Commitment to Review and Publishing Standards
Clerkwell Standards in Government, Leadership & Oversight (CSGLO) is committed to striving toward the highest standards in the publication of reviews, investigations, and news articles. These principles reflect our dedication to fairness, accuracy, and transparency, with the intention of maintaining integrity and effectively serving the public interest.
Ethics and Integrity
- Accuracy and Truthfulness: Every effort will be made to ensure published information is rigorously fact-checked and verified through reliable sources. While we strive to avoid errors, any misleading or false information will be addressed with appropriate measures.
- Corrections: If errors are identified, we will endeavour to correct them promptly and transparently, acknowledging and resolving the mistake.
- Independence and Impartiality: Our organisation operates independently of governmental, corporate, or political influences. We aim to conduct reviews and analyses without undue external pressures, striving for fairness and avoiding personal or institutional bias.
- Transparency: We are committed to disclosing methodologies, sources, and any inherent biases wherever possible. Our processes for evaluating documents and producing conclusions will be accessible to the public.
- Disclosure: Where relevant, potential conflicts of interest will be disclosed to ensure transparency and build trust with our audience.
Public Accountability
- Engagement and Responsiveness: We encourage input, feedback, and questions from the public, and we aim to address concerns with a commitment to fairness and accountability.
- Maintaining Trust: We will conduct reviews and assessments with diligence and care to uphold public trust and reflect the values of impartiality and service to the public good.
Legal and Confidentiality Standards
- Confidentiality and Anonymity: We will make every effort to respect the confidentiality of sources and sensitive information, ensuring compliance with GDPR and other relevant data protection laws. Anonymity will be preserved where necessary to safeguard individuals.
- Defamation and Fairness: We will ensure that any critical statements made in our publications are supported by evidence and presented fairly, adhering to relevant defamation laws, and we will strive to differentiate between facts and opinion. Just as democratic governments and their institutions, which serve the public through taxation, have a duty to the truth and the public interest, so too do journalists. Therefore, we remain committed to upholding freedom of speech and fostering democratic discourse, ensuring it thrives even in the face of challenges.
- Right of Reply: We will aim to give involved parties an opportunity to respond to critical findings before publication, wherever feasible and appropriate.
Professional Conduct
- Diligence and Rigour: Investigations and analyses will be conducted thoroughly and with care, ensuring all relevant information is considered wherever possible.
- Non-Partisanship: While critiquing public institutions, we will strive to remain unaffiliated with any political party or ideology. Acknowledging that complete neutrality is an ideal, our focus will remain on promoting transparency and accountability, guided by evidence and the public interest.
Expectations from the Public
- Honesty and Completeness: Individuals submitting documents for review are expected to provide accurate, truthful, and complete information to the best of their knowledge.
- Respect for Process: We ask for patience during reviews, which may require time to ensure fairness and thoroughness.
These principles underpin our commitment to social impact journalism, focusing on exposing systemic issues while striving for high standards of professional integrity. CSGLO aims to produce work that is credible, impactful, and reflective of the public interest while recognising the challenges inherent in our work. To learn more about our approach, please follow the link to our Transparency Document, which also includes a link to our full Charter.