Inside OjolojoMedia: how we report a community story

Many of our stories start with a message from a reader: a road that has stalled, a market that has changed, a clinic that has extended its hours. This episode walks through what happens after that message arrives.

Step 1: Listening

Every tip is read. We ask questions to understand what happened, who is affected and how the person knows. We protect the identity of people who share information with us unless they agree to be named.

Step 2: Checking

We look for documents, visit the place where we can, and speak to more than one person. Where a claim comes from an official or a press release, we say so clearly, so readers know whose claim it is.

Step 3: Right of reply

If a story makes a serious claim about a person or organisation, we give them a fair chance to respond before we publish.

Step 4: Publishing with sources

Where our reporting draws on other outlets or official statements, we link to them at the end of the story. You should always be able to see where information came from.

Step 5: Following up

Publishing is not the end. Promises have dates. Projects have contractors. We return to stories to see what has changed, and we correct mistakes openly when we make them.

Have something we should look into? Send us a story tip. You can read the full rules we work by in our editorial standards.