court documents
• Peer-reviewed academic research
• Firsthand interviews conducted by Bear Market News staff
• Verified on-chain data for cryptocurrency coverage
• Original datasets from reputable providers (Bloomberg, Refinitiv, CoinGecko, etc.)

Corrections Policy

We correct errors promptly, prominently, and transparently.

• Minor corrections (typos, formatting) are made silently.
• Factual corrections (wrong number, misattributed quote, incorrect date) are noted at the bottom of the article with the correction date and what was changed.
• Major corrections (errors that substantially change the meaning or significance of the article) are noted at the top of the article with a clear explanation.

Readers can report errors to [email protected]. We investigate all reports and respond within one business day.

Opinion vs. News

We maintain a clear separation between news reporting and opinion/analysis:

• News articles report facts without the author’s personal opinion. They are not labeled with any special tag.
• Analysis articles provide context and interpretation grounded in facts. They are labeled “Analysis” at the top.
• Opinion articles express the author’s personal views. They are prominently labeled “Opinion” and include the author’s byline and biography.

Sponsored Content

Bear Market News may publish sponsored content (paid posts from advertisers). All sponsored content is:

• Clearly labeled as “Sponsored” or “Partner Content” at the top of the article
• Visually distinct from editorial content
• Produced by the sponsor or our sponsored content team — never by our editorial staff
• Subject to review to ensure it doesn’t make false or misleading claims
• Never mixed with editorial content in a way that could confuse readers

Conflicts of Interest

All editorial staff and regular contributors must disclose potential conflicts of interest, including:

• Ownership of securities, cryptocurrencies, or other assets discussed in their coverage
• Personal or family relationships with subjects of coverage
• Previous employment at companies being covered
• Paid speaking engagements, consulting work, or advisory roles related to coverage areas
• Free products, services, travel, or accommodations accepted from covered entities (which we generally prohibit)

Material conflicts are disclosed within the relevant article. We do not allow staff to cover companies in which they hold significant positions without disclosure.

Independence from Advertisers

Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and sponsorship operations. Specifically:

• Advertisers do not review, approve, or influence editorial content
• Editorial staff do not participate in advertising sales or negotiations
• Ad placement is managed algorithmically or by our advertising team — never by editors
• We do not accept “pay-for-play” coverage (payment in exchange for articles)
• We do not allow advertisers to sponsor specific editorial topics to influence coverage

Ethics Code

Bear Market News staff and contributors adhere to a code of ethics that includes:

1. Honesty: We do not fabricate, plagiarize, or deliberately misrepresent.
2. Accountability: We stand by our work and own our mistakes.
3. Confidentiality: We protect the identity of sources who request anonymity, after vetting their credibility.
4. No payment for coverage: We do not pay sources for information or accept payment for favorable coverage.
5. Respect for privacy: We balance the public’s right to know with individuals’ legitimate privacy interests.
6. No harassment: We pursue stories tenaciously but not through harassment, intimidation, or deception.
7. Attribution: We credit other publications when we reference their reporting.

Editorial Team

• Editor-in-Chief: Sarah Chen — Sets editorial direction and oversees all content
• Senior Technology Editor: Marcus Okafor — Leads technology and cybersecurity coverage
• Markets Editor: Dr. Priya Kapoor — Leads financial markets and macroeconomics coverage
• Crypto & Web3 Editor: James Tremblay — Leads digital asset and blockchain coverage
• AI & Emerging Tech Correspondent: Dr. Amina Yusuf — Leads AI/ML coverage

Policy Updates

This Editorial Policy is reviewed quarterly and updated as needed. Material changes are announced on the Site. Questions about this policy can be directed to [email protected].