Ravenmails covers science, important issues, and fact-checks — accurately, fairly, and for free. These are the standards behind every story we publish. We hold ourselves to them in public so you can hold us to them too.
1. Accuracy & verification
Every factual claim is traceable to a credible source. We verify each story against at least two independent reputable sources, and we prefer a primary source — the journal paper, the official release, or the awarding body itself. Single social-media posts are treated as leads to verify, never as sources. If we cannot stand a claim up, we do not publish it.
2. Our sourcing hierarchy
Not all sources are equal. We weigh them in this order:
- Primary & official — peer-reviewed papers, official institutional releases, government data, the awarding body or the researchers themselves.
- Established newsrooms — the Philippine News Agency, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Times, Rappler, GMA News, and reputable international outlets, used to corroborate.
- Expert comment — named, qualified specialists, clearly attributed.
- Leads only — social posts, anonymous tips, and press handouts; useful starting points, never the basis for a claim.
3. How we fact-check
When we check a viral claim, we state the claim plainly, trace it to its origin, weigh it against primary evidence and expert sources, and give a clear verdict — with the reasoning shown so you can judge for yourself. We link everything, distinguish fact from opinion, and update the verdict if better evidence emerges.
4. Independence & funding
Ravenmails is free to read, with no paywall. To stay free and independent, we are supported by advertising — and we keep a strict wall between ads and editorial:
- Advertisers do not choose, preview, or approve our coverage, and no ad ever affects a story or a fact-check verdict.
- Ads are clearly labeled "Advertisement" and never disguised as journalism. We do not publish sponsored content posing as news.
- Ads are kept non-intrusive — no pop-ups, no autoplay, no full-screen takeovers, nothing that gets between you and the story.
- We don't accept payment in exchange for a story, a mention, or a particular verdict.
If we ever take other funding that could affect coverage — sponsorship, a grant, a partnership — we will disclose it plainly, on the relevant page, before you read it. Want to advertise? Message us.
5. Conflicts of interest
If anyone involved in a story has a personal, financial, or institutional stake in its subject, we disclose it in the article or step back from covering it. We do not accept gifts, trips, or payment in exchange for coverage or a particular verdict.
6. Crediting people & sources
We name the people behind the work and their institution, link the original source, and never present a discovery or claim as our own. If we feature your work and you'd like to add a quote, change a credit, or request a correction, message us.
7. Citations
Every article ends with a References list in APA (7th edition) style, so any reader can check our work and go straight to the original research or report.
8. Photo & image disclaimers
Every image carries a disclaimer. Photos of scientists or events are credited to their owners and used for non-commercial, educational, and news-reporting purposes; rights remain with the owner, and we'll re-credit or remove on request. Any illustration or cartoon marked as such is an AI-generated artistic representation — not a real photograph, and never an exact likeness.
9. AI-use transparency
We use AI tools to help with research, drafting, and creating illustrations. We are open about it: every article carries an AI-use disclosure. Crucially, all facts are verified against cited sources and reviewed by the Ravenmails editorial team before anything is published, and Ravenmails takes full editorial responsibility for its content. AI assists; humans decide and are accountable.
10. Corrections & accountability
We will get things wrong sometimes. When we do, we fix it quickly and openly: we update the article, note what changed, and log significant corrections on our public corrections page. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll act — accountability isn't a footnote here, it's the point.
Hold us to this
If a story falls short of these standards, we want to know. Message us with a link and what's wrong.
Report an issueThe Ravenmails Creed
- Verify before we publish — at least two reputable sources.
- Cite every source, in APA.
- Give fact-checks a clear verdict and show the reasoning.
- Always credit the people behind the work.
- Stay free and independent — no paywalls, no paid coverage.
- Disclose AI use, label AI illustrations, and correct in the open.