How we work

Editorial standards

The short version: we tell the people we write about what we're publishing and give them a chance to answer. We fix our mistakes in public. Nobody can buy coverage. Here is the longer version, which applies to all four publications.

Independence

• No paid placement in editorial. Ever. Money doesn't buy coverage, kill a story or soften one.
• ADOTAT is funded by subscribers and readers. We publish uncomfortable findings regardless of how the PR team feels about them.
• Sponsored material is labeled as sponsored, with a note on what the sponsor did and did not control.

Right of reply

Companies and people named in our reporting are contacted before publication wherever we can reach them. We report their answer, or that they declined, or that they didn't respond. "No comment" is an answer, and we print it as one. Responses that arrive after publication are added as dated updates.

No advance review

We don't show unpublished stories to their subjects, and we don't let anyone approve copy before it runs. We will read back your own quotes to you when accuracy is at stake.

Sources

• We honor the terms we agree to. On the record, on background and off the record each mean what they say, and we settle the terms before we use the material.
• We never reveal our sources, and we don't confirm or deny who they are to anyone.
• We prefer email for source correspondence so there is a written record of what was said and on what terms.
• Anyone can send us a tip anonymously through desk.adot.at.

Corrections

When we get something wrong, we fix it in the open. Any change after publication gets a dated "Update" note at the bottom of the story explaining what changed. Tell us about an error at editorial@adot.at or 505-932-9060.

Showing our work

Every investigation ends with a short note on how we reported it: the method, the limits of what we could verify and any disclosures that apply. On the Inquirers, that note also says what we are still looking for and who we contacted. Where figures are estimates, we say so.

Disclosures

When a story touches a company or person we have a history with, the story says so. Our publisher has spent more than 20 years in advertising, and his background is laid out in full.

When we go to law enforcement

When our reporting turns up illegal conduct, such as sexual assault, rape, profiting from child sexual abuse material, or intimidation of our reporters, we take what we learn to law enforcement. That isn't up for negotiation.

Hate reporting

The Hate Record runs under tighter rules. Nobody gets a file for their speech, politics or religion alone. Private people are named only when there is a link to violence, a direct threat or criminal conduct. We never publish home addresses, family details or anything about minors.

Automation

We use an automated research agent, and we tell you exactly how. People decide what we cover, write every story and approve every message. The details are on How we use AI.