Helvetica Times is committed to accurate, independent journalism. This policy explains how our newsroom works and the standards we hold ourselves to.
Editorial independence
Editorial decisions — what we cover, how we cover it, and what we publish — are made by the newsroom. They are not influenced by advertisers, commercial partners, owners, or political actors. Anyone with a financial or personal interest in a story discloses it and steps aside if needed.
Sourcing and verification
Stories are reported from primary sources wherever possible: official documents, on-the-record interviews, court filings, public records, and direct observation. We attribute claims to their source, link to primary documents where they exist online, and verify factual claims before publication. Anonymous sources are used only when the public interest justifies it and the information cannot be obtained on the record. Their use is approved by an editor.
Quotations and accuracy
Direct quotes are used only when we have the speaker’s exact words. We do not change quotes to improve grammar or style; minor edits for clarity are marked with brackets. We do not invent dialogue or composite characters.
Conflicts of interest
Journalists do not cover companies, organisations, or individuals with whom they have a personal, family, or financial relationship. Where a conflict cannot be avoided, it is disclosed in the article.
Use of AI tools
Generative AI tools are not used to write articles. We may use AI for research assistance, transcription of recorded interviews, and translation of source documents — in every case, output is fact-checked and edited by a human journalist before publication. We disclose substantive use of AI in any article where it materially shaped the reporting.
Photographs and images
Photographs depict real scenes. We do not stage news photography or alter images beyond standard cropping, exposure, and colour correction. Illustrations and photo composites are labelled as such. Stock imagery is captioned where used.
Corrections and updates
When we get something wrong, we correct it openly and explain what changed. See our Corrections Policy.
Reader rights
You can request corrections, ask questions about how a story was reported, or raise a complaint by emailing corrections@helveticatimes.com.