When you read an article on Sonderbriefing, you are reading content that has been checked against verifiable facts before publication. This page explains exactly what we verify, how we rank our sources, and how you can hold us accountable if something seems wrong. Our fact-checking process is designed to give you confidence in our reporting, whether you are in Sweden or abroad.
What do we verify before publication?
Sonderbriefing verifies every factual claim that appears in our journalism, including names, dates, statistics, direct quotations, and references to official documents or studies. Our reporters and editors do not assume information is correct simply because it has been published elsewhere. For any claim that could mislead a reader if wrong — such as a figure from a government budget or a statement attributed to a politician — we require confirmation from at least one primary source before the article is approved. Opinion and analysis pieces are clearly labelled as such, and their factual underpinnings are still checked. We do not publish unverified assertions, even in commentary.
Our verification scope extends to images, charts, and data visualisations. Any graphic accompanying an article must have a clear provenance, and our fact-checking team will reject material that cannot be traced to a reliable origin. This applies equally to content produced in-house and to material supplied by external contributors or wire services.
How do we rank our sources?
Sonderbriefing maintains a source hierarchy, detailed on our Sources & Standards page, that guides every editorial decision. Primary sources — original documents, official records, direct witness testimony, and data from government agencies or recognised international bodies — sit at the top. Secondary sources, such as reports from established wire services or peer-reviewed academic journals, are used only when a primary source is unavailable or when they provide essential context. Anonymous sources are used sparingly and only when the information is of clear public interest and cannot be obtained on the record; their credibility is assessed by the Standards Lead before publication. All sources are recorded internally, and readers can request further details through our contact channels. If we rely on a single source for a significant claim, we disclose that fact within the article.
How do we handle rumours and unverified claims?
Any rumour, unverified claim, or speculation that we choose to report — for example, because it is circulating widely and has public significance — is explicitly labelled as such in the headline and body of the article. We do not present speculation as fact. The label uses plain language such as „unconfirmed report“ or „allegation under investigation,“ and we explain why the claim is being reported despite its unverified status. We will never publish a rumour simply for engagement; if we cannot add meaningful context or verification, we leave it out.
Who reviews sensitive or high-stakes articles?
Articles that touch on matters of public safety, criminal allegations, national security, or the reputation of an identifiable individual receive a mandatory review by our Standards Lead, Laura Arnold, who heads fact-checking. This review happens before publication and includes a second check of all sources, a review of the language used to avoid overstatement, and a sign-off from the Chefredaktör, Tim Zimmermann, if the content is deemed high-risk. The same process applies to any article that corrects or updates previous reporting. This layered review ensures that sensitive material is handled with the care it deserves and that no single editor has unchecked control over contentious claims.
How can readers report a potential error?
If you spot something in our reporting that you believe is inaccurate, you can send a report directly to our dedicated fact-checking address: factcheck@sonderbriefing.de. Every report is acknowledged within two working days, and our team investigates the claim, consulting original sources and, where necessary, contacting the reporter or editor responsible. We take reader reports seriously: if an error is confirmed, we issue a correction promptly and transparently under our Corrections Policy, which explains how corrections are appended to articles and archived. If an error is not confirmed, we will explain our reasoning to the person who reported it. You do not need to be a subscriber or registered user to submit a concern.
How this works in practice
Consider a concrete example. Suppose we publish an article stating that the Swedish government spent 450 million kronor on a specific infrastructure project last year. Before publication, our Wirtschaftreporter or a reporter on the desk would obtain the relevant budget document from the Swedish National Financial Management Authority, check the figure against the official appropriations, and confirm the project name and timeline. The fact-checker would then verify that the document is authentic and that no subsequent amendment has changed the figure. If the budget document only shows 430 million kronor, the article is corrected before it goes live. If the figure is confirmed, the reporter notes the source in the article, and the editor reviews the context to ensure the number is not misleading. Only then is the article published. If a reader later emails factcheck@sonderbriefing.de pointing out that a later supplementary budget adjusted the figure to 470 million kronor, we would investigate, and if correct, issue a correction and update the article with a note explaining the change. This same process applies to every factual claim, from a local council decision to a national economic forecast.
In short
Sonderbriefing verifies every factual claim using primary sources, clearly labels rumours, and puts sensitive articles through an extra review layer. You can report potential errors directly to our fact-checking team, and we will investigate and correct where needed. For more detail, see our Editorial Policy and meet the team on our Our Team page. This policy was approved by Chefredaktör Tim Zimmermann and the Standards Lead, and it is reviewed annually. Sonderbriefing is owned and operated by Sonderbriefi Media Ltd., a private company registered in Gibraltar (company number C 92009, Malta Business Registry). To contact us, write to info@sonderbriefing.de or use the individual addresses listed on this site.