Ethics & Standards

At CGWall Sports, we believe that trust is the most valuable asset in journalism. As a digital news platform bridging the gap between India and the United States, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity, accuracy, and fairness.

Our code of ethics is inspired by the principles set forth by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and is strictly enforced across our global newsroom—from our headquarters in Bilaspur, India, to our contributors covering sports in the US.

1. Commitment to Truth and Accuracy

  • Fact-First Approach: Our primary loyalty is to the truth. We strive to verify all statistics, scores, quotes, and trade details before publication.

  • Corroboration: We do not rely on single anonymous sources for controversial stories. We seek to corroborate information through multiple reliable sources or official league databases (NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.).

  • Context: We provide context so that facts are not misrepresented. We do not cherry-pick statistics to create a misleading narrative.

2. Independence and Integrity

  • Editorial Independence: Our editorial decisions are made solely by our editors and writers. They are not influenced by advertisers, sponsors, team owners, or political interests.

  • Separation of News and Opinion: We clearly distinguish between “News” reports (factual) and “Opinion/Editorial” pieces (viewpoints). Opinion pieces represent the personal views of the author.

  • No Pay-for-Play: We do not accept payment, gifts, or special treatment in exchange for news coverage. If we review a product sent to us by a company, we disclose it clearly.

  • Advertising: All sponsored content and advertisements are clearly labeled as “Sponsored,” “Ad,” or “Partner Content.“

3. Sports Betting and Gambling Integrity

Given the rise of sports betting in the US, we hold our team to strict standards:

  • Insider Information: Our writers and editors are strictly prohibited from using non-public information gained during reporting to place bets or wagers.

  • No Touting: We do not sell “guaranteed picks” or betting advice services. Our betting-related content is strictly for informational and analytical purposes.

4. Fairness and Impartiality

  • Right of Reply: If our reporting criticizes a person or organization, we make a reasonable effort to seek their comment and include their perspective in the story.

  • Avoiding Bias: While our writers may be fans of the sport, their reporting must remain objective. We avoid using language that promotes stereotypes based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or nationality.

5. Minimizing Harm

  • Sensitivity: We treat all subjects with respect. We exercise heightened sensitivity when covering stories involving serious injuries, mental health struggles, or the private lives of athletes and their families.

  • Juveniles: We exercise extreme caution when reporting on minors (high school athletes), ensuring that our coverage does not intrude on their privacy or exploit them.

6. Accountability and Transparency

  • Owning Mistakes: When we make an error, we admit it and correct it promptly. We do not “stealth edit” (change without notice). Please refer to our [Corrections Policy] for more details.

  • Ownership Transparency: We are open about our ownership. CGWall Sports is a venture of CGWall Media, a registered entity in Chhattisgarh, India.

  • Author Transparency: We use real bylines. We do not publish news under generic names like “Admin” to hide the identity of the writer.

7. Plagiarism and Attribution

  • Zero Tolerance: Plagiarism is a fireable offense at CGWall Sports.

  • Attribution: We give credit where credit is due. If we are reporting on a story broken by another outlet (e.g., ESPN, The Athletic, or a local beat writer), we explicitly mention them and provide a link to their original work.

8. Handling Confidential Sources

While we prefer on-the-record sources, we recognize that anonymous sources are sometimes necessary to uncover the truth. We grant anonymity only if:

  • The information is vital to the public interest.

  • The source is at risk of harm or retaliation.

  • The information can be verified through other means.

9. Enforcement

The observance of these ethics is mandatory for all staff members and freelance contributors. Violations are reviewed by the Editorial Board.

Contact the Standards Editor: If you have questions about our ethical standards or believe we have fallen short, please contact our Chief Editor.

Rudra AwasthiEditor-in-ChiefEmail: rudra@cgwall.com

Headquarters: CGWall Media Mangal Chowk, Bilaspur Chhattisgarh, India – 495001