Who is responsible for fact‑checking at Lageanalyse24?
Fact‑checking at Lageanalyse24 is led by Sophie Zimmermann, who holds the title Ansvarig för faktagranskning (Head of Fact‑Checking). She is supported by the editorial team and reports directly to Chefredaktör Maximilian Möller. The function is independent of commercial or political influence, and all fact‑checking decisions rest with the editorial staff of Lageanalyse2 Media Ltd, a private company registered in Gibraltar (company number C 92009, Malta Business Registry).
Every article published on lageanalyse24.de is reviewed by a named writer, an editor, and a fact‑checker before it goes live. Sophie Zimmermann (emma.sandberg@lageanalyse24.de) oversees source verification, the correction process, and the maintenance of our internal fact‑checking standards. The team follows a written protocol that is updated annually and is available to readers on request.
What do we verify?
We verify every factual claim that appears in our news, analysis, and background articles, including dates, statistics, names, quotations, and references to official documents or studies. Our verification scope covers political statements, economic data, cultural events, and any other information that could mislead readers if incorrect.
We do not verify opinion or commentary clearly labelled as such, but we do check the underlying facts on which an opinion is based. When a claim is impossible to verify with available sources – for example, a future prediction or a confidential leak – we state that limitation transparently. Our aim is to ensure that every published fact can be traced to a reliable, attributable source.
How do we rank sources?
We maintain a clear source hierarchy, detailed on our Sources & Standards page, that favours primary, official, and verifiable evidence over secondary or anonymous material. Primary sources include government documents, court rulings, official statistics, scientific studies, and direct interviews conducted by our reporters.
When primary sources are unavailable, we use reputable secondary sources such as established wire services, academic journals, and recognised media outlets. Anonymous sources are used only when the information is of clear public interest and cannot be obtained otherwise; their credibility is assessed by the Standards Lead and recorded internally. Each article includes a reference list or links to the sources used.
How do we handle rumours and unverified claims?
Rumours and unverified claims are never presented as fact. When we report on a rumour that is circulating publicly, we explicitly label it as such and explain the degree of verification achieved. We use terms like “unconfirmed reports suggest” or “the claim has not been independently verified” to avoid misleading readers.
Our editorial policy requires that any rumour reported must have a demonstrable public interest – for example, a rumour that influences market behaviour or public safety – and we always attempt to verify it before publication. If verification fails, we either withhold the rumour or publish it with an unequivocal disclaimer. For sensitive articles, the Standards Lead conducts an additional review before publication.
How can readers report a potential error?
Readers can report potential errors by emailing factcheck@lageanalyse24.de. The fact‑checking team acknowledges every report within 48 hours and investigates promptly. Reports can also be sent to the general contact address info@lageanalyse24.de, but the dedicated fact‑checking inbox ensures faster routing.
When submitting a report, we ask readers to include the article URL, a clear description of the alleged error, and any supporting evidence. Anonymous reports are accepted, but we may be unable to follow up without a means of contact. We treat all reports confidentially and never share complainant details without consent.
What happens after a correction is requested?
Once an error is confirmed, we publish a correction promptly and update the article. The correction is appended at the bottom of the article with the date and a note explaining what was changed and why. We also link to our Corrections Policy for full transparency.
If the error is significant – for example, a factual mistake that could affect a reader’s understanding – we issue a standalone correction notice on the homepage or in the relevant section. The original article remains accessible with the correction clearly marked. All corrections are reviewed by Sophie Zimmermann and, where appropriate, by Chefredaktör Maximilian Möller.
How does our fact‑checking relate to other editorial policies?
Our fact‑checking policy is one part of a broader framework that includes the Editorial Policy, the Our Team page, and the AI & Automation Policy. Together these documents define how we maintain editorial independence, handle conflicts of interest, and ensure that AI‑assisted tools never bypass human judgement.
For example, the AI & Automation Policy explicitly prohibits the fabrication of quotes, sources, or expert profiles, and that requirement is enforced by the fact‑checking team. Sponsored content and advertising relationships are disclosed separately in our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure and Sponsored Content Policy. Commercial arrangements never determine editorial conclusions or influence our verification decisions.
Our commitments
- We verify every factual claim before publication using primary sources whenever possible.
- We label rumours and unverified claims explicitly, and we never present them as fact.
- We respond to reader fact‑check reports within 48 hours and correct errors promptly, with full transparency.
- We maintain an independent fact‑checking team led by Sophie Zimmermann, free from commercial or political influence.
- We publish and regularly update our source hierarchy, correction policy, and editorial standards for public scrutiny.