Editorial Policies

Editorial Independence Policy

In order to remain free of bias and adhere to high editorial standards, Truthout accepts no advertising or corporate backing. Instead, we depend on our readers, and a handful of foundations who support our mission, to make our work possible: Donations from individual readers have accounted for an average 81 percent of our annual budget over the last five years. Readers and foundations who donate to Truthout do so in their knowledge that our editorial principles and judgment are in no way influenced by those donations — they support us not in spite of the fact that we scrupulously maintain our editorial independence (even when it comes to our largest contributors), but because of that integrity.

Corrections Policy

In cases where we make a substantive correction to a story, we will make the change within the piece and add a note to the end of the article indicating what we have changed and why.

If a broader change is made that affects the nature of the story, we will add an editor’s note at the top of the piece that explains our rationale for making this larger alteration.

Donor Transparency and Privacy Policy

Truthout respects the privacy of our readers and supporters and will never share personal contact information with third parties. For transparency, donors and foundations who give $500 or more in a year are listed, with their approval, in our annual report each year. We also report contributions totaling $5,000 or more to the IRS.