Chapter 01
What you can obtain online
The internet is a source of leads, not a source of truth. Know what you're allowed to use — and how.
Generally fair to use
- Public records: court filings, government budgets, parliamentary records, company registries
- Official statements, press releases and on-record social media posts from public figures (attribute them)
- Published research, datasets and statistics from named institutions
- Previously published news — quoted briefly, credited, and linked
Use with care
- Posts from private individuals: they didn't ask to be in the news — seek consent, especially from minors
- Leaked documents: verify authenticity and consider who is harmed by publication
- Photos and videos: you need permission or a clear fair-use basis; always credit the creator
- Screenshots: they're easy to fake. Find the original post
Off limits
- Hacking, guessing passwords, or using someone else's account
- Pretending to be someone else to obtain information
- Publishing private data (addresses, phone numbers, health info) that serves no public interest
- Copying another outlet's reporting as your own