FactNow is an independent publishing platform focused on timely, verifiable, and responsible journalism. These rules define the editorial, ethical, and technical standards required to protect contributors, sources, and platform integrity.
1. Editorial Principles
All contributors to FactNow must commit to the following core principles:
- Accuracy before speed
- Fair and balanced reporting
- Verification of all factual claims prior to publication
- Clear distinction between facts, analysis, and opinion
- Protection of confidential sources
Journalism on FactNow must serve the public interest and remain free from undisclosed influence.
2. Ethical Standards
Contributors are expected to follow recognized journalistic ethics, including:
- Independence from political, financial, or organizational pressure
- Accountability for published content
- Transparency in sourcing and methodology
- Minimizing harm to individuals and communities
- Prompt correction of verified errors
The SPJ Code of Ethics is recommended as a guiding reference.
3. Content Guidelines
Accepted Content
✅ Investigative reporting
✅ Fact-based news analysis
✅ Clearly labeled opinion and commentary
✅ Expert and specialist journalism
✅ Photo stories and multimedia narratives
✅ Long-form and in-depth reporting
All submissions must be original and created by the contributor.
4. Linking Policy
To maintain editorial quality and prevent manipulation:
- Maximum 3 outbound editorial links per article (excluding citations)
- Links must provide context or additional understanding
- ❌ No affiliate links, referral links, or monetization schemes
- ❌ No link networks or SEO manipulation
Links must serve readers, not external agendas.
5. Media Policy
Video Content
- ❌ Direct video uploads are not permitted (infrastructure limits)
- ✅ Videos must be embedded from established platforms (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo)
- Embedded videos must be directly relevant to the article
Images
- ✅ Only upload images you own or have legal rights to use
- Attribution is required for licensed or third-party material
- Recommended file size: under 5MB
- Misleading or manipulated images are not allowed
6. Prohibited Content 🚫
The following content is strictly forbidden:
❌ Plagiarism or copyright infringement
❌ Knowingly false, fabricated, or misleading information
❌ Hate speech, harassment, threats, or incitement
❌ Promotional or sponsored content presented as journalism
❌ Malware, exploits, or malicious code
❌ Violation of source confidentiality
❌ Publication of private or sensitive data without consent
7. Account Enforcement
FactNow reserves the right to:
- Remove content that violates these rules
- Limit or suspend contributor accounts
- Act immediately in cases of serious or repeated violations
Enforcement is based on editorial conduct and factual integrity, not political orientation or viewpoint.
Appeals
If you believe a moderation action was taken in error, you may submit an appeal through the official contact page.
8. Corrections & Updates
- Errors must be corrected promptly
- Corrections must be clearly visible
- Developing stories should be updated transparently
- Silent edits that change meaning are not permitted
Accuracy over time is essential to credibility.
9. Contributor Rights
Contributors to FactNow retain:
- Full copyright to their original work
- Republication rights
- Control over their profile and published content
FactNow provides:
- A professional publishing platform
- Technical infrastructure
- Privacy and pseudonym options
- Access to an independent journalism community
10. Resource Responsibility
FactNow operates with limited resources. Contributors are asked to:
- Embed media instead of uploading large files
- Optimize images before submission
- Avoid unnecessary server or bandwidth usage
Responsible use ensures platform availability for all contributors worldwide.
11. Updates to These Rules
These editorial rules may evolve as the platform grows.
The current and authoritative version is always published on this page.
Last Updated: December 2025