Oke’badan News is an independent, online journalism platform dedicated to bringing accurate, timely, and impactful news to residents of Oyo State and beyond. This Editorial Policy outlines the principles, standards, and practices that guide our journalism.
Our Mission
To provide credible, fair, and comprehensive journalism that informs, educates, and empowers our audience about events, issues, and developments in Oyo State. We are committed to independent journalism in the public interest.
Core Editorial Principles
1. Accuracy and Truthfulness
- All facts, figures, and claims in our stories are verified before publication
- We distinguish clearly between news reporting and opinion/analysis
- If we make an error, we correct it promptly and transparently (see Corrections Policy below)
- Sources are checked for reliability and credibility
- We do not publish unverified rumors, hearsay, or speculation
2. Independence
- Our editorial decisions are made independently, free from political, corporate, or personal influence
- We do not accept payments or gifts that could compromise our editorial judgment
- Our newsroom operates separately from our commercial/advertising operations
- We clearly disclose when content is sponsored or part of a partnership
3. Fairness and Balance
- We give all parties affected by our stories fair opportunity to respond
- We present multiple perspectives on issues, especially controversial ones
- We do not knowingly publish false, misleading, or out-of-context information
- We identify our sources and explain why we may protect confidential sources
- We acknowledge when we don’t have complete information
4. Public Interest
- We publish stories that serve the public interest, not private interests
- We investigate and report on matters of concern to Oyo State residents
- We give voice to marginalized or underreported communities
- We hold institutions and individuals accountable through responsible reporting
5. Respect for Privacy and Dignity
- We respect the privacy of individuals, especially victims and vulnerable persons
- We do not publish private information unless there is a clear public interest
- We use good judgment when reporting on sensitive matters (crime, tragedy, abuse)
- We identify minors responsibly and follow child protection standards
Content Standards
News Articles
Our news stories meet these standards:
- Original reporting – We conduct interviews, review documents, and gather facts ourselves
- Attribution – We clearly attribute information to sources
- Context – We provide background and context necessary to understand the story
- Length – Most news articles are 600–1,200 words to allow thorough reporting
- Timeliness – We publish news promptly while ensuring accuracy
- Headlines – Headlines accurately reflect the story content; we do not use clickbait or sensationalism
Sourcing
- We use named sources whenever possible
- If a source requests anonymity, we grant it only when:
- The information is newsworthy and in the public interest
- The source has direct knowledge
- We are confident the source is reliable
- We verify information from official sources (government agencies, police, schools, etc.) directly
- We do not rely on single sources for major claims without corroboration
Opinion and Analysis
- Opinion pieces are clearly labeled as “Opinion,” “Analysis,” or “Commentary”
- Authors disclose their affiliations and interests
- Opinion does not misrepresent facts
- We publish a range of viewpoints
Photographs and Images
- All images are either original photography or used with proper permission/licensing
- We credit photographers and sources
- We do not manipulate images in misleading ways
- We provide context for photographs (caption, date, location, subjects)
- We respect privacy in photographs (especially of minors and vulnerable persons)
Prohibited Content
We do not publish content that:
- Is false or misleading – Deliberately false information, misinformation, or disinformation
- Violates copyright – Content copied from other outlets without permission or proper attribution
- Defames individuals – Unverified accusations or false claims that damage reputation
- Incites violence or hatred – Content that encourages violence, discrimination, or hate against groups
- Spreads conspiracy theories – Unfounded, harmful conspiracy theories without evidence
- Violates privacy – Unpublished private information (unless there is clear public interest)
- Conflicts of interest – Stories where the author has undisclosed financial or personal interest
- Plagiarism – Passing off others’ work as our own
- Sexually explicit content – Adult content intended to arouse or that violates community standards
Corrections and Updates
Our Commitment
- If we publish incorrect information, we correct it
- Corrections are published prominently and promptly
- We acknowledge the error clearly (e.g., “Correction: The original article incorrectly stated…”)
- We update stories when new, significant information becomes available
- Corrections are dated and easy to find
Submitting Corrections
If you spot an error in our reporting, please contact us:
Email: nanatem79@gmail.com
Phone: +2348055606369
Contact Form: [Link to contact form]
We review all correction requests and respond within 48 hours.
Conflicts of Interest
For Our Staff
Our journalists disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from coverage where appropriate. Examples of conflicts include:
- Financial interest in the subject
- Family or personal relationship with the subject
- Previous employment with organizations covered
- Ownership of stock or business in sectors covered
- Political affiliation or donations (for political coverage)
For Sponsored Content
- Sponsored articles, advertorials, or partnerships are clearly labeled
- We do not allow advertisers to influence our news coverage
- Sponsored content does not mislead readers into thinking it is news
Social Media and Digital Standards
- We fact-check before sharing
- We do not retweet or share unverified claims
- We clearly label breaking news as “developing” until confirmed
- We correct misinformation we’ve shared
- We do not engage in harassment or inflammatory commenting
- We follow the same editorial standards on social media as in print/online
Comment Policy
We welcome comments and reader feedback, but:
- Comments must be relevant and respectful
- We do not publish comments that are abusive, defamatory, or hateful
- We do not publish spam or promotional material
- Profanity is removed
- Persistent violations result in comment ban
- Comments do not represent the views of Oke’badan News
Relationship with Advertisers and Sponsors
- Our editorial team is independent from advertising
- Advertisers do not influence coverage
- Advertising is clearly distinguished from news
- We do not suppress or alter news to protect advertisers
- Commercial partnerships are disclosed
Transparency and Accountability
Staff Information
- Our journalists are identified with their names and roles
- Readers can contact journalists about their work
- We provide author bios on major stories
Editorial Decisions
- We explain important editorial decisions when asked
- We respond to reader concerns about our coverage
- We publish corrections and clarifications promptly
Ownership and Funding
- Temilade Aloko
- Advertising, Subscriptions, and Grants.
Contact Us
For editorial inquiries, corrections, or complaints:
Editor: Temilade Aloko
Email: nanatem79@gmail.com
Phone: +2348055606369
Mailing Address: Splash FM, Felele, Ibadan
Policy Updates
This Editorial Policy is current as of July 2026. We may update it periodically to reflect changing standards and practices. Significant changes will be noted here with the date of revision.
Last Updated: July 20, 2026
Appendix: Glossary
Attribution – Crediting the source of information in a story
Byline – The author’s name published with a story
Fair Use – Limited use of copyrighted material for news reporting
Off-the-record – Information provided confidentially, not for publication
On-the-record – Information that can be quoted and attributed to the source
Sourcing – The process of gathering information from reliable sources
Oke’badan News is committed to serving our audience with integrity, accuracy, and fairness. This Editorial Policy reflects our dedication to journalism in the public interest.
