Editorial policy

Commissioning

We commission pieces from staff contributors and a small roster of freelance writers. All commissions are reviewed by the editor in chief and at least one other contributor before reporting begins.

Reporting standards

Every reported piece is expected to be based on first-hand observation, direct interview, primary documents, or verifiable archival sources. Composite scenes and composite characters are not permitted.

Fact-checking

Each piece is fact-checked by a contributor other than the writer. Names, dates, dollar amounts, distances, titles, and any direct quotation are checked against the writer's notes, recordings, or the original source.

Corrections

We correct factual errors visibly. When a correction is made, a dated note is appended to the bottom of the piece describing what was changed and why.

Sources and confidentiality

We protect confidential sources. Anonymous sourcing is permitted only when the information cannot be obtained on the record and is materially important.

Independence

Editorial decisions are taken by the editorial trust, independent of any commercial entity. We do not accept sponsored content, native advertising, or affiliate links.

Use of generative tools

Field Lantern pieces are reported and written by human contributors. We do not use generative text models to draft or rewrite pieces.