Our Editorial Commitment
At WeGoTalk Naija, we believe journalism should inform, explain and serve the public interest.
Our editorial policy guides how we research, report, write, edit, publish and update our stories.
We aim to provide readers with journalism that is accurate, fair, responsible, clear and useful.
Our newsroom also recognises that publishing news carries responsibility. A headline can influence how people understand an event, while an inaccurate report can cause real harm.
We therefore take care to distinguish between what is known, what is alleged, what is claimed and what has been independently established.
1. Accuracy Comes First
We make reasonable efforts to verify important information before publication.
Depending on the story, our journalists may rely on:
- Official statements and government records.
- Court documents and legal filings.
- Interviews and direct communication with relevant individuals.
- Statements from organisations and institutions.
- Reports from established news organisations.
- Publicly available documents and databases.
- Eyewitness accounts and credible sources.
- Direct observation and original reporting.
We do not knowingly publish information that we believe to be false.
When a story develops rapidly and some facts remain unconfirmed, we clearly indicate what is known and what remains uncertain.
2. We Identify Our Sources
We aim to tell readers where important information comes from.
When a claim comes from a government agency, company, political party, security organisation, court, individual or other identifiable source, we attribute the information appropriately.
We do not present another person’s claim as an established fact.
For example, when reporting an allegation, we will use language such as “according to,” “the police said,” “the EFCC alleged,” “the court heard” or other appropriate attribution.
This helps readers distinguish between a reported claim and a verified fact.
3. Handling Anonymous Sources
We use anonymous sources sparingly.
A source may remain unnamed when revealing the person’s identity could expose them to serious risk or retaliation and when the information has genuine public-interest value.
Where practical, important information obtained from an anonymous source will be independently verified before publication.
We will not use anonymity simply to make an unverified claim appear credible.
4. Reporting Allegations and Criminal Cases
People accused of wrongdoing have the right to be treated fairly.
An allegation is not the same as a conviction.
When reporting arrests, investigations, criminal allegations or court proceedings, we will identify the status of the case as accurately as possible.
We will avoid presenting an accused person as guilty unless a competent court has established that fact.
We will also update relevant stories when significant developments occur, including charges being withdrawn, acquittals, convictions, appeals or other material changes.
5. Headlines and Search
We want our headlines to attract readers without misleading them.
A headline should accurately represent the story beneath it.
We avoid deliberately sensational headlines, false urgency, clickbait and headlines that exaggerate what the available evidence supports.
At the same time, we aim to make headlines useful to readers by highlighting why a story matters, what it means, what readers need to know or what happens next when the facts support that approach.
Our goal is simple:
A reader should understand the central issue from the headline and get additional value from reading the article.
6. Original Value
WeGoTalk does not aim to simply reproduce information that readers can find elsewhere.
When reporting on a story already covered by other media organisations, we aim to add value through:
- Additional context.
- Clear explanations.
- Relevant background.
- Official documents or statements.
- Key figures and timelines.
- Direct responses from relevant parties where available.
- Practical information for affected readers.
- What the development means for Nigerians.
- What remains unknown.
- What readers should watch next.
Where we rely substantially on another publication’s reporting, we attribute it appropriately.
7. Original Reporting
We encourage original reporting, interviews, analysis, explainers and independently gathered information.
Original material may include:
- Interviews.
- On-the-ground reporting.
- Analysis of public documents.
- Data analysis.
- Direct observations.
- Investigative work.
- Fact-checking.
- Explainers based on verified information.
We believe original reporting strengthens public understanding and gives readers a reason to choose WeGoTalk.
8. Political and Public Affairs Coverage
WeGoTalk covers Nigerian politics and public affairs as matters of public interest.
Our political reporting should remain factual, fair and independent.
We do not publish political stories with the intention of telling readers whom to support or oppose.
When reporting political claims, we attribute them to the people or organisations making them.
We distinguish between:
- Established facts.
- Political claims.
- Policy positions.
- Analysis.
- Commentary and opinion.
We do not knowingly present campaign material or partisan claims as neutral news reporting.
9. Crime, Security and Tragedy
Stories involving crime, terrorism, violence, accidents, deaths and other tragedies require particular care.
We avoid unnecessary graphic details and sensational descriptions.
We take reasonable steps to verify casualty figures and other sensitive information, particularly when reports come from social media or unofficial sources.
When authorities provide figures that cannot yet be independently confirmed, we identify them as official figures rather than presenting them as independently established facts.
10. Social Media and Viral Information
Social media can provide useful leads, but viral content is not automatically reliable.
Before publishing information based on a viral post, video, photograph or screenshot, we aim to establish:
- Who originally published it.
- When and where it was created.
- Whether the material is authentic.
- Whether older material is being presented as new.
- Whether independent sources support the claim.
We may report that a claim is circulating online without presenting the claim itself as fact.
11. Images and Visual Content
We aim to use images that accurately represent the subject of a story.
We identify photographs and other visual material where appropriate.
We do not knowingly publish manipulated images that mislead readers about an event.
When we use illustrative or file photographs, we aim to make their nature clear where there is a reasonable possibility that readers could mistake them for images of the specific event being reported.
12. Artificial Intelligence and Editorial Work
We may use artificial intelligence tools to support certain newsroom tasks, including research assistance, transcription, language editing, brainstorming, formatting, data organisation and other production activities.
However, AI does not replace editorial responsibility.
A human editor or journalist remains responsible for the accuracy, context, fairness and final presentation of published material.
We do not treat AI-generated information as automatically accurate.
AI-assisted content must be checked against reliable sources before publication, particularly names, dates, figures, quotations, legal claims and other factual details.
We will not knowingly publish fabricated quotations, invented sources or fictional events as real journalism.
13. Corrections and Updates
We take errors seriously.
When we discover a significant factual error, we will correct it as soon as reasonably possible.
Depending on the nature of the error, we may also publish a correction note explaining what was changed.
We may update articles when new and significant information becomes available.
Where an article has undergone a substantial factual update, we aim to indicate that the story has been updated.
Our full approach is outlined in our Corrections Policy.
14. Conflicts of Interest
Editorial decisions should not be influenced by personal, political or commercial interests.
Editors, writers and contributors should disclose relevant conflicts of interest where those interests could reasonably affect the credibility of a story.
We may decline to publish material where a conflict creates a significant risk to editorial independence.
15. Advertising and Sponsored Content
Advertising and editorial content should remain distinguishable.
Advertisers, sponsors and commercial partners do not have the right to determine the facts reported in independent editorial stories.
Where WeGoTalk publishes sponsored, branded or promotional material, we aim to identify it clearly so readers can distinguish it from independent editorial reporting.
16. Respect for Privacy
We respect people’s legitimate expectation of privacy.
We will consider the public interest before publishing sensitive personal information.
Private information should not be published simply because it is available online.
We take particular care when stories involve children, victims of violence, vulnerable individuals and people who are not public figures.
17. Children and Vulnerable People
Stories involving children and vulnerable people require additional care.
We avoid publishing identifying information that could unnecessarily expose a child or vulnerable person to harm.
Where identification is necessary because of a compelling public-interest reason or an official legal process, we will consider the circumstances carefully before publication.
18. Contributors and Guest Content
Guest contributors may provide articles, opinions, analysis or specialist perspectives.
Such material should be clearly attributed to the contributor.
Contributors are responsible for the accuracy and originality of their submissions, while WeGoTalk retains editorial discretion over whether and how submitted material is published.
Guest opinion does not necessarily represent the editorial position of WeGoTalk.
19. Reader Feedback
We welcome credible information, corrections and constructive feedback from our readers.
Readers can contact us when they believe:
- A factual error appears in a story.
- Important information is missing.
- A source has been misrepresented.
- A published image is incorrect or misleading.
- A story requires a significant update.
We review credible submissions and make changes when the evidence supports them.
20. Our Editorial Standard
Before publishing a significant story, we aim to ask:
Is it accurate?
Is it properly sourced?
Is the headline supported by the story?
Have we clearly separated facts from allegations or opinions?
Have we added useful context?
Could any part of the report unnecessarily harm someone?
Does the story give readers enough information to understand what happened?
Would we be comfortable explaining our reporting process to the people who read it?
These questions guide our newsroom as we work to build a publication that readers can trust.
Our Promise
WeGoTalk Naija will continue to improve its journalism, listen to its readers and correct its mistakes when necessary.
We believe credibility is not something a news organisation claims.
It is something it earns, story by story.
WeGoTalk Naija — Talking Nigeria, One Story at a Time.