Verification is not a single check. It is a series of questions we ask before a claim becomes a story. The goal is not to make a story sound certain. The goal is to make sure we have enough evidence to stand behind it.
Start with the source
Who is making the claim, and how do they know? A person who saw an event is different from a person who heard about it, and both are different from an anonymous post on social media. We ask sources what they saw, what they were told, and what they can show us.
When a source cannot be named, we explain why. We do not treat anonymity as a shortcut around evidence.
Check the documents
Documents can be useful, but they can also be incomplete, outdated, or altered. We look at who issued a document, when it was issued, and whether the relevant parts can be confirmed elsewhere. A screenshot alone is rarely enough.
Talk to people who can confirm or challenge it
A good story includes the strongest available response to the claim. That may mean asking an institution, a company, or another person with direct knowledge. If they decline to comment, we say so.
Separate fact from interpretation
Facts are statements that can be checked. Interpretation is what we think those facts mean. Both can be useful, but they are not the same. We label analysis and opinion so readers can see where the evidence ends and judgment begins.
Correct the record
Errors happen. When we find one, we correct it promptly and explain what changed. We do not quietly delete a mistake and pretend it was never there.
This explainer describes our editorial process in general terms. It is not a report on a specific claim or investigation.
If you believe something we published is wrong, send the page address and the detail to check to contact@lidnews24.com. Read more about our editorial standards.