Editorial Policy
Our Editorial Standards
Northeast Update is an independent digital news publication of Knight Entertainment, based in Silchar, Assam.
Established in 2014, Northeast Update is committed to providing accurate, responsible and relevant journalism covering Silchar, Cachar, Assam and Northeast India.
Our editorial decisions are guided by accuracy, fairness, independence, transparency, public interest and respect for the people and communities we cover.
This policy explains the standards we follow in reporting, verification, corrections, sourcing, opinion, advertising and other editorial matters.
1. Accuracy and Verification
Accuracy is fundamental to our journalism.
We make reasonable efforts to verify important facts, names, figures, dates, quotations and other significant information before publication.
Where possible, we prioritize primary and official sources, including:
- Government departments and official notifications
- Public officials and institutions
- Police and law-enforcement agencies
- Courts and legal documents
- Company and organisational statements
- Direct interviews
- Official records and documents
- First-hand observations and reporting
We also use reliable secondary sources when appropriate.
The level of verification may vary according to the nature and urgency of a story. Breaking and developing reports may initially contain limited confirmed information and are updated as additional verified information becomes available.
We distinguish confirmed facts from allegations, claims, preliminary information, opinion and speculation.
2. Sourcing and Attribution
We aim to identify the source of significant information whenever possible.
When information comes from an official statement, press release, document, interview, another publication or other identifiable source, we provide appropriate attribution.
We do not intentionally present another organisation’s reporting, statement or press release as our own original reporting.
Anonymous sources may be used when the information is of legitimate public interest and anonymity is reasonably necessary to protect the source.
Anonymous information is subject to editorial verification and is not accepted solely on the basis of the source’s identity or position.
3. Reporting Based on Press Releases
Government departments, police agencies, political organisations, companies and other institutions regularly issue press releases and official statements.
Northeast Update may report information contained in such material when it is relevant to our readers.
Where appropriate, we identify the source and provide additional context, background information, independent verification or reporting.
A press release is not automatically treated as independently verified fact simply because it was issued by an official or organisation.
4. Independence and Impartiality
Northeast Update maintains a clear separation between editorial decision-making and commercial interests.
Our journalists and editors strive to report matters fairly and without deliberate partisan bias.
Where a story involves competing claims, allegations or disputes, we make reasonable efforts to represent relevant perspectives and clearly identify who is making each claim.
We do not knowingly allow advertisers, sponsors, political organisations or other commercial interests to determine our editorial coverage or conclusions.
5. Conflicts of Interest
Journalists, editors and contributors should avoid situations in which personal, financial, professional or other relationships could compromise—or reasonably appear to compromise—their editorial independence.
Relevant conflicts should be disclosed to the editor.
Where necessary, a story may be reassigned to another journalist or handled with additional editorial oversight.
We do not accept gifts, payments, favours or other benefits intended to influence editorial coverage.
6. Fact-Checking
Northeast Update publishes fact-checks when there is a clear public-interest need to examine a potentially false, misleading or disputed claim.
Our fact-checking process aims to:
- Clearly identify the claim being examined.
- Identify the source of the claim where reasonably possible.
- Examine relevant evidence and reliable sources.
- Distinguish established facts from allegations, assumptions and opinions.
- Clearly communicate the conclusion reached from the available evidence.
Fact-check articles are intended to provide readers with evidence and context rather than simply repeat or amplify an unverified claim.
7. News, Opinion and Analysis
We distinguish factual news reporting from opinion and analysis.
News reports primarily present verified information and relevant context.
Opinion and commentary express a writer’s viewpoint and are clearly labelled.
Analysis may interpret events, explain developments or examine their potential significance, but should distinguish analysis from established facts.
Readers should be able to identify the nature of the content they are reading.
8. Corrections and Updates
We take responsibility for the accuracy of our published work.
If a significant factual error is identified, we review the information and make an appropriate correction as soon as reasonably possible.
For substantive corrections, an Editor’s Note may be added to the article explaining what was corrected.
Minor spelling, grammar, formatting or stylistic errors that do not change the meaning of a report may be corrected without a formal correction note.
We do not intentionally conceal substantive corrections or alter significant factual information in a way that materially changes the meaning of a published report without appropriate transparency.
Readers can report errors through our Contact Us page or by contacting the editorial team.
9. Breaking and Developing News
Breaking news can develop rapidly.
When information is still emerging, we distinguish confirmed information from preliminary reports, official claims and unverified information.
Articles may be updated as new and verified information becomes available.
Where a significant update materially changes the understanding of a story, the article may include an updated date or an editorial note where appropriate.
10. Privacy and Sensitive Reporting
We respect the privacy and dignity of individuals while recognising the public interest in legitimate news reporting.
We exercise particular care when reporting about:
- Children and minors
- Victims of crime
- Survivors of violence
- Sensitive legal matters
- Personal tragedies
- Medical or other highly sensitive information
We avoid publishing unnecessary personal information when it does not contribute meaningfully to the public interest.
11. Crime and Allegations
A person accused of an offence is not automatically guilty.
When reporting allegations, arrests, investigations or criminal proceedings, we seek to clearly identify the status of the matter and attribute allegations to the appropriate source.
Where legally appropriate, terms such as “alleged,” “accused,” “police said,” or equivalent attribution are used to distinguish allegations from established facts.
We update reports when significant developments, court decisions or official clarifications materially change the status of a case.
12. Sponsored and Commercial Content
Advertising, sponsorships and commercial partnerships help support the operation of Northeast Update.
Commercial content is kept separate from independent editorial decision-making.
Where sponsored articles, branded content or other paid material are published, they should be clearly identified so readers can distinguish commercial communication from independent editorial reporting.
Advertisers and sponsors do not determine our editorial coverage, reporting decisions or conclusions.
13. User-Generated Content and Comments
Comments and reader contributions may be moderated.
We may remove content that contains:
- Spam
- Threats
- Hate speech
- Personal attacks
- Defamatory material
- Deliberately misleading information
- Obscene or unlawful material
- Copyright-infringing material
- Malicious links or promotional content
Repeated violations may result in restrictions on a user’s ability to participate.
User comments do not necessarily represent the views of Northeast Update.
14. External Contributors
We may consider articles, opinion pieces and other contributions from external writers when the subject is relevant to our coverage and meets our editorial standards.
Submission does not guarantee publication.
Accepted contributions may be edited for accuracy, clarity, structure, style and compliance with our editorial standards.
External contributors are responsible for the accuracy and originality of the information they submit, subject to editorial review.
15. Use of Artificial Intelligence and Automated Tools
Northeast Update may use digital or AI-assisted tools for limited production-support purposes, such as transcription, translation, research assistance, formatting or editorial workflow.
Such tools do not replace human editorial responsibility.
AI-generated information is not treated as a substitute for original reporting, source verification or editorial judgment.
Journalists and editors remain responsible for the accuracy, context and integrity of published material.
16. Originality and Copyright
Northeast Update aims to provide original reporting, local context, analysis and other editorial value.
When information is obtained from another source, we provide appropriate attribution and do not intentionally present another publisher’s original reporting as our own.
Our original articles, photographs, videos, graphics and other creative material are protected by applicable copyright laws.
Requests for republication or commercial use should be directed to our editorial or business team.
17. Reader Feedback and Corrections
Readers are an important part of maintaining the accuracy of our journalism.
If you identify an error, have additional verified information or believe an article requires clarification, please contact us with:
- The article URL
- The specific issue
- The relevant information or claim
- Supporting evidence or reliable sources, where available
We review legitimate feedback and correction requests and take appropriate action.
18. Editorial Accountability
Northeast Update is committed to transparency about who we are, how we work and how readers can contact us.
Northeast Update
A digital news publication of Knight Entertainment
Silchar, Assam, India
Founder & Editor-in-Chief: Anupam Mandal
For editorial matters, corrections, news tips and other enquiries, please visit our Contact Us page.
Our Commitment
Our goal is to provide journalism that is:
Accurate. Independent. Transparent. Responsible. Relevant.
We recognise that journalism is an ongoing process of verification, correction and improvement. This policy may be reviewed and updated as our newsroom, technology and editorial practices evolve.