What does our fact‑checking process mean for you?
This page explains exactly what we check before publication, how we rank our sources, and what you can do if you believe something is wrong. You can use the links throughout to jump to the relevant section or to our related policies.
Every article on Medienconnect is fact‑checked before it goes live. We do this because our readers rely on us for clear, trustworthy coverage of Swedish news, politics, economy, culture and society. When you read something on our site, you should be able to trust that the facts have been verified by a human editor.
What do we verify?
We verify all factual claims that are central to a story, including statistics, dates, names, quotes, legal references and descriptions of events. Claims that are not central or that are clearly attributed to a named source may receive lighter verification, but we still flag any uncertainty.
Our reporters and editors follow a strict checklist before an article moves to publication. For stories with high public interest or that involve allegations, financial data or health information, we require at least two independent sources or a primary document. Opinion pieces and commentary are clearly labelled, and their factual assertions are still checked for accuracy.
Our fact‑checking team, led by Julia Franke (responsible for fact‑checking, source verification and corrections), maintains a library of trusted reference materials. You can read more about our source standards on the Sources & Standards page.
How do we rank our sources?
We use a hierarchy of source reliability: primary documents (official records, court filings, government data) are preferred, followed by credible secondary sources (well‑established news agencies, academic publications, expert interviews). Anonymous or single‑source claims are treated with caution and clearly disclosed.
When we use a source that is less authoritative, we explain why we consider it relevant and what steps we took to corroborate it. Our full source‑hierarchy framework is published at /sources/. All editorial staff are trained on this system upon joining and receive regular updates.
How do we handle rumours and unverified claims?
We label rumours, unconfirmed reports and speculation with explicit language such as “according to unverified reports” or “this has not been independently confirmed.” We never present a rumour as established fact, and we update the article if the claim is later verified or debunked.
If a rumour is circulating widely but we cannot verify it, we may choose not to report it at all. When we do cover a rumour for its newsworthiness, we explain why it matters and what is still unknown. Our editorial policy, detailed in the Editorial Policy, governs all such decisions.
How this works in practice
Consider a recent article about a proposed change to Sweden’s parental leave law. Our reporter, Daniel Hoffmann, obtained a draft proposal from a government source. He then contacted the Ministry of Social Affairs and two independent policy experts to confirm the details. The draft was quoted directly, and a link to the official document was included. When one expert later corrected a figure, the article was updated within two hours, and a correction note was appended. The entire process was supervised by Laura Busch, our newsroom chief.
This example shows our routine: we start with a primary source, corroborate with secondary sources, label any uncertainty, and correct swiftly when new information emerges. The same rigour applies to every story, from a local council decision to a national economic report.
Who oversees sensitive articles?
Articles that touch on public health, legal proceedings, national security or vulnerable individuals are reviewed by Alexander Seidel, our editor‑in‑chief, before publication. He has the final say on whether the sourcing is sufficient and whether any ethical concerns have been addressed.
Our Editorial Policy sets out the standards for sensitive reporting, including the handling of confidential sources and the protection of privacy. Our team page, /our-team/, lists all editorial staff and their responsibilities.
How can you report a potential error?
We welcome reader reports of factual mistakes. If you see something that you believe is incorrect, please email factcheck@medienconnect.de with the article URL, a description of the issue and your source. Our fact‑checking team will review it and respond within two business days.
If an error is confirmed, we correct the article promptly and publish a correction notice. Our full Corrections Policy explains how we handle minor typos, factual errors and more significant updates. You can also submit complaints via complaints@medienconnect.de if you are not satisfied with the response.
Who we are and how this policy is owned
Medienconnect is published by Medienconnec Media Ltd., a private company registered in Gibraltar (company number C 92009, Malta Business Registry). The editorial team is fully independent and operates under the direction of editor‑in‑chief Alexander Seidel. Commercial relationships never influence our fact‑checking decisions.
This policy is reviewed every six months by the editorial board. Our About Us page provides more information on our ownership and structure.
In short
We verify what we publish, label what we cannot confirm, and correct mistakes quickly when they happen. Every article is reviewed by a human editor, and we hold ourselves accountable to the same standards we demand of our sources.