Editorial policy

The English desk is separately commissioned for an international audience. Media Visnyk is privately published and is not registered as a Dutch company. The desk adopts the standards of truthful, meticulous, fair, verifiable and accountable journalism reflected in the Netherlands Press Council Guidelines; this does not imply membership or affiliation.

Owner and responsible editor: Ivanov Oleksii Sergiovich.

Freedom of expression and responsibility

We exercise freedom of expression in the public interest while recognising that it is not unlimited. Reporting must not knowingly present false allegations as fact, unlawfully intrude on private life, incite hatred or discrimination, or conceal material conflicts of interest.

Facts, allegations, analysis and opinion

Every story must clearly distinguish verified facts, third-party allegations, analysis and opinion. A serious allegation is published only when there is a sound factual basis and the evidence has been critically assessed. Headlines and social posts must fairly represent the underlying story.

Sources and verification

We prefer primary documents, public records, direct testimony and independently corroborated reporting. Sources are identified whenever reasonably possible. Confidentiality may be granted when the information is in the public interest and identification would create a credible risk. A promise of source protection is respected.

Right of reply

A person or organisation facing a material allegation should receive a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication. Urgency does not remove the duty of verification. If a response cannot be obtained in time, the story should say so, and a substantive later response may be added promptly.

Corrections, complaints and archives

Material factual errors are corrected transparently and without undue delay. A significant correction explains what changed. Formal complaints, correction requests and requests for a right of reply may be submitted through the Contacts page. Receipt is acknowledged within three working days. Requests to remove or anonymise archived reporting are assessed by balancing private harm, accuracy, safety and the public interest in a reliable archive.

Privacy and journalistic purpose

Personal data is used only when relevant to a legitimate journalistic purpose. Public interest is balanced against privacy, dignity and safety. Children, victims of violence, wounded people, bereaved families and at-risk sources receive particular protection. The existence of a journalistic exception under Dutch data-protection law is never treated as a blanket exemption from security, necessity or ethical care.

War reporting and human dignity

We do not turn suffering into spectacle. Graphic material or identifying details that may expose someone to danger require an exceptional public-interest justification. Claims about war crimes, corruption, authoritarianism or abuse of power must be attributed and supported by evidence.

Independence and funding

The project currently has no external funding. Editorial conclusions cannot be purchased or dictated by an advertiser, donor, political party, company or public authority. Advertising, sponsorship, grants, donations or other significant funding will be disclosed if introduced, and paid material will be clearly labelled.

Artificial intelligence

AI may assist with research, translation, transcription and preparation of a draft, but it does not make the publication decision. A human editor verifies facts, sources, wording, risks to people and the final text. AI-generated or illustrative imagery must not be presented as documentary evidence.

Copyright and attribution

We use original, licensed or lawfully quoted material and provide attribution where required. Links to third-party material are selected with due regard for relevance, legality, privacy and potential harm.