The Africans Time publishes independent, source-based journalism about African politics, economy, business, investment, trade, diplomacy, infrastructure, energy, technology, mining, critical minerals and regional developments.
Our editorial standards define the principles that guide reporting, editing and publication across these subjects. They help readers understand how we approach evidence, uncertainty, attribution, fairness, commercial relationships and post-publication accountability.
Our Editorial Standards
Accuracy
We aim to publish accurate information supported by reliable evidence and to correct verified factual errors. Accuracy includes not only individual facts, but also the context needed to prevent a technically correct statement from creating a materially misleading impression.
Context
We distinguish announcements from outcomes, forecasts from historical results, allegations from established facts and company statements from independently verified information. Where the distinction is important, we explain the status or limitation rather than implying greater certainty than the available evidence supports.
Primary Sources
Where reasonably available, we prefer official documents, public records, regulators, central banks, statistics offices, company filings, legal documents and other authoritative sources. Primary sourcing helps establish what was formally decided, reported, filed, measured or disclosed.
Fairness
We aim to represent evidence and relevant positions accurately without creating false equivalence between strong evidence and unsupported claims. Fairness means giving readers the context necessary to assess disputed issues rather than giving every assertion identical weight.
Independence
Advertising, sponsorship, access, gifts and commercial relationships do not determine independent editorial conclusions. Commercial relationships should not change verified facts or create a right to favourable newsroom treatment.
Transparency
News, analysis, commentary and sponsored material should be distinguishable to readers. Where the nature of a relationship or content format is relevant to understanding the material, that distinction should be made clear.
Accountability
We review credible concerns about factual accuracy after publication and correct verified errors according to our Corrections Policy. Accountability also means being clear when later information changes the understanding of a developing story.
How These Standards Apply
The exact editorial process depends on the type, urgency and potential impact of the story. A short news update and a sensitive investigation do not require identical workflows, but both remain subject to the same principles of accuracy, sourcing and editorial responsibility.
- Identify the relevant event, issue or claim.
- Find the strongest available sources capable of supporting the material facts.
- Verify important names, dates, figures, quotations, ownership details and status claims where relevant.
- Identify material uncertainty, conflicting evidence or limitations that readers need to understand.
- Seek relevant responses where serious allegations require them and doing so is practical and appropriate.
- Review the headline, framing and content label so they accurately reflect the underlying material.
- Make a human editorial publication decision.
Source Standards
The Africans Time gives preference to sources that allow readers and editors to understand where information originated and what it can reasonably establish.
Preferred sources include:
- government documents and public records;
- central banks and regulators;
- national statistics offices;
- legislation and court records;
- company filings and annual reports;
- stock-exchange disclosures;
- procurement and project documents;
- official company statements;
- the African Union and AfCFTA Secretariat;
- the African Development Bank;
- the World Bank and International Monetary Fund;
- United Nations agencies;
- recognised research and academic institutions.
A source is evaluated in relation to the specific claim it supports. An official source can confirm what an institution announced or recorded, but that does not automatically establish every wider conclusion that might be drawn from it.
A press release establishes that an organisation made a statement or announcement. It does not automatically establish that financing closed, capital was deployed, construction started or a target was achieved.
Verification and Project Status
Verification is proportionate to the claim. Important factual details may include names, titles, dates, statistics, financial figures, ownership, regulatory status, quotations and project status.
For projects and major commitments, we may distinguish between:
- proposed;
- announced;
- agreed;
- approved;
- financed;
- in procurement;
- under construction;
- operational;
- delayed;
- suspended;
- cancelled.
These stages are not interchangeable. A project described as announced should not be presented as financed, under construction or operational unless the evidence supports that later status.
Detailed verification procedures are explained in our Fact-Checking Policy.
We Do / We Do Not
We Do
- attribute material claims where appropriate so readers can distinguish the source from The Africans Time's own reporting;
- distinguish fact from analysis and opinion;
- seek relevant responses to serious allegations where practical and appropriate;
- state material uncertainty instead of presenting unresolved information as settled;
- correct verified factual mistakes;
- label commercial content clearly so it is not mistaken for independent journalism.
We Do Not
- invent quotations;
- fabricate sources, documents or statistics;
- treat company promotional language as verified fact without appropriate checking;
- promise favourable independent coverage in exchange for payment;
- allow advertisers to purchase an editorial ranking position;
- present sponsored content as independent journalism.
Named and Unnamed Sources
The Africans Time prefers named, on-the-record sources because attribution allows readers to assess a source's position, knowledge and possible interests.
Unnamed sources are used rarely and only where the source's identity is known to the relevant editor, the source is in a position to know the information, anonymity has a legitimate reason and corroboration is sought where possible.
Anonymous sourcing should not be used as a shortcut around verification or as a vehicle for unsupported personal, political or commercial attacks.
See the Unnamed Sources Policy for the full standard.
Fairness and Right of Response
Fairness means representing evidence and relevant positions accurately. It does not mean giving unsupported claims equal standing with well-supported evidence.
Where an article contains a serious factual allegation that could materially affect an identifiable person, company or institution, we consider seeking a response before publication where practical and appropriate.
The purpose of seeking a response is to test the allegation, obtain relevant context and allow material factual information to be considered before publication. A refusal or failure to respond is not evidence that an allegation is true.
Content Labels
- News
- Fact-based reporting about events and developments, with interpretation kept separate from the core factual account.
- Analysis
- Evidence-based interpretation of causes, risks, consequences or significance using the available facts and context.
- Commentary / Opinion
- Material centred on an author's interpretation, perspective or argument rather than presented as neutral reporting.
- Sponsored / Partner Content
- Commercial material published as part of a paid or partner relationship and clearly labelled so readers understand its commercial nature.
Commercial Independence
The Africans Time uses advertising, including display and programmatic advertising through Google AdSense, and may publish clearly labelled sponsored content.
Advertisers and sponsors do not receive the right to approve independent articles, demand positive coverage, remove accurate criticism, block corrections or control unrelated editorial conclusions.
Paid visibility does not determine editorial ranking position.
The Africans Time does not currently operate an affiliate-marketing programme and does not offer paid press-release publication as a standard commercial product.
Sensitive and High-Impact Topics
The Africans Time covers politics, economics, investment, regulation, public policy and other subjects that can influence important decisions.
Such material requires additional care with evidence, uncertainty and language. Where the consequences of an inaccurate or overstated claim could be significant, greater caution is appropriate in describing what is known and what remains uncertain.
Our journalism is informational and is not personalised medical, mental-health, legal, financial, investment, tax, safety or other professional advice.
Artificial Intelligence
The Africans Time uses artificial intelligence only for image generation and other visual preparation or editing.
AI is not used for writing, drafting, rewriting, summarisation, research, fact-checking, source monitoring, translation, metadata, descriptions, tagging, categorisation, biographies or other editorial text.
AI-generated images must not be presented as documentary photographs when they are not, and AI must not fabricate facts, sources, quotations, people, organisations, events, documents, statistics, credentials or evidence.
Human editors remain responsible for editorial judgement and publication decisions.
Corrections and Updates
Verified factual errors are handled under our Corrections Policy.
A significant factual mistake may receive a correction note. A clarification may be used where wording was materially ambiguous, while an update may add information that became available after publication.
Minor spelling, grammar, formatting and link fixes that do not alter factual meaning may be made without a separate correction note.
Editorial Responsibility
The Africans Time is led by Daniel Bekele, Founder, Owner, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.
- Editorial questions
- [email protected]
- Corrections
- [email protected]
- General enquiries
- [email protected]
Addis Ababa 1000
Ethiopia