Editorial Policy
behindtalkies exists to deliver accurate, accountable Tamil journalism. This page sets out how we report, what we will and will not publish, and how we decide what runs on the site.
Independence
Editorial decisions are made by the editorial team alone. Advertisers, partners, and political affiliations have no influence over what we publish or how we frame it. The newsroom is structurally separated from the business team — advertising staff do not see articles before they are published, and no advertiser receives advance copy.
Sourcing
- Every news story is verified with at least one named source on the record, or two independent corroborating sources where the record is unavailable.
- We do not publish anonymous tips without independent verification.
- Press releases are clearly marked as such; we do not republish PR copy as reporting.
- Wire copy (PTI, ANI, IANS) is credited inline.
Quotes and attribution
- Quotes are reproduced verbatim except for the removal of filler words ("um", "uh") and translation, where applicable. Translations are noted.
- "Off the record" means we will not publish; "on background" means we will use the information but not attribute it to the source.
- We do not pay sources for information.
Fact-Checking
Before publication every news story is checked against:
- Primary documents — court orders, FIRs, government circulars, company filings.
- At least one official spokesperson when the story names a person, company, or institution.
- Independent record — published reporting in mainstream Indian press, court of record.
If a claim cannot be verified, we either reach the source again, hold the story, or publish with an explicit "we could not independently confirm…" qualifier.
Opinion vs. news
Opinion, analysis, and commentary are labelled. News stories carry the byline of the reporter. Opinion carries the byline of the author and the "Opinion" tag.
Sponsored content
Sponsored content, partner content, and affiliate links are clearly labelled with a "Sponsored" or "Partner content" banner at the top. The body of sponsored stories is written by, or in consultation with, the sponsor; the editorial team retains the right to refuse sponsored stories that conflict with our values or contain false claims.
What we will not publish
- Communal incitement, religious hatred, or anything that could trigger violence against a community.
- Personal medical or financial details without consent.
- The names of minors involved in criminal investigations.
- The names of survivors of sexual violence.
- Unverified rumours about deaths, suicides, or serious illness.
Diversity
We aim for the byline mix and source diversity to reflect the Tamil-speaking audience we serve. Where the available expertise on a topic is overwhelmingly from one community, gender, or geography, we make an effort to find counter-voices before publishing.
Updates and revisions
- Minor copy edits (typos, formatting) are applied silently.
- Substantive changes — new information, a changed claim, a clarified figure — are noted at the foot of the article with the date and what changed.
- See our Corrections Policy for handling errors.
Grievances
Disagreements with our editorial decisions can be addressed to our Grievance Officer via the Contact page. We acknowledge complaints within 24 hours and resolve them within 15 days per IT Rules 2021, Rule 3(2).