Editorial Policy

Effective date: 22 October 2026

This Editorial Policy & News Publishing Guidelines apply to the Pradesh Prakash website, Android app, iOS app, ePaper and official digital channels operated by DPP Corp Pvt Ltd (Digital Division).

1. Editorial Independence

Pradesh Prakash is committed to responsible, independent, fair and factual journalism. All news content must be prepared and published in the public interest, without undue influence, personal bias or misleading representation.

2. Accuracy & Fact-Checking

• All news must be verified before publication.
• Official police statements, press releases, court documents and reliable sources should be checked wherever applicable.
• Facts, dates, locations, names and figures must be verified.
• Unverified information must not be presented as established fact.
• If information cannot be independently confirmed, the article must clearly state the limitation.

3. Police & Crime Reporting

• Police and crime news must be based on verified information and credible sources.
• An arrest or accusation must not be presented as proof of guilt.
• The words accused, suspect, arrested and convicted must be used accurately.
• Police statements must be attributed to the relevant department or authorized official.
• The right of reply should be considered where appropriate.
• Investigation details must not be published if doing so could compromise an ongoing investigation or endanger individuals.

4. Presumption of Innocence

Every person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a competent court, subject to applicable law. Headlines and article content must not declare a person guilty merely because an FIR has been registered or an arrest has been made.

5. Protection of Identity & Privacy

• The identity of sexual offence victims must not be disclosed in violation of applicable law.
• The identity of children involved in criminal proceedings must be protected as required by law.
• Personal addresses, phone numbers, private documents and sensitive information must not be published without a lawful and justified basis.
• Photographs and videos must be reviewed for privacy, safety and legal concerns.
• Respect for human dignity must be maintained when reporting accidents, deaths and criminal incidents.

6. Sources & Attribution

• Official press releases and public records should be attributed to their originating department or authority.
• Anonymous sources may be used only when editorially justified and appropriately verified.
• Photographs, videos, articles and other third-party materials must be used with appropriate permission, licensing or another valid legal basis.
• Rumours, anonymous social media posts and viral videos must not be treated as verified news without authentication.

7. Headlines & News Presentation

• Headlines must accurately represent the article.
• Sensational, defamatory, misleading or clickbait headlines are prohibited.
• Images and videos must not be manipulated in a way that changes the meaning of an event.
• AI-generated or illustrative visuals must be labelled when necessary to prevent readers from mistaking them for actual evidence or photographs.
• News summaries must preserve the meaning and context of the original reporting.

8. Automated News Import & Editorial Approval

Pradesh Prakash may use authorized RSS feeds, APIs and official press releases to collect news content.

All imported content must:

• Enter the CMS as a draft.
• Undergo source and duplicate verification.
• Be reviewed for accuracy, relevance, copyright and legal risks.
• Receive approval from an authorized editor before publication.
• Maintain source details, publication timestamps and revision history.

Automated systems and AI tools may assist with drafting, translation and categorization but must not replace editorial accountability or verification.

9. Corrections & Updates

• Material errors must be corrected promptly.
• Significant corrections should be clearly identified, with the update date and time where appropriate.
• Articles must not be silently altered in ways that mislead readers.
• Requests for corrections or removal must be reviewed fairly and in accordance with applicable law and editorial standards.
• Archived and updated articles should retain appropriate records of material changes.

10. Right of Reply & Fair Reporting

When reporting serious allegations against an individual or organization, reasonable efforts should be made to seek their response where appropriate. The absence of a response must not be represented as an admission of guilt.

11. Conflict of Interest & Paid Content

• Journalists and editors must disclose relevant conflicts of interest.
• Sponsored articles, paid promotions and advertorials must be clearly identified.
• Advertisers must not be allowed to dictate the factual conclusions of independent news reporting.
• Gifts, payments or benefits must not improperly influence editorial decisions.

12. Sensitive & Public Safety Reporting

News involving terrorism, communal tensions, public disorder, suicide, emergencies or ongoing police operations must be handled with particular care.

The portal will avoid publishing unverified claims, operational details that could endanger lives, inflammatory material or information that may unlawfully prejudice judicial proceedings.

13. Digital Media Compliance

Pradesh Prakash will follow applicable Indian laws, regulations and recognized journalistic standards, including relevant requirements concerning digital news publishing, privacy, defamation, copyright, court reporting and child protection.

The editorial team should periodically review applicable rules and official guidance, including the Press Council of India’s Norms of Journalistic Conduct and relevant Ministry of Information and Broadcasting requirements, where applicable to the publisher.

14. Reader Complaints & Grievance Redressal

Readers may submit complaints concerning factual errors, privacy, misleading headlines or other editorial concerns through the official contact or grievance channel published on the website.

Complaints will be reviewed by the designated editorial or grievance officer and handled within applicable legal and regulatory timelines. Contact details and the relevant complaint procedure should be displayed on the portal.

15. Editorial Responsibility

The Editor-in-Chief or designated editorial authority is responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy. Reporters, contributors, editors and administrators must follow these guidelines before publishing or distributing news through the website, mobile applications or associated social media channels.

16. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in applicable law, technology, digital publishing practices and journalistic standards.

Contact

For corrections, complaints or editorial concerns, please contact: