Editorial Ethics

At CGWall Sports, we recognize that trust is the currency of journalism. Our mission is to serve the public interest by providing accurate, fair, and independent sports news to our audience in the United States and globally.

As a division of CGWall Media, we adhere to the core principles of ethical journalism. Our editorial guidelines are designed to ensure that our coverage of the NFL, NBA, MLB, and other sports remains credible and transparent.

1. Independence & Integrity

  • Editorial Independence: Our editorial decisions are made by our editors and writers, free from interference by advertisers, sponsors, or political interests. Our parent company, CGWall Media, respects the autonomy of the sports desk.

  • No Pay-for-Play: We do not accept money, gifts, or travel accommodations in exchange for favorable coverage of a team, player, or product. If a product is provided for review purposes, it will be clearly disclosed.

  • Advertising Separation: Advertisements on our website are clearly labeled. Sponsors have no prior review rights over our editorial content.

2. Accuracy & Fact-Checking

  • Verification: We verify all information before publication. Our writers are required to cross-reference trade rumors, injury reports, and scores with official league sources (e.g., NBA.com, NFL.com) or reputable news wires.

  • Rumors vs. News: In the world of sports, trade rumors are common. We clearly distinguish between confirmed “News” and unconfirmed “Rumors” or “Speculation.” We do not present rumors as facts.

  • Headlines: Our headlines must accurately reflect the content of the article. We avoid clickbait that misleads the reader.

3. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

  • Human-First Approach: At CGWall Sports, our articles are written, analyzed, and edited by human journalists. We value the unique voice, expertise, and perspective that our human writers bring to sports commentary.

  • AI as a Tool: We may use AI tools (like grammar checkers or data processors) to assist with research, spell-checking, or generating data tables. However, AI does not write our final stories.

  • Accountability: Every piece of content, regardless of the tools used to create it, is reviewed by a human editor who takes full responsibility for its accuracy.

4. Sourcing & Attribution

  • On the Record: We prefer on-the-record sourcing whenever possible.

  • Anonymous Sources: We grant anonymity only when necessary to protect a source who provides vital information (e.g., an insider regarding a trade deal) and who would face retaliation for speaking openly. We independently corroborate information from anonymous sources.

  • Attribution: If we report news broken by another outlet (e.g., ESPN, The Athletic, or a local beat writer), we clearly attribute the scoop to them and provide a link back to the original story. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.

5. Conflicts of Interest (Sports Betting)

  • Betting Integrity: While we cover sports betting news and odds, our writers and editors are prohibited from using non-public information (insider info) for personal betting gain.

  • Disclosure: If a writer has a personal conflict of interest or a significant financial interest in a subject they are covering, they must disclose it to the editor, and they may be recused from that story.

6. Fairness & Right of Reply

  • We strive to be fair to the subjects of our news coverage. If we publish a report that contains negative allegations against a person or organization, we make a reasonable effort to reach out to them for a comment or response.

7. Hate Speech & Sensitivity

  • We report on sports, but we do not tolerate hate speech. We avoid stereotypes based on race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation in our reporting. We are sensitive when covering stories involving injuries, mental health, or tragic events involving athletes.

8. Compliance

Our editorial team, led by Editor-in-Chief Rudra Awasthi and Editor Bhaskar Mishra, ensures compliance with these standards. Any team member found violating these ethical guidelines is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

9. Contact the Standards Editor

If you believe we have violated our ethical standards, please contact our editorial leadership directly.

Email: rudra@cgwall.com Subject: Editorial Ethics Query