At Hauptreport, we treat fact-checking as a core editorial discipline, not a afterthought. Every article published on hauptreport.de is reviewed by a dedicated fact-checker before going live, and our standards are set out in this policy so that readers know exactly what we verify and how we handle claims that cannot be confirmed.
What do we fact-check?
We verify all factual assertions that appear in our reporting, including statistics, dates, names, quotes, financial figures, and claims attributed to public officials, organisations, or documents. The depth of verification depends on the nature of the claim and the strength of the available evidence.
We use a clear source hierarchy in our internal workflow. Primary sources – official government records, court filings, scientific studies, original documents – are given the highest weight. Secondary sources, such as reputable news agencies or peer-reviewed journals, are used only when primary sources are not available or to cross-check information. Anonymous sources are never relied upon for central factual claims unless the information has been independently corroborated. Our fact-checking team, led by Melanie Winter (Ansvarig för faktagranskning), maintains a database of verified source material and updates it regularly.
How do we handle rumours and unverified claims?
Rumours, speculation, and claims that cannot be verified before publication are clearly labelled as unconfirmed. We do not treat such material as fact, and we never publish a rumour without explaining why it is being reported and what steps have been taken to verify it.
When a rumour is widely circulating on social media or in other outlets, our Standards Lead – usually Michael Schulte (Chefredaktör) or a senior editor – reviews the article before it can proceed. The article must include a prominent note indicating that the claim is unverified and, where possible, link to our editorial policy for further context. For highly sensitive claims involving public safety or individual reputation, the Standards Lead may decide to withhold publication entirely until verification is complete.
What you can expect from us
Every piece of editorial content at Hauptreport passes through a human editor and a fact-checker before it reaches you. Our fact-checking team uses a combination of direct source verification, database checks, and, where appropriate, AI-assisted research tools – but no automated tool makes the final call.
We do not publish quotes, interviews, or expert profiles that have been fabricated or generated by AI. Our bylines are always real people; our team page lists each editor and their responsibility. Melanie Winter oversees fact-checking and corrections, and she reports directly to Michael Schulte. If a fact cannot be confirmed after a reasonable effort, we either remove it or note the uncertainty in the text. We also label sponsored or commercial content clearly so that readers can distinguish it from editorial work.
How can readers report a possible error?
If you believe something in an article is inaccurate, please email our fact-checking desk directly at factcheck@hauptreport.de. We take all reports seriously and aim to respond within one business day.
Our corrections policy explains how we investigate and fix errors – whether they are minor typos or significant factual mistakes. Every correction is published with a note explaining the change and the date it was made. Readers can also contact our general tips line at tips@hauptreport.de or use the contact form on our Contact page. We encourage you to include a link to the article and the specific claim you are questioning.
Questions or concerns?
If this policy does not answer your question, please write to info@hauptreport.de. For editorial complaints, contact the Chefredaktör Michael Schulte directly at anders.lindqvist@hauptreport.de. Our full complaints procedure is available at /complaints-procedure/.