Editorial Code of Ethics of kriegsberichterstattung.com
kriegsberichterstattung.com is a journalistic platform dedicated to information and analysis on wars, armed conflicts, authoritarian systems, and security-related developments. It is a non-profit, volunteer-based project, initiated by political scientists and software entrepreneurs.
The editorial team commits itself to the following principles:
1. Commitment to Truth and Due Diligence
We report to the best of our knowledge and belief, based on verifiable information, reliable sources, and established standards of journalistic diligence.
Unconfirmed claims, rumors, or speculation are not presented as facts. Where information is uncertain or cannot be independently verified, this is clearly indicated.
2. Separation of Facts, Analysis, and Opinion
Fact-based reporting, analytical assessment, and opinion pieces are clearly distinguished from one another.
Opinion articles are explicitly labeled as such. The editorial line does not pursue neutrality in the sense of false balance, but is committed to intellectual honesty and clarity of argument.
3. Responsibility Toward Those Affected
We are aware that reporting on war, repression, and authoritarian states can involve real risks for people on the ground.
Accordingly:
- The protection of sources takes precedence over publication interests
- No identifying details are published if they could reasonably lead to harm
- We avoid any glorification, romanticization, or dramatization of violence
- We do not publish material that could facilitate or intensify repression
4. No Activism, No Propaganda
kriegsberichterstattung.com is not a political campaign platform.
We do not allow ourselves to be instrumentalized by state propaganda or activist agendas. Our task is contextualization, clarification, and documentation, not mobilization or advocacy.
5. Sources and Transparency
Our reporting and analysis draw on a broad range of sources, including:
- publicly accessible reporting by international news organizations,
- independent monitoring and research institutions,
- academic and policy analysis,
- and—where responsibly possible—eyewitness material.
We do not maintain commercial subscriptions to news agencies. References to agency reporting are based on publicly available material and secondary citation, in line with established journalistic practice.
Sources are named transparently wherever this can be done without creating risk.
6. Use of Images and Coverage of Violence
Images depicting violence, death, or suffering are used sparingly and with restraint.
We avoid shocking imagery for its own sake.
Where visual material is unavailable, we explicitly state the reasons—such as censorship, isolation, or repression.
7. No Relativization of Violence – No Simplistic Attribution of Blame
We identify perpetrators, responsibilities, and power structures clearly, without reducing complex conflicts to simplistic good-versus-evil narratives.
Analysis replaces outrage—without downplaying violence or responsibility.
8. Corrections and Accountability
If errors occur, they are corrected openly. Corrections are clearly marked.
We take criticism seriously and examine it carefully and in good faith.
9. Independence
The editorial team operates independently of governments, political parties, interest groups, or economic influence.
Any financial or structural dependencies—should they exist—would be disclosed. (Currently, none exist.)
10. Long-Term Responsibility
War reporting does not end with the headline.
We understand our work also as an archive, a record, and a basis for later accountability and historical assessment.
Short-term attention must never outweigh long-term credibility.
This editorial code serves as the benchmark for our work.
It does not replace journalistic responsibility—it defines and specifies it. Finally, all contributions to kriegsberichterstattung.com are unpaid. The platform operates on a non-commercial, volunteer basis and does not offer honoraria or financial compensation for articles or analyses.
Editorial Closing Statement
kriegsberichterstattung.com is not a static project. Over the years, the platform has evolved—in its language, its tone, and its understanding of its own role. In earlier phases, our reporting was at times more pointed, more emotional, and more strongly driven by urgency. This approach stemmed from a desire to draw attention to injustice. In retrospect, however, we recognize that particularly when dealing with war, violence, and authoritarian systems, distance, precision, and restraint are indispensable.
Today, we strive to report in a more sober, analytical, and structured manner. Not out of indifference, but out of responsibility. This standard is not always fully achieved. We are not free of error. Where we fall short of our own expectations, we ask for understanding and regard criticism as part of a necessary learning process.
A further central aspect of our work is the protection of those who contribute to this project. kriegsberichterstattung.com brings together authors with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and working methods. Experience has shown that journalistic work in this field involves not only public visibility, but also heightened sensitivity in dealing with personal, professional, and economic considerations.
For this reason, we act with deliberate caution and careful judgment in external communication. Not every structure is disclosed, not every inquiry answered publicly. This restraint is not a lack of transparency, but the result of a continuous balancing of openness and responsibility. The protection of individuals takes precedence over maximum visibility.
The continued existence of kriegsberichterstattung.com is a conscious editorial decision. We consider it responsible not to take the platform offline, even though its history includes transitions, pauses, and reorientation. To relinquish a domain of this name, scope, and thematic focus without oversight would mean surrendering responsibility—without any influence over how or by whom it might later be used. Given the nature of the subject matter, we consider that an unacceptable risk.
Today, we understand kriegsberichterstattung.com as a learning and self-reflective project: not complete, not infallible, but committed to reporting with care, restraint, and responsibility. Our aim is not moral superiority, but journalistic integrity—with the awareness that it is always a work in progress.
Submitting an Article Proposal
If you have a topic you would like to write about and believe it would be a good fit for kriegsberichterstattung.com, you are welcome to send your proposal to the editorial team by email.
Please note that we receive a high volume of inquiries, often several hundred messages. As a result, we may not always be able to respond immediately. We do, however, make every effort to review submissions carefully and to reply whenever possible.
You can reach the editorial team at:
redaktion@kriegsberichterstattung.com
We appreciate your interest, your patience, and your understanding.