Ethics Policy
Last updated: 20 September 2026
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This policy sets out the standards of conduct we hold our editorial team to, beyond the accuracy and sourcing standards already covered in our Editorial Policy and Fact-Checking Policy. It’s about how we do the work, not just what we publish.
- Independence from government & officials
- Gifts, hospitality & favours
- Conflicts of interest
- Plagiarism & originality
- Protecting sources
- Dignity, privacy & vulnerable people
- Minors
- Non-discrimination
- A harassment-free newsroom
- Government-scheme touts & consultants
- Staff conduct on social media
- Reporting a concern
- Changes to this policy
- Contact us
1. Independence from government & officials
A large part of our coverage involves government schemes, departments, and officials. That closeness makes independence more important, not less. Our reporters and editors do not accept assignments from, or take direction on coverage from, any government department, political party, or official, and no government body is given advance review of our content in exchange for access or cooperation.
2. Gifts, hospitality & favours
CoreSignal staff and contributors do not accept gifts, payments, free services, or favours from sources, government officials, businesses, or organisations in exchange for, or with the expectation of, favourable coverage. Where hospitality is unavoidable, such as at a press event with catering, it should not influence how the event is covered.
3. Conflicts of interest
If a reporter or editor has a personal, financial, or family connection to a story they’ve been assigned, they are expected to disclose it to their editor. Depending on the nature of the conflict, this may mean reassigning the story, adding a disclosure, or recusing the person from editorial decisions about it.
4. Plagiarism & originality
We do not present another outlet’s original reporting, another writer’s language, or another photographer’s images as our own. Where we build on another organisation’s reporting, we attribute it, consistent with our Editorial Policy. Plagiarism, by staff or contributors, is treated as a serious breach of these standards.
5. Protecting sources
Where a source has been granted anonymity for a legitimate editorial reason, as described in our Editorial Policy, we take reasonable steps to protect their identity, including in our internal records and communications. We do not reveal a confidential source’s identity without their consent, except where required by law.
6. Dignity, privacy & vulnerable people
We aim to report on accidents, crime, and personal tragedy with proportion and care. This means avoiding gratuitous detail, being mindful of grieving families, and not naming victims of sexual violence. Where a story involves someone in a vulnerable position, such as a medical condition, financial hardship, or a family crisis, we consider whether identifying them serves a genuine public-interest purpose before doing so.
7. Minors
We take particular care when a story involves a minor, whether as a victim, a witness, or otherwise. We generally avoid identifying minors involved in criminal cases, accidents, or family disputes, and we seek parental or guardian consent where a minor is named or featured in a story that isn’t clearly in the public interest to report without it, such as a school achievement announced publicly by the school itself.
8. Non-discrimination
Our reporting does not disparage any individual or group based on religion, caste, gender, ethnicity, disability, or other protected characteristics. Where a person’s religion, caste, or community is mentioned in a story, it is included only where it is directly relevant, not as an unnecessary identifier.
9. A harassment-free newsroom
CoreSignal is committed to a workplace, and a reporting environment, free of harassment, intimidation, and discrimination. This applies to how our team treats each other, and to how we expect sources, contributors, and readers to treat our journalists in the course of their work.
10. Government-scheme touts & consultants
Because we cover government schemes closely, we are sometimes approached by “consultants” or agents offering paid help with applications, or offering payment for favourable coverage of their services. CoreSignal does not accept payment, sponsorship, or promotional consideration from scheme-application agents or consultants in exchange for coverage, and we do not recommend or endorse any paid intermediary for applying to a government scheme. Readers should apply directly through official government portals, as noted in our Disclaimer.
11. Staff conduct on social media
When identifying themselves as CoreSignal journalists on social media or elsewhere, our editorial team is expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with our editorial standards, including not expressing partisan political opinions in a way that could reasonably call our editorial independence into question.
12. Reporting a concern
If you believe a CoreSignal journalist or contributor has acted inconsistently with this policy, whether a conflict of interest, an accepted favour, or another ethical concern, we want to know. Reports are reviewed by our editorial leadership and handled with discretion.
13. Changes to this policy
We may revise this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our editorial practices. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.
14. Contact us
If you have questions about this Ethics Policy, or wish to report a concern, please contact us.
Email: ask@coresignal.in
Website: https://coresignal.in
Real. Reliable. Relevant.
How we report matters as much as what we report.
Report a concern
Email ask@coresignal.in and our editorial leadership will review it.