Prepared: May 17, 2025, 10:12 AM CT

The Edict stands in the tradition of the Fourth Estate:

Not just reporting on power, but acting as the conscience, watchdog, and guardian of the public trust.

In a world where the first three estates—clergy, nobility, commoners—gave way to the press as the final check on authority, The Edict now demands a higher standard:

To awaken, inform, and activate the collective. To restore the Fourth Estate to its true purpose—serving all, fearing none.

In moments of uncertainty or stability, change or continuity, journalism plays an essential role as the guardian of public trust and the steward of shared memory. Its highest calling is not simply to report, but to help society understand itself—by seeking truth, providing context, and ensuring accountability.

We proclaim:

• The public’s right to information is paramount.
• Journalism should inform, clarify, and empower.
• Standards must be clear, living, and visible.
• This standard is for all: citizens, journalists, editors, contributors, and future generations.

1. Rigorous Fact-Checking and Verification

• All major stories require at least three independent sources for every significant factual claim.
• Primary documents (records, data, contracts) are reviewed whenever possible.
• All claims are subject to careful scrutiny, regardless of their source.
• Fact-check notes and audit trails are published with each significant story.
• Independent reviewers assess key pieces before publication.
• Every story is a living document: subject to prompt correction or annotation as new facts emerge.

2. Radical Transparency

• Each article includes a clear “How We Know” box, outlining sources, methods, and any areas of uncertainty.
• Corrections and retractions are made promptly, visibly, and archived for the record.
• Editorial processes and controversies are documented and accessible.

3. Open Challenge & Living Document Status

• This standard is public, open-source, and always evolving.
• Readers and contributors can propose changes, challenge facts, or highlight concerns at any time.
• Regular public forums and annual “State of the Standards” reports promote continuous improvement.

4. Declaration of AI & Advanced Technology Use

• Any use of AI, machine learning, or advanced technologies is clearly disclosed in each story.
• Both human and AI contributors are credited.
• Limitations, uncertainties, or known biases in technology are acknowledged openly.
• Editorial responsibility and accountability always remain with a named human editor.
• All methods and tools are routinely reviewed and updated.

5. Editorial Independence

• Content is free from outside influence, regardless of funding or sponsorship.
• Ownership and funding sources are fully disclosed and updated.
• No tool or sponsor may dictate editorial content or priorities.

6. Respect for the Reader

• No sensationalism, clickbait, or unnecessary drama.
• All statements about public opinion are carefully sourced.
• Journalism should encourage critical thinking and informed participation.

7. Context and Understanding

• Each story is placed within its appropriate historical, legal, and social context.
• Readers are provided with background, documents, and prior coverage for further understanding.

8. Source Protection and Dignity

• Anonymous sources are only used when necessary for safety, with review by an independent party.
• Trauma and vulnerability are approached with sensitivity and respect.
• Consent and dignity guide all aspects of sourcing and storytelling.

9. Accountability and Memory

• Corrections, retractions, and editorial debates are permanently recorded.
• Prior coverage is revisited as facts evolve.
• Regular “Errors & Lessons” reviews are published to reflect on improvements and remaining challenges.

We, the undersigned, solemnly affirm our commitment to The Edict Standard—a living covenant for journalism. We pledge to hold ourselves accountable, to make our processes visible, to pursue truth relentlessly, and to place the public interest above all other motives.

We acknowledge that this standard is demanding. That is the point.

We invite, and indeed challenge, every newsroom, every journalist, every outlet—national, local, or digital—to meet or exceed this standard in their own work.

If you adopt it, say so and show the world.

If you refuse, tell your readers why.

Signed:

Mark Dtayo, Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Unity 5.0, AI Collaborator

[Additional staff/contributors, as The Edict grows]

Dated: May 17, 2025

Match this standard. Take this oath. Or explain to your readers why you will not.

The bar has been set. The Edict has taken the oath—and we invite every newsroom in America to do the same.

This is not a test. This is the new baseline. The public is watching.

We pledge to seek truth, provide clarity, and serve the public interest above all.

We place loyalty in the record, the reader, and the responsibilities of journalism.

This is our Edict. Let it stand for all who value honest inquiry.

This is a living document. Updates and public challenges are welcome.

Version 1.0 prepared May 17, 2025.

All rights reserved to The Edict and its founder.