Pressesicht (pressesicht.de) is committed to transparent and rigorous fact-checking as a cornerstone of our editorial mission to deliver trustworthy Swedish journalism. This policy outlines the standards, procedures and responsibilities that govern our verification process. The ultimate responsibility for fact-checking lies with Chefredaktör Matthias Winter, who oversees editorial standards and publication decisions, and with Anna Jung, our dedicated Head of Fact-Checking (ansvarig för faktagranskning). Pressesicht is owned and operated by Pressesicht Media Ltd., a private company registered in Gibraltar (company number C 92009, Malta Business Registry), with registered office at Office 9, Business Centre, Valletta, 0000. Our commercial funding – including display advertising, affiliate links, sponsored content and content licensing – never influences editorial conclusions or the rigour of our verification process.
Who is responsible for fact-checking at Pressesicht?
Chefredaktör Matthias Winter holds editorial responsibility for all fact-checking standards, while Anna Jung, as Head of Fact-Checking, leads the daily verification workflow. Every article published on Pressesicht is drafted by a named writer, reviewed by an editor and then checked by Anna Jung’s team of fact-checkers before it goes live. This three‑stage process ensures that no piece reaches our readers without independent verification. For particularly sensitive or complex stories, the Standards Lead – a senior editor designated by Winter – conducts an additional review before publication.
What do we verify before publication?
We verify every factual claim that appears in our articles, including dates, names, statistics, quotations, legal references and descriptions of events. Our fact-checking extends to data sourced from official Swedish government agencies, research institutions, press releases and interviews. We do not publish any statement, figure or attribution that cannot be corroborated by at least two independent primary sources, except in rare cases where a single authoritative source (such as Statistics Sweden or a government portal) is sufficient. All sponsored or commercially labelled content is subject to the same fact-checking standards as editorial material.
How do we rank our sources?
Our source hierarchy is defined in the Sources & Standards page and is applied consistently across all coverage. Primary sources – official government records, court documents, original research papers, direct quotes from named individuals – are given highest priority. Secondary sources such as reputable news agencies (TT, Reuters) and established Swedish media are used only when primary sources are unavailable or to corroborate them. Anonymous sources are permitted only when their identity is known to the editor and the information is independently verifiable; they are always labelled as “anonymous” in the text.
How do we handle rumours and unverified claims?
Any claim that is unverified, speculative or derived from social media is clearly labelled as a rumour, allegation or unconfirmed report. We never present such material as fact; instead, we explain the source of the claim, indicate what remains unverified and, where possible, provide context about its credibility. If a rumour later proves true, we update the article with a note. If it proves false, we issue a correction and remove or retract the original content in accordance with our Corrections Policy.
How does the Standards Lead review sensitive articles?
The Standards Lead – currently a senior editor appointed by Chefredaktör Winter – conducts a mandatory pre‑publication review of any article that involves national security, public health risks, vulnerable individuals, ongoing legal proceedings or allegations of serious misconduct. This review examines source integrity, potential bias, legal exposure and ethical implications. The Standards Lead can request additional sourcing, delay publication or, in exceptional cases, prevent an article from being published if verification is incomplete. The reviewer’s identity and decision are recorded internally.
How can readers report errors or concerns?
We encourage readers to submit potential errors, unverified claims or suggested corrections to our dedicated fact‑checking email address: factcheck@pressesicht.de. Every report is acknowledged within two business days and reviewed by Anna Jung or a designated member of the fact‑checking team. If a correction is warranted, it is published promptly, along with a note explaining the change, in accordance with our Corrections Policy. Readers may also contact the editorial team via editorial@pressesicht.de for general feedback.
What policies govern our editorial process?
Our approach to fact‑checking is part of a broader framework of editorial integrity. Readers can find the full Editorial Policy on this site, which details our commitment to accuracy, independence and transparency. The Our Team page lists every named writer, editor and fact‑checker at Pressesicht, with their contact details and areas of responsibility. All internal guidelines for AI‑assisted tools, sponsored content and commercial partnerships are also publicly available under the relevant policies linked from our footer.
Our commitments
- We commit to verifying every factual claim in our articles through at least two independent primary sources before publication.
- We commit to clearly labelling all unverified, rumoured or speculative content and updating or correcting it once verified.
- We commit to subjecting all sensitive stories to an additional review by the Standards Lead before publication.
- We commit to responding to every reader report of a potential error within two business days and issuing a formal correction where necessary.
- We commit to maintaining a publicly visible source hierarchy and full editorial policies to ensure accountability to our readers.