Accountable authorship
David Adams, Sports Analyst, is the named and accountable author of SportSignals news. David chooses or approves the story angle, checks the evidence and direct quotations, edits the copy and gives final approval before a new article is published. His byline means he takes responsibility for the published work.
How AI is used
AI may assist with finding research leads, organising source notes, outlining and drafting. It does not receive a personal byline and it does not replace David's source checks, editorial judgement or final approval. A draft that is incomplete, malformed or not approved must not be published.
Source standard
We prefer sources in this order:
- Official clubs, leagues, governing bodies, decisions and primary documents.
- Direct statements, transcripts and first-party data.
- Independent, established reporting with transparent attribution.
- Specialist secondary sources where better primary evidence is unavailable.
Material factual claims, direct quotations, statistics and rules should carry a nearby citation. Normally, a report requires at least two independent sources. If only one credible source is available, the article must identify the report as single-source and David must approve a documented exception. Repetition of the same original report by several outlets does not count as independent confirmation.
Headlines, formats and uncertainty
Headlines must reflect what the evidence establishes. Possibilities are not presented as confirmed outcomes, rumours are attributed, and analysis is distinguished from reported fact. Articles are labelled as reports, analysis, opinion or rumour when that distinction is material to understanding the work.
Quotations, context and fairness
Quotations must be traceable to the stated source and must not be edited in a way that changes their meaning. Relevant context should be included when omitting it could create a materially misleading impression. Serious or disputed claims should identify whose claim they are and include a meaningful response where one is available.
Images and illustrations
Images must have a lawful publication basis and an accurate credit. AI-generated images are presented as editorial illustrations and labelled accordingly; they are not represented as documentary photographs of an event.
Publication and update dates
The published date records when an article first appeared. An updated date changes only after a substantive editorial revision. A byline, schema or formatting correction alone does not make an old article newly published. Substantive corrections and updates are described on the article in line with our corrections policy.
Commercial independence and conflicts
SportSignals may earn commission from eligible commercial links. Payment or a commercial relationship does not buy favourable coverage or change the evidence standard. Relevant relationships are disclosed, and promotional modules are kept distinct from editorial copy. David must avoid or disclose conflicts that could reasonably call the independence of an article into question.
Archive attribution
Where the historical SportSignals news archive carries David's byline, that authorship is recorded through a dated attestation. Original publication dates remain unchanged. Where an older article receives substantive corrections, the visible article records the later update separately.