1. About Our Editorial Policy

Ananthapuri Online News is an independent Malayalam digital news platform committed to providing accurate, timely, responsible and credible news and information to its readers.

Our editorial policy is based on the principles of accuracy, fairness, independence, transparency, accountability and public interest.

We strive to report news without fear or favour and to maintain professional journalistic standards in all our editorial activities.

2. Accuracy and Verification

We make every reasonable effort to ensure that information published on our website is accurate and properly verified.

Before publishing a report, our editorial team attempts to:

Verify important facts through reliable sources.
Cross-check significant claims whenever possible.
Clearly distinguish confirmed information from unverified claims.
Attribute information to the original or relevant source where appropriate.
Correct factual errors as soon as they are identified.

We do not knowingly publish false or misleading information.

3. Breaking News

During breaking-news situations, information may develop rapidly.

In such circumstances:

We may publish preliminary information when it is considered to be in the public interest.
We clearly identify information that is developing or awaiting confirmation.
Reports may be updated as verified information becomes available.
Significant corrections or clarifications will be made where necessary.

Speed will never intentionally be placed above accuracy.

4. Independence and Editorial Integrity

Ananthapuri Online News maintains editorial independence from political parties, governments, businesses, advertisers and other external interests.

Advertising, sponsorship or commercial relationships should not determine our editorial decisions.

No advertiser or commercial organisation will be given editorial control over independent news coverage.

Where sponsored or promotional material is published, it should be appropriately identified.

5. Political and Public Affairs Coverage

We aim to cover political parties, elected representatives, governments, public institutions and political developments fairly.

Our political reporting will seek to:

Present relevant facts.
Avoid deliberate political bias.
Provide reasonable opportunity for significant allegations or disputed claims to be responded to.
Clearly distinguish news reporting from opinion and commentary.

Political statements will generally be attributed to the person or organisation making them rather than presented as established fact.

6. Sources and Attribution

We use information from:

Reporters and correspondents
Official government communications
Police and public authorities
Public institutions
Press releases
Interviews
Direct observations
Reputable news agencies and media organisations
Publicly available documents and records

Information obtained from another media organisation or news agency will, where appropriate, be properly attributed.

We do not present another organisation’s original reporting as our own exclusive reporting.

7. User-Generated and Social Media Content

Social media posts, photographs, videos and messages may be used as sources of information only after appropriate verification.

The existence of a social media post does not by itself establish that its contents are true.

We will make reasonable efforts to verify:

The original source
Date and location
Authenticity
Context
Relevant claims

8. Photographs, Videos and Copyright

We respect intellectual property rights.

We aim to use photographs, videos, graphics and other media that are:

Created by Ananthapuri Online News;
Properly licensed;
Provided by authorised sources;
Officially released for public/media use; or
Otherwise legally available for use.

We will not knowingly use copyrighted material in a manner that infringes the rights of its owner.

When required, appropriate credit or attribution will be provided.

9. AI-Generated and AI-Assisted Content

Ananthapuri Online News may use artificial intelligence and digital tools to assist with:

Translation
Headline suggestions
Content organisation
Image enhancement
Graphic creation
Transcription
Research assistance
Other editorial production tasks

However, AI-generated information will not be treated as automatically accurate.

Editorially significant information generated or assisted by AI will be reviewed by a human editor before publication.

AI tools will not replace editorial responsibility, fact-checking or journalistic judgment.

When an AI-generated image could reasonably be mistaken for an actual photograph of a real event or person, appropriate disclosure may be provided.

10. Sensitive and Responsible Reporting

We exercise additional care when reporting on:

Deaths and accidents
Crimes
Children
Sexual offences
Suicide and self-harm
Victims of violence
Medical emergencies
Personal tragedies
Private individuals

We seek to avoid unnecessary details, sensationalism and material that could cause additional harm to victims or their families.

The identity of individuals will not be disclosed where applicable law or responsible journalistic practice requires anonymity.

11. Crime Reporting

A person accused of an offence will not automatically be described as guilty.

Where appropriate, terms such as:

“accused,” “alleged,” “according to police,” or “according to the complaint”

will be used to accurately reflect the status of the matter.

We recognise the principle that a person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty according to law.

12. Children and Vulnerable Persons

We take particular care when reporting matters involving children and vulnerable individuals.

Personal information, photographs or other identifying details will be handled responsibly and in accordance with applicable law and ethical considerations.

The public interest will be carefully weighed against potential harm.

13. Privacy

We respect the privacy of individuals.

Private information will not be published merely because it is interesting or capable of attracting attention.

Information relating to an individual’s private life will generally be considered for publication only when there is a legitimate and demonstrable public-interest justification.

14. Headlines and Thumbnails

Headlines, photographs and thumbnails are an important part of digital journalism.

We aim to ensure that they accurately represent the underlying story.

We do not intentionally use misleading headlines, fabricated quotations or deceptive thumbnails simply to generate clicks.

We may use strong or attention-grabbing headlines, but they must remain consistent with the facts of the report.

15. Corrections and Updates

Ananthapuri Online News accepts responsibility for correcting factual errors.

When a significant error is identified, we may:

Correct the article;
Add a correction or clarification;
Update the headline where necessary;
Clearly indicate substantial corrections where appropriate.

We encourage readers to report factual errors to our editorial team.

16. Complaints and Right of Reply

Individuals and organisations who believe that a published report contains a significant factual error or materially misrepresents them may contact our editorial team.

Complaints should include:

Name of the complainant
Contact details
Article title or URL
Specific information disputed
Supporting evidence, where available
Requested correction or clarification

Where a genuine factual error is established, appropriate corrective action will be taken.

Where reasonable and editorially appropriate, individuals or organisations directly affected by significant allegations may be given an opportunity to respond.

17. Editorial and Advertising Separation

Editorial content and advertising should remain clearly distinguishable.

Advertising or sponsored content should not be presented in a way that intentionally deceives readers into believing that it is independent editorial reporting.

Editorial decisions should not be influenced by advertising revenue.

18. Conflict of Interest

Members of the editorial team should avoid situations where personal, financial or professional interests could compromise journalistic independence.

Potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed to the appropriate editorial authority and managed appropriately.

19. Public Interest

Ananthapuri Online News considers the public interest when deciding what information should be published.

Public-interest journalism may include reporting concerning:

Government and public administration
Public safety
Law and order
Education
Healthcare
Environment
Consumer issues
Public expenditure
Local governance
Corruption and accountability
Significant social developments

Public interest does not mean publishing every piece of information that attracts public curiosity.

20. Editorial Responsibility

The editorial team is responsible for maintaining the standards described in this policy.

Every journalist, reporter, correspondent, contributor and editor working with Ananthapuri Online News is expected to follow these principles.

The policy may be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect changes in journalism practices, technology, applicable laws and organisational requirements.

Our Commitment

Ananthapuri Online News is committed to journalism that is:

Accurate • Independent • Fair • Responsible • Transparent • Timely

Our goal is to serve our readers with trustworthy news, particularly from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India and beyond, while maintaining the highest possible standards of digital journalism.

Editorial Contact

Ananthapuri Online News
Website: ananthapurionline.com
Email: onlineananthapuri@gmail.com