At The Trending People, we believe accurate, transparent, and responsible journalism is essential for a well-informed society. These guidelines outline how our newsroom gathers, verifies, publishes, and corrects information, combining our Editorial Standards, Fact-Checking Policy, and Ethics Policy.

1. Core Editorial Principles

• Accuracy above all else
• Truthfulness and fairness
• Editorial independence from political or commercial influence
• Transparency in reporting and corrections
• Respect for individuals and communities
• Accountability for errors
• Integrity in all journalistic practices

2. Accuracy & Fact-Checking

Accuracy is the foundation of our newsroom. Before publishing, we:

• Verify claims using multiple credible sources
• Review official documents and public records
• Confirm statistics through original sources
• Cross-check all facts, quotes, and statements

3. Use of Sources

Acceptable Sources: Government documents, RTI replies, first-hand interviews, and primary datasets.

Anonymous Sources: Used only when essential, the source has first-hand knowledge, the editor knows the identity, and safety is a concern. We always explain anonymity.

4. Fact-Checking Ratings

For fact-check articles, we classify claims into the following categories:

5. Corrections & Transparency

We do not delete articles to hide mistakes unless legally required. Our policy:

• Corrections are made promptly after verification
• A correction note explains what was changed and why
• Major errors receive a distinct Correction Notice

Report Errors: corrections@thetrendingpeople.com

6. Editorial Independence

Our journalism is free from political affiliations, government influence, or corporate pressure. Sponsored content is clearly labeled as Sponsored or Partner Content and does not influence newsroom decisions.

7. Use of AI Tools

AI is used responsibly under human supervision for tasks like grammar checks or transcription.

• AI does NOT generate entire news articles
• AI does NOT replace human fact-checking
• AI does NOT publish content without editorial approval

8. Sensitive Content Standards

• Avoid graphic imagery unless essential
• Protect identities of minors and victims
• Ethical reporting that does not encourage harm

9. Opinion & Analysis

We clearly differentiate between News (factual), Analysis (interpretation), and Opinion (personal viewpoints).

11. User-Generated Content

Reader submissions are verified for authenticity. We remove content that constitutes hate speech, misinformation, or harassment.

13. Plagiarism Policy

Zero tolerance. We do not copy content. We credit original sources and seek permission for copyrighted material.

15. Legal Compliance

We comply with Indian media laws, IT laws, copyright regulations, and data protection norms.