Northern Focus (northernfocus.org) is committed to accuracy and transparency in every story we publish. Our fact-checking policy sets out the standards our team follows to verify information, the hierarchy of sources we rely on, and the process for correcting errors. This policy applies to all editorial content produced by Northern Beacon Media Inc. and is reviewed regularly by our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Andrew Leblanc.
What do we verify before publication?
We verify all factual claims that are central to a story, including statistics, dates, names, locations, quotes, and data from reports or studies. Our editors and fact-checkers assess each claim against available evidence before an article is approved for publication.
For breaking news or time-sensitive stories, we may publish with verified core facts and update additional details as they are confirmed. Every piece of editorial content is reviewed by a human editor, as outlined in our AI & Automation Policy. Our fact-checking process does not extend to opinion pieces or clearly labelled commentary, though those pieces still undergo editorial review for compliance with our Editorial Policy.
What is our source hierarchy?
We rank sources by reliability and proximity to the information. Primary sources — official documents, government records, court filings, direct interviews, and on-the-record statements — are given the highest weight. Secondary sources, such as reputable news agencies or academic publications, are used when primary sources are unavailable or to provide context.
Anonymous sources are used only when the information is of clear public interest and cannot be obtained on the record. In those cases, the reason for anonymity is explained in the article. Our full Sources & Standards page details how we evaluate and attribute every source we use.
How do we handle rumours and unverified claims?
Rumours, speculation, and unverified claims are clearly labelled as such in our reporting. We do not present unconfirmed information as fact. When we report on a rumour that is circulating publicly — for example, on social media or in political discourse — we explicitly state that the claim has not been independently verified and explain what steps we are taking to confirm or disprove it.
Our journalists are instructed to avoid amplifying baseless claims. If a rumour is widely shared but lacks credible evidence, we may publish an explanatory piece that addresses the rumour directly, always noting the absence of verification. Andrew Leblanc, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, reviews any article that involves sensitive or potentially harmful unverified claims before publication.
Who reviews sensitive or high-impact articles?
Andrew Leblanc, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, reviews all articles that touch on public safety, criminal allegations, health data, financial markets, or the reputation of individuals and organizations. This review occurs before publication and includes verification of all key sources and cross-checking of data against original documents.
For articles that involve allegations of wrongdoing or criticism of named individuals, the Standards Lead ensures that the subject has been given a reasonable opportunity to respond. Our Editorial Policy provides further detail on fair comment and right of reply.
What you can expect from us
You can expect that every article published by Northern Focus has been through a structured verification process. Our journalists are named on each piece, and our editors — including Marc Tremblay, Managing Editor, and Hannah Walsh, Municipal Affairs Editor — oversee the accuracy of coverage in their respective beats. We do not publish content that has not been reviewed by a human editor, and we do not use AI to generate quotes, sources, or bylines.
Our fact-checking is independent of commercial interests. Sponsored content and affiliate links are clearly labelled, and our commercial relationships never determine editorial conclusions, as detailed in our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure.
How do we handle mistakes and corrections?
When we make a mistake, we correct it promptly and transparently. Corrections are noted at the top or bottom of the affected article, and a permanent record of significant corrections is maintained. Readers can report potential errors directly to our fact-checking team at factcheck@northernfocus.org.
Our full Corrections Policy explains how we categorize errors, how we update articles, and how we notify readers of changes. Andrew Leblanc oversees all correction requests and ensures that the original error is acknowledged and fixed.
Questions or concerns?
If you have a question about a specific fact in one of our articles, or if you believe we have published inaccurate information, please contact our fact-checking team at factcheck@northernfocus.org. For general editorial concerns, you can reach Catherine Roy, Editor-in-Chief, at catherine.roy@northernfocus.org or by phone at +1 416 555 0220. Our Complaints Procedure outlines the steps we take to address reader concerns. You can also learn more about our team on our Our Team page.