Standards and Ethics

Muckraker Foundation is committed to producing investigative journalism that is accurate, fair, and conducted with integrity. The standards below govern how we gather information, interact with subjects, handle errors, and ensure that those affected by our reporting have a meaningful opportunity to respond.

Sourcing

We hold ourselves to the following sourcing standards in all published work:

• Claims of fact must be supported by direct evidence: documents, on-camera footage, official records, or firsthand observation by our reporters. We do not publish allegations based solely on secondhand accounts.
• When we rely on sources who are not named in the published report, the decision to grant confidentiality is made by the lead reporter and reviewed by senior editorial staff before publication. Confidential sourcing is used only when the information is of significant public interest and cannot be obtained through other means.
• Statements by public officials and public figures are verified against official records, public filings, or recorded remarks wherever possible. We do not publish characterizations of a public figure's position without citing the basis for that characterization.
• All primary documents, footage, and interview recordings used in an investigation are preserved internally. This archive allows us to defend our reporting and to issue corrections if warranted.

Undercover Methodology

Undercover reporting is a core part of Muckraker Foundation's investigative work. We believe that certain stories of public importance can only be told by documenting conduct as it actually occurs, rather than relying on after-the-fact accounts. Our use of hidden cameras and undercover techniques is governed by the following principles:

• Public interest threshold. Undercover methods are used only when there is a substantial public interest in documenting the conduct in question and when conventional reporting methods are unlikely to reveal the full picture. We do not use hidden cameras for trivial matters or personal disputes.
• Legal review. Before deploying undercover techniques, the reporting plan is reviewed for compliance with applicable recording and surveillance laws in the relevant jurisdiction. We operate within the law.
• Authenticity of footage. We do not stage, script, or direct the conduct captured on hidden camera. The value of undercover reporting depends entirely on the authenticity of what is recorded. Footage is published with minimal editing, and any cuts made for length or clarity are noted where they could affect interpretation.
• Context and completeness. When we publish undercover footage, we provide sufficient context for viewers to understand the circumstances under which the recording was made, including when and where it took place and what prompted the investigation.

Right of Reply

In undercover investigations where the subject's conduct is captured on camera, the footage itself constitutes the subject's own words and actions. We still make efforts to contact subjects for additional comment before publication when doing so does not compromise the safety of our reporters or the integrity of the investigation.