FactBase Guidelines

FactBase is an independent documentation and investigative publishing platform focused on preserving verified facts, research, and public-interest reporting. These rules define the editorial, ethical, and operational standards for all contributors.

1. Platform Purpose

FactBase exists to create a permanent, reliable archive of documented information. All content published on FactBase must:

  • Be based on verifiable facts and evidence
  • Contribute to public understanding
  • Clearly distinguish factual reporting from analysis or opinion
  • Remain free from undisclosed political, financial, or institutional influence

Accuracy and documentation are core principles.

2. Contributor Responsibilities

All contributors publishing on FactBase must:

  • Verify factual claims before publication
  • Use credible, clearly identifiable sources
  • Protect confidential sources and agreements
  • Clearly label opinion and interpretative content
  • Disclose any relevant conflicts of interest

Contributor responsibility ensures archival integrity.

3. Ethical Standards

FactBase contributors are expected to follow established journalistic ethics, including:

  • Editorial independence
  • Accuracy, balance, and context
  • Accountability for published material
  • Transparency in sourcing and research methods
  • Minimization of harm to individuals and communities

The SPJ Code of Ethics is recommended as a guiding framework.

4. Accepted Content

FactBase accepts the following types of content:

✅ Investigative journalism
✅ Document-based reporting and research
✅ Analytical articles and commentary
✅ Expert and specialist contributions
✅ Photo documentation and multimedia narratives
✅ Long-form and archival features

All submissions must be original work by the contributor.

5. Linking Policy

To maintain quality and prevent abuse:

  • Maximum 3 outbound editorial links per article (excluding citations)
  • Links must provide factual context or verification
  • ❌ No affiliate links, referral programs, or monetized redirects
  • ❌ No artificial link-building or SEO manipulation
Links must serve documentation, not promotion.

6. Media Policy

Video Content

  • ❌ Direct video uploads are not permitted
  • ✅ Videos must be embedded from established platforms (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo)
  • Embedded videos must support factual documentation

Images

  • ✅ Only upload images with valid usage rights
  • Attribution is required where applicable
  • Recommended file size: under 5MB
  • Misleading or manipulated imagery is prohibited

7. Prohibited Content 🚫

The following content is strictly prohibited on FactBase:

❌ Plagiarism or copyright infringement
❌ Fabricated, knowingly false, or misleading information
❌ Hate speech, harassment, or threats
❌ Promotional or sponsored content disguised as journalism
❌ Malware, exploits, or malicious code
❌ Violation of source confidentiality
❌ Publication of private or sensitive data without consent

8. Moderation & Enforcement

FactBase reserves the right to:

  • Remove content that violates these rules
  • Restrict, suspend, or terminate contributor accounts
  • Act immediately in cases of serious or repeated violations

Enforcement actions are based on editorial conduct and factual integrity, not political ideology or viewpoint.

Appeals

If you believe a moderation decision was made in error, you may submit an appeal via the official contact page.

9. Corrections & Record Integrity

  • Verified errors must be corrected promptly
  • Corrections must be clearly documented
  • Updates to developing or evolving content must be transparent
  • Silent edits that materially change meaning are not permitted

Accuracy over time is essential for a factual archive.

10. Contributor Rights

Contributors publishing on FactBase retain:

  • Full copyright ownership
  • Republication and archival rights
  • Control over personal profiles and content

FactBase provides:

  • A professional publishing platform
  • Secure technical infrastructure
  • Privacy and pseudonym options
  • Access to an independent journalism community

11. Resource Responsibility

FactBase operates with limited technical 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 long-term platform stability.

12. Updates to These Rules

These editorial rules may evolve as FactBase develops.
The current and authoritative version is always published on this page.

Last Updated: December 2025