Editorial policy

Public-record reporting

Our investigations start with documents: regulatory filings, court records, government and planning records, company statements, and contemporaneous reporting. Wherever possible we cite primary sources rather than summaries of them.

Attribution and sourcing

Every factual claim in a report is attributed, usually with a numbered note linking to the source. Each report lists its sources and documents at the end, along with reporting notes that say how the piece was reported and whether requests for comment were made.

We never invent quotes, interviews, sources, or outreach. When we quote someone, they said it, to us or on the record somewhere we cite. We don’t use composite characters. We grant anonymity only when there’s a clear reason, and when we do, we say why and describe the source as precisely as we safely can.

Verification

We try to confirm significant claims with more than one independent source or with documents. When something can’t be verified, we either leave it out or say plainly that it is unverified. Allegations are reported as allegations: we do not imply that something is proven when it is not.

Fact, analysis, and satire

Our reports distinguish three kinds of statement, and mark them visually:

• Reported fact: sourced, cited, plain text.
• Analysis: our interpretation of the record, set apart in labelled blocks.
• Hypothetical: counterfactual scenarios about what might have happened, labelled as such.

We have a sense of humor, and it mostly lives in headlines, subheadings, social posts, and transitions. Wit is never a substitute for evidence. Satirical or opinionated material is kept apart from reported facts, and essays are labelled as essays.

Right of reply

Before publishing significant adverse allegations about a named person or organization, we contact them, explain the substance of what we intend to report, and give them a reasonable opportunity to respond. We report their response, or that they declined or did not respond, fairly and in context. Each report’s notes list the requests for comment that were actually made.

Corrections and updates

We correct factual errors promptly and transparently. A correction fixes something we got wrong; an update adds new information. Both are noted, with dates, at the end of the affected report, and the report’s "updated" date changes. We don’t silently rewrite published work. Minor fixes to typos or formatting that don’t change meaning may be made without a note.

To request a correction, email corrections@creditsweets.com with the report, the passage, and what you believe is wrong.

Independence

Credit Sweets is editorially independent. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or otherwise connected to Credit Suisse, UBS, or any other financial institution, or to any company we write about. Our name is a pun and should not be read as implying any association. No company we cover reviews or approves our work before publication.

Conflicts of interest

Anyone writing for Credit Sweets must disclose relevant financial interests, employment, or personal relationships connected to a story. Where a conflict exists, we either reassign the work or disclose the conflict prominently in the report. Writers may not trade in securities of companies they are actively reporting on.

Legal review

Investigations that carry elevated legal risk, including those making serious allegations against identifiable people or companies, receive review by qualified counsel before publication.

Not investment advice

We are journalists, not an investment bank, broker-dealer, or registered investment adviser. Nothing we publish is investment, legal, tax, or financial advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Do your own research and consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

Copyright and images

We don’t reproduce third-party articles. We quote briefly where necessary, with attribution and a link. We don’t publish copyrighted photographs or graphics without a licence or permission, and every image we do use carries a credit.

Privacy

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