Confidential Sources, Whistleblowers & News Tips Policy

1. Introduction

VALCORED News Network recognises the important contribution that sources, witnesses, whistleblowers and members of the public can make to journalism.

Information provided by individuals may expose wrongdoing, identify public-interest concerns, challenge inaccurate official accounts or bring attention to matters that otherwise remain unreported.

Some sources may face personal, professional, financial or legal risks if their identities become known.

Our Confidential Sources, Whistleblowers & News Tips Policy establishes how VNN receives information, assesses source reliability, considers confidentiality requests and manages the risks associated with sensitive disclosures.

We recognise that meaningful source protection requires practical safeguards and realistic communication.

Confidentiality must never be promised more broadly than it can lawfully and practically be protected.

2. Purpose

This policy aims to:

• Encourage responsible submission of newsworthy information.
• Establish standards for source verification.
• Provide guidance concerning confidential communications.
• Reduce unnecessary disclosure of source identities.
• Explain limitations on anonymity.
• Address potential legal and safety risks.
• Promote responsible handling of sensitive documents.
• Establish ethical procedures for publication of disclosed information.
• Explain that whistleblower protections depend on applicable legal requirements.

3. Scope

This policy applies to:

• News tips.
• Confidential interviews.
• Anonymous source communications.
• Leaked documents.
• Whistleblower disclosures.
• Eyewitness material.
• Unpublished research and records.
• Confidential photographs or recordings.
• Sensitive digital submissions.
• Editorial records capable of revealing a source.

It applies to relevant editorial personnel and authorised service providers.

4. What Is a News Tip?

A news tip is information submitted to a journalist or publisher suggesting that a matter may deserve investigation or reporting.

Examples include:

• Suspected public-sector misconduct.
• Consumer or community safety concerns.
• Institutional failures.
• Significant environmental incidents.
• Evidence relevant to public accountability.
• Corporate or financial misconduct.
• Important public documents.
• Information concerning developing events.

A news tip may be submitted openly, anonymously or with a request for confidentiality.

Submission does not automatically establish that the information is accurate.

5. Submitting Information to VNN

News Tips Contact

Where appropriate, a submission should explain:

1. What allegedly occurred.
2. When and where the event took place.
3. Who may be involved.
4. How the source obtained the information.
5. Whether the source personally witnessed the event.
6. What documents or evidence are available.
7. Why the matter may be in the public interest.
8. Whether confidentiality is requested.
9. Any known risks associated with disclosure.

Sources should distinguish personal observations from information obtained from other people.

VNN may seek further clarification or corroboration.

6. Ordinary Email and Website Forms

Standard email and ordinary website forms may not provide secure or anonymous communication.

Depending on the systems involved, communications may expose:

• Email addresses.
• IP addresses.
• Transmission and access records.
• File metadata.
• Account information.
• Device-related identifiers.
• Server logs.
• Other information capable of identifying a sender.

Sources should not assume that a website form is anonymous merely because it does not require a name.

VNN must not describe a communication channel as encrypted, anonymous or specially secured unless those protections have actually been implemented and verified.

Individuals considering high-risk disclosures should obtain appropriate independent advice about the risks before sending sensitive material.

7. Confidentiality Requests

A source may request that their identity not be disclosed publicly.

VNN should consider such requests carefully.

Before accepting a confidentiality arrangement, the responsible editorial decision-maker should assess:

• Why confidentiality is requested.
• The nature of the information.
• The public-interest significance.
• The source’s reliability.
• Whether the information can be corroborated.
• Potential consequences of identification.
• Applicable legal obligations.
• Whether VNN can realistically maintain the proposed confidentiality.

A request for confidentiality does not automatically create an unlimited confidentiality guarantee.

Any assurance should be clearly defined and appropriately authorised.

8. Anonymous Sources

VNN may rely on anonymous sources when justified by the circumstances.

However, anonymity can make claims harder to verify.

Where a source requests anonymity, editorial personnel should consider whether the source’s identity is known to an appropriate authorised person.

Serious allegations based on anonymous sources should receive heightened scrutiny.

Where possible, independent corroboration should be obtained.

Anonymous sourcing should not be used merely to shield an interested person from scrutiny or enable unsupported allegations.

9. Whistleblower Disclosures

Whistleblowers may disclose information concerning suspected wrongdoing within an organisation.

Such disclosures may involve serious risks.

Australian whistleblower protections can apply in certain circumstances under legislation including the Corporations Act 2001 and other relevant laws.

However, not every person who submits information to a journalist is legally protected as a whistleblower.

The availability of protection depends on factors such as:

• The person’s legal eligibility.
• The organisation concerned.
• The nature of the alleged misconduct.
• The recipient of the disclosure.
• Any required prior reporting.
• Applicable legal conditions and exceptions.

In some Australian corporate-sector circumstances, disclosure to a journalist may qualify for protection only after particular regulatory reporting and notice requirements have been satisfied.

VNN cannot determine or guarantee a source’s legal protection merely by accepting information.

Potential whistleblowers should consider obtaining independent legal advice before making high-risk disclosures.

10. Source Protection and Australian Law

Legal protections for journalists’ confidential sources exist in Australia but are not absolute.

Their availability and operation depend on the applicable jurisdiction, legislation and circumstances.

In some proceedings, a court may determine that competing public-interest considerations justify disclosure.

Other legal powers, obligations and investigative processes may also be relevant.

VNN will not promise that it can prevent every lawful demand for source information.

Where an issue involving a confidential source raises significant legal risks, appropriate legal advice should be sought.

11. No Guarantee of Absolute Anonymity

A source may be identifiable even if their name is withheld from publication.

Information capable of revealing identity can include:

• Document metadata.
• Unique wording.
• Access logs.
• Work schedules.
• Internal document identifiers.
• Communication records.
• Photographs.
• Geographic details.
• Knowledge held by only a small number of people.

Editorial personnel should consider the risk of indirect identification.

Anonymity in the published article does not necessarily mean the source cannot be identified through other information or legal processes.

12. Evaluating Source Credibility

Before relying on sensitive information, VNN should assess:

1. Whether the source has direct knowledge.
2. Whether the account is internally consistent.
3. Whether documentary evidence exists.
4. Whether independent corroboration is available.
5. Whether the source has motives to mislead.
6. Whether the information may have been altered.
7. Whether significant contextual details are missing.
8. Whether publication would unfairly harm others.
9. Whether legal restrictions apply.
10. Whether the public interest justifies publication.

A source’s confidence or seniority does not automatically establish factual accuracy.

13. Handling Leaked Documents

Leaked documents can contain valuable evidence but may also include inaccuracies, fabricated material or information unrelated to the public interest.

VNN should consider:

• Whether documents are authentic.
• Whether their contents are complete.
• Whether relevant dates and context are clear.
• Whether personal information requires redaction.
• Whether publication could expose a source.
• Whether the material contains legally protected information.
• Whether there are applicable reporting restrictions.
• Whether independent legal review is necessary.

VNN should not knowingly encourage unlawful access to computer systems, theft, coercion or other illegal conduct to obtain material.

The public-interest value of information does not automatically make every method of obtaining or publishing it lawful.

14. Personal Information and Redaction

Before publishing documents supplied by a source, VNN should consider removing information that is not necessary for the story.

Potentially sensitive details include:

• Residential addresses.
• Private contact information.
• Identity numbers.
• Bank account information.
• Medical records.
• Children’s identities.
• Confidential login information.
• Material capable of identifying a protected source.

Redaction should be performed carefully.

Placing a visible black rectangle over digital text may not remove the underlying information.

Editorial personnel should ensure that redacted material cannot readily be recovered from the published file or its metadata.

15. Source Identity and Internal Access

Where confidential information is legitimately held, access should be restricted to individuals with a genuine editorial need.

Source identities should not be distributed unnecessarily through ordinary administrative systems.

VNN should consider appropriate security controls, including access restrictions, account protections and secure retention arrangements.

Actual confidentiality measures depend on the systems the organisation has implemented.

16. Communications with Sources

Journalists should be clear about their identity and purpose unless an exceptional investigative circumstance justifies another lawful approach.

When discussing confidentiality, the journalist should explain the nature and limitations of any proposed arrangement.

Sources should not be misled about:

• The identity of the publication.
• The intended purpose of the information.
• Whether publication is guaranteed.
• Whether anonymity can be maintained.
• The possibility of legal disclosure.
• Whether the journalist can provide legal protection.
• How the information may be verified.

VNN cannot guarantee that submitting information will result in a published investigation.

17. Off-the-Record and Background Agreements

Terms such as “off the record”, “on background” and “not for attribution” can have different meanings to different participants.

Editorial personnel should clarify the intended arrangement before accepting sensitive information under those conditions.

Relevant questions include:

• Can the information be published?
• Can it be used to identify independent leads?
• Can the source be named?
• Can the source’s role or affiliation be described?
• Is the information provided only for background understanding?
• Are there limitations on quotation?

VNN should avoid agreeing to conditions that it cannot reasonably honour.

18. Independence from Sources

Journalists must maintain appropriate independence from their sources.

Providing information does not entitle a source to dictate unrelated editorial coverage.

Sources should not automatically receive approval rights over an entire article.

Where factual clarification is necessary, VNN may share selected details or quotations for checking, but this should not be confused with granting editorial control.

Material source relationships should be disclosed where needed to avoid misleading readers.

19. Payments and Benefits

VNN’s general editorial approach is to avoid paying sources for information where payment could compromise credibility or encourage fabrication.

Any exceptional arrangement involving payment or material benefits should receive appropriate approval and scrutiny.

A financial arrangement must not be concealed if disclosure is necessary for readers to understand a significant credibility issue.

Payment does not make information more reliable.

20. Protection of Vulnerable Sources

Additional safeguards may be required where a source is:

• A child.
• A victim of violence.
• A person facing retaliation.
• A person experiencing significant distress.
• A vulnerable employee.
• A person at risk because of immigration or legal status.
• An individual with sensitive medical or personal circumstances.

VNN should consider whether the source understands the potential consequences of participation.

Appropriate support, independent advice or additional verification may be necessary before proceeding.

21. Accuracy, Fairness and Right of Reply

Confidential-source reporting remains subject to normal journalistic standards.

Serious allegations should be verified as far as reasonably practicable.

Affected individuals or organisations should be offered an appropriate opportunity to respond where fairness requires it.

VNN must not use confidentiality as an excuse to publish allegations without adequate evidentiary support.

Where necessary, source-protection obligations and procedural fairness should be balanced through additional editorial or legal review.

22. Publication Decisions

Receiving information does not guarantee publication.

VNN may decide to:

• Investigate the tip.
• Seek corroboration.
• Request further evidence.
• Refer the matter for appropriate specialist consideration.
• Delay publication.
• Publish only verified aspects.
• Withhold identifying information.
• Decline the story.

Decisions should reflect evidence, public interest, safety, applicable law and available editorial resources.

23. Retention and Deletion of Source Material

Sensitive material should not be retained indefinitely without a legitimate reason.

Relevant considerations include:

• Editorial necessity.
• Confidentiality commitments.
• Applicable privacy law.
• Legal preservation obligations.
• Potential litigation.
• Security risks.
• Historical and accountability requirements.

Deletion requests should be assessed individually.

VNN cannot promise immediate or complete deletion where lawful retention duties, backups or other limitations apply.

24. Law Enforcement and Legal Requests

Requests or demands for confidential information may arise through legal or regulatory processes.

Such matters should receive appropriate review.

VNN should not voluntarily disclose confidential source information without proper consideration of relevant commitments, legal requirements and public-interest implications.

However, the organisation must not promise to disregard valid legal obligations.

Qualified legal advice may be necessary.

25. Corrections Involving Confidential Sources

Where source-based reporting is challenged, VNN should assess the supporting evidence.

If a significant factual error is established, it should be corrected through the relevant editorial procedure.

The need to correct a public statement does not automatically justify revealing a confidential source’s identity.

Where appropriate, VNN should seek a solution that preserves legitimate source protections while addressing the material inaccuracy.

26. Contact and Enquiries

Readers and potential sources may contact:

News Tips

Editorial Enquiries

Legal Correspondence

Please do not assume that ordinary email or a general contact form is suitable for transmitting highly sensitive material.

For immediate danger or urgent threats to safety, contact the appropriate emergency authority. In Australia, call Triple Zero (000).

VNN’s newsroom is not an emergency response service.

27. Accountability and Policy Review

The publisher or designated editorial lead is responsible for overseeing this policy.

Significant confidentiality decisions should be documented where lawful and appropriate.

The policy should be reviewed annually and when there are relevant changes to legal protections, security systems or editorial operations.

28. Our Commitment

Confidential sources may make important public-interest journalism possible.

However, their trust must be treated with seriousness, not exaggerated assurances.

VNN aims to handle sensitive information responsibly, assess the reliability of disclosures and communicate honestly about the limitations of confidentiality.

Protecting the public interest also means taking care with the people who risk speaking in that interest.