Editorial standards
How we report, check and correct our stories, across news, politics, business, health, tech, entertainment and sport. If we fall short of these, tell us.
Who we are
The Dosage is an independent publication and a registered Australian business (ABN 22 864 977 367). Our Managing Editor is Eashaan Dassanayaka, who is responsible for everything we publish.
Accuracy
We check every fact, figure and date against its original source before we publish. When a number comes from a report, we name the report. When we can’t confirm something, we leave it out.
Sources and credit
We write our stories in our own words. When we rely on another outlet’s reporting, we say so in the story and link to it in the sources at the end. We never copy another publication’s work or present it as our own. Quotes are short, exactly as said or reported, and always credited.
We prefer primary sources: official statistics, government and central bank releases, court and parliamentary records, and people speaking for themselves.
Labels
- News: what happened, and why it matters to you.
- Explained: background that helps you understand a big topic.
- Opinion: one person’s view, clearly marked and never presented as fact.
- From the archive: stories and films first published earlier, shown with their original date.
- Sponsored: work paid for or supported by a partner, always named.
Fairness
In news stories we don’t take sides. When a story involves a dispute, we give each side’s position in its own words. If a story makes a claim about a person or organisation, we give them a fair chance to respond.
Politics and elections
We don’t support or endorse any party or candidate. We report what politicians say and do, check their claims, and give each side a fair hearing. Paid political content is clearly labelled and carries the authorisation the law requires.
Crime and courts
We report charges as allegations, not facts, and we don’t name people accused of crimes until police or a court has made it public. We follow suppression orders and the rules on reporting cases before the courts. We take particular care with victims, children and families.
Anonymous sources
We name our sources whenever we can. We grant anonymity only when there’s no other way to get important information, when the editor knows who the source is, and when we can explain to you why they can’t be named.
Health and money
Our health stories draw on official health bodies and qualified experts. Our money stories explain what is happening and what it could mean for you. Both are general information, not personal medical or financial advice.
Sensitive topics
We report suicide, self-harm, mental illness and family violence with care, following the Mindframe guidelines. We avoid detail that could cause harm, and we include support services, such as Lifeline on 13 11 14, with these stories.
People and pictures
Private individuals we feature have agreed to be in the story. Public figures and organisations are reported on when it’s in the public interest, and are given a chance to respond. We take extra care with children and with anyone in a vulnerable situation. We use our own photos and film, or pictures we have permission to use, and we credit the photographer.
Reviews, tech and entertainment
When a product, ticket, meal or trip was given to us for free, we say so in the story. Whoever provided it has no say over what we write and doesn’t see the story before it’s published.
Contributors and conflicts of interest
Everyone who writes, photographs or films for us follows these standards. Contributors must tell us about any personal, financial or political interest in a story, and they don’t cover organisations they work for.
Translations
When we publish a story in Sinhala or Tamil, a fluent speaker checks it against the original, and we say it’s a translation.
Use of AI
Our stories are reported, written and checked by people. We sometimes use AI tools for research and for design elements such as illustrations. Anything an AI tool gives us is checked against the original source, illustrations made with AI tools say so in their caption, and we never use AI to alter real photos, video or audio. When AI plays a significant part in a story, such as an illustration or data analysis, we say so in a note at the end of the story.
Independence and advertising
Advertisers and sponsors have no say over what we report. Ads on this site are clearly separate from our stories, and any sponsored work is labelled with the sponsor’s name.
Corrections
If we get something wrong, we fix it as soon as we know and add a note at the end of the story saying what changed and when. We don’t quietly edit mistakes away.
Complaints and contact
To report an error, make a complaint or ask about a story, email info@thedosagemag.com. Tell us which story and what you think is wrong. We read every message and reply as quickly as we can.
The Dosage is a member of the Local & Independent News Association (LINA) and is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council. If you’re not happy with our response, you can make a complaint to the Council in writing at www.presscouncil.org.au or on 1800 025 712.