Editorial standards.
What readers can expect from every article in The Southern Meridian, and what to do when we fall short.
These standards apply to every article, from a short brief to a long read. They exist so that you can check our work, and hold us to it.
Sourcing
Every claim rests on a primary source where one exists: a law, a court ruling, a budget, a treaty, a dataset, an official statement or an on-the-record interview. Each article ends with a numbered list of linked sources. Where a source is not public, we say how we know and why we are withholding it.
Minimum sources by format:
- Brief: at least two sources, one of them primary.
- Explainer: at least three sources, with at least two primary.
- Analysis: at least four sources, including a primary source for every central claim and at least one that argues against our conclusion.
- Profile: at least four sources, including the subject’s own record, such as speeches, filings or published work.
- In Numbers: the dataset is named and linked, with its date and any known limits.
- Deep Dive: at least six sources, with the strongest counter-argument stated fairly.
The strongest counter-argument
Analysis is not advocacy. Before an argument is published, the strongest case against it is put in the article in terms its own supporters would recognise.
Corrections
If we make a factual error, we correct it. We fix the article, add a note at the foot saying what was wrong and what is right, and record the correction on the corrections page with its date. We do not quietly change published facts. To report an error, email corrections@thesouthernmeridian.com with the article title, the sentence in question and a link to the correct source.
Conflicts of interest
The magazine does not accept payment for coverage, and does not publish sponsored content dressed as editorial. Anyone writing for the magazine must tell the editor of any financial, political or personal tie to the subject of a piece. Where a tie exists and cannot be avoided, it is stated in the article.
How we use AI
We use AI tools to assist research and drafting. Every fact, figure and source link is verified by an editor before publication, and no article is published without an editor’s approval. AI is never listed as a source. The images in the magazine are AI-generated editorial illustrations, captioned as such, and they never present themselves as photographs of real events. See the image credits.
Letters
We publish a selection of reader letters. Letters of up to 1,000 words are welcome and most published letters run to 300 to 700 words. They should respond to something we have published or raise a clearly argued issue relevant to our coverage, and say who you are and where you are writing from. We choose the letters that add evidence or a strong counter-argument, and we may edit them for accuracy, clarity and length. We do not publish letters that contain threats, abuse or unsupported allegations against named people. Write to letters@thesouthernmeridian.com.
Images
Every illustration is captioned as an AI-generated editorial illustration. We will credit and license any photograph we use. Illustrations are not presented as showing a specific event.