EDITORIAL STANDARDS & FACT-CHECKING PROCESS PAGE
✅ Editorial Standards & Fact-Checking
How we ensure accuracy, verify sources, and maintain journalistic integrity in everything we publish
Our Commitment to Truth
Welcome to Daily Reality NG, where we break down real-life issues with honesty and clarity. In an era of misinformation, clickbait, and AI-generated content, we believe Nigerians deserve better — content they can actually trust.
I'm Samson Ese, founder of Daily Reality NG. I've been blogging and building online businesses in Nigeria since 2016, helped over 4,000 readers start making money online, and my sites currently serve 800,000+ monthly visitors across Africa.
This isn't just theory. These are the actual standards we use daily, the real checklist every article passes through, and the verification process that protects you from false information.
If we publish something inaccurate, we've failed. This page exists to show you how hard we work to make sure that rarely happens — and what we do when it does.
Core Editorial Principles
These five principles guide every decision we make:
We would rather publish nothing than publish something wrong. Speed matters, but accuracy matters more. If we can't verify it, we don't publish it.
Every piece of advice, every recommendation, every strategy must work in Nigeria's reality. We don't copy US blog posts and change dollars to naira. If it doesn't work in Lagos, it doesn't get published.
When we make money from a recommendation (affiliate links), we say so. When we make mistakes, we admit them publicly. When we don't know something, we say "we don't know" instead of guessing.
We turn down sponsorships that don't serve our readers. We recommend products we genuinely believe in, not whoever pays most. Our business model depends on trust, not deception.
We prioritize firsthand experience and tested knowledge over theoretical advice. When we write about starting a business with 50K naira, it's because we've done it or interviewed people who have — not because ChatGPT said so.
Our Fact-Checking Process
Every article goes through this rigorous verification process before publication:
Initial Research & Claim Identification
Before writing begins, we identify all factual claims that will need verification:
- Statistics and numbers (prices, percentages, data)
- Regulatory information (CBN rates, tax rules, legal requirements)
- Product specifications (solar panel wattage, battery capacity)
- Historical facts (dates, events, policy changes)
- Quotes from experts or officials
- Scientific or technical claims
Primary Source Verification
For each major claim, we find and cite primary sources:
- Government sources: CBN website, FIRS guidelines, official gazettes
- Official documents: Policy papers, regulations, published reports
- Direct interviews: Experts, practitioners, people with firsthand experience
- Product testing: For product reviews, we test ourselves or verify with trusted testers
- Academic research: Published studies, peer-reviewed papers
Rule: Wikipedia is never a primary source. We dig deeper to find original documents.
Two-Source Minimum Rule
Every significant factual claim must be verified by at least two independent, credible sources:
- If CBN says interest rates are 27.5 percent, we verify with CBN official documents AND reputable news coverage
- If an expert makes a claim, we verify with official data or a second expert
- If a product has specific features, we verify with manufacturer AND independent testing
Exception: Official government announcements from verified channels need only one source (the official source itself).
Currency & Timeliness Check
Nigerian reality changes fast. We verify information is current:
- Check publication/update dates on all sources
- For prices, verify within the last 30 days
- For regulations, check for recent amendments
- For interest rates and financial data, use most recent official figures
- Add "as of [date]" qualifiers to time-sensitive information
Mathematical & Calculation Verification
All numbers, percentages, and calculations are double-checked:
- Solar system calculations verified with standard formulas
- Loan payment calculations checked with financial calculators
- Percentages calculated independently
- Currency conversions verified with current exchange rates
- ROI and profit margin calculations cross-checked
Process: Writer calculates, editor recalculates independently, then we compare.
Expert Review (When Applicable)
For technical content, we engage subject matter experts:
- Solar/Energy: Licensed solar installers review technical specs
- Tax/Finance: Qualified accountants review tax advice
- Legal: Lawyers review regulatory and legal information
- Health: Medical professionals review health content
Expert reviewers are compensated for their time and credited when appropriate.
Nigerian Reality Test
Before publication, we ask: "Does this actually work in Nigeria?"
- Can readers actually implement this advice?
- Are the products/services available in Nigeria?
- Do the prices reflect Nigerian market reality?
- Have we accounted for power outages, internet issues, logistics challenges?
- Is the language accessible to average Nigerians?
If the answer to any question is "no," we revise until it's "yes."
Final Editorial Review
Editor-in-Chief (Samson Ese) reviews every article for:
- Factual accuracy and source quality
- Logical consistency and argument soundness
- Potential misinterpretations or ambiguities
- Compliance with editorial standards
- Overall reader value and trustworthiness
Authority: Editor can reject or request major rewrites even at this final stage.
Source Hierarchy & Credibility
Not all sources are equal. Here's how we rank and evaluate sources:
Tier 1: Primary Official Sources
Highest credibility. Use without additional verification.
- Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official publications
- Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) guidelines
- Nigerian government official gazettes
- Bank of Industry (BOI) official documents
- NAFDAC, SON, other regulatory bodies (official channels)
- Academic peer-reviewed journals
- Direct manufacturer specifications
Tier 2: Reputable News & Research
High credibility. Verify with second source.
- Established Nigerian newspapers (Punch, Guardian, Vanguard)
- Premium Business Report, BusinessDay, Nairametrics
- Reuters, Bloomberg, Financial Times (for Nigerian stories)
- Research institutions (NBS, World Bank, IMF)
- Industry associations (MAN, NECA, etc.)
- Reputable international media with Nigerian bureaus
Tier 3: Expert Interviews & Testimony
Good credibility. Verify credentials and cross-check claims.
- Licensed professionals (accountants, lawyers, engineers)
- Industry practitioners with proven track records
- Academic experts in their field of study
- Verified business owners with relevant experience
- Government officials speaking on record
Tier 4: Online Resources & Blogs
Moderate credibility. Always verify with higher-tier sources.
- Established financial/business blogs
- Company websites (for product info only)
- Industry forums with verified experts
- Reputable international publications
- Educational platforms (.edu domains)
Tier 5: Unacceptable Sources
Never use as primary sources. May use for trends/context only.
- Wikipedia (use references at bottom, not article itself)
- Social media posts (unless from verified official accounts)
- Anonymous sources or unverified claims
- Content farms and low-quality blogs
- AI-generated content without human verification
- Forums, WhatsApp groups, unverified testimonials
Source Documentation Requirements
For every article, we maintain an internal fact-check sheet that includes:
- List of all factual claims made
- Source URL or citation for each claim
- Date source was accessed/verified
- Name of person who verified each fact
- Any discrepancies found between sources
This documentation is retained for at least 2 years and available upon request.
Verification Standards by Content Type
Financial Information (Interest Rates, Prices, Fees)
Product Reviews & Recommendations
Legal & Regulatory Information
Statistics & Data
Personal Stories & Case Studies
Health & Medical Information
Correction Policy & Procedures
No matter how careful we are, mistakes happen. What matters is how we handle them:
When We Discover or Are Informed of an Error
Immediate Acknowledgment (Within 2 Hours)
As soon as an error is reported or discovered:
- Acknowledge receipt of correction request
- Thank the person who reported it
- Begin investigation immediately
Investigation (Within 24 Hours)
We investigate the claim thoroughly:
- Review original sources
- Check for additional evidence
- Consult with subject matter experts if needed
- Determine if correction is warranted
Correction Implementation (Within 48 Hours)
If error is confirmed, we immediately:
- Correct the inaccurate information
- Add editor's note explaining what was corrected and when
- Update the "Last Updated" timestamp
- Notify the person who reported the error (if provided contact info)
Transparency Note
Significant corrections include a visible note at the top of the article:
Editor's Note: This article was updated on [date] to correct [specific error]. We initially stated [wrong info], but the accurate information is [correct info]. We apologize for the error and thank [name if permitted] for bringing it to our attention.
Correction Severity Levels
| Level | Description | Action Required | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | Typos, grammar, formatting issues | Fix silently, update timestamp | Spelling mistake, broken link |
| Moderate | Factual errors that don't affect core message | Fix + small correction note at bottom | Wrong date, incorrect company name |
| Significant | Errors affecting reader decisions | Fix + prominent editor's note at top | Wrong interest rate, incorrect price |
| Critical | Major errors undermining entire article | Article retraction or complete rewrite + public apology | Fundamental misunderstanding of topic |
What We Don't Do
❌ Unacceptable Correction Practices
- Silently fixing significant errors without acknowledgment
- Deleting articles to hide mistakes (we retract properly with explanation)
- Arguing with readers who report legitimate errors
- Blaming sources for our failure to verify
- Taking weeks to correct time-sensitive misinformation
- Making corrections without transparency notes
Our Commitment: We correct errors promptly, transparently, and graciously. Admitting mistakes builds trust more than pretending to be perfect.
What We Deliberately Avoid
Content We Will Not Publish
🚨 Absolute Red Lines
- Plagiarized content: We write original content or properly attribute/license
- AI-generated unedited content: All content is human-written or heavily human-edited
- Unverified medical advice: No health claims without professional review
- Get-rich-quick schemes: We don't promote unrealistic earning promises
- Hate speech or discrimination: Zero tolerance for content targeting groups
- Misleading clickbait: Headlines must accurately reflect article content
- Fake news or conspiracy theories: No baseless claims or misinformation
- Dangerous advice: Nothing that could cause physical, financial, or legal harm
Practices We Reject
- Keyword stuffing: We write for humans first, search engines second
- Sensationalism: We present facts calmly, without exaggeration
- False urgency: No "ACT NOW OR MISS OUT FOREVER" manipulation
- Hidden sponsorships: All paid content is clearly disclosed
- Fake scarcity: No artificial countdown timers or false stock warnings
- Bought reviews: We never accept payment to write positive reviews
- Competitor bashing: We compare fairly or not at all
- Political bias: We report on politics factually without partisan agenda
AI & Automation Policy
We use AI tools for research assistance, grammar checking, and workflow optimization. We do NOT use AI to generate publishable content. Every article is:
- Written by humans with real Nigerian experience
- Based on genuine research and verification
- Edited by humans for accuracy and context
- Tested for AI detection (must pass as 100% human-written)
Why: AI can't replicate the lived experience of navigating NEPA outages, dealing with Lagos traffic, or understanding Nigerian family dynamics. Real experience matters.
Our 2024 Editorial Performance
Accountability through numbers
12 corrections out of 131 articles = 9.2% correction rate. Our goal is under 5% by 2025.
Hold Us Accountable
These standards only work if you help us enforce them. Spot an error? See something questionable? We want to know.
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