NewsLeash reports on crime, courts, public safety, child safety, education and national and world news. This page explains the standards we hold ourselves to. If we fall short of them, tell us at contact@newsleash.com.
Sourcing and attribution
We attribute facts to where they came from: court records, charging documents and arrest affidavits, law enforcement and prosecutor statements, government releases, and reporting by other news organizations. When we rely on another outlet’s reporting, we say so and link to it where we can. We do not present unverified claims as fact.
Allegations, charges and the presumption of innocence
An arrest or a charge is an accusation, not a finding of guilt. We describe what authorities allege, name who is making the allegation, and use terms such as “charged,” “accused” and “according to the affidavit” accordingly. We report the outcome of a case, including dismissals, acquittals and reduced charges, when we learn of it.
Victims, minors and sensitive cases
Much of our coverage involves violence and crimes against children. We do not publish the names of alleged sexual-assault victims or of minors who are victims, and we avoid graphic detail that serves no informational purpose. Where a story involves a child, we consider whether naming a family member could identify the child.
Fact-checking and review
Every article is reviewed by a human editor before publication, and NewsLeash staff fact-check stories against their sources. If we find a problem with an article, we either change it or remove it. See How We Use AI for how automated tools fit into that process.
What we do when information is missing
Where court records or officials have not answered an important question, we say what is not yet known rather than filling the gap with speculation. Stories include a plain statement of what remains unclear when it matters.
Original reporting and aggregation
NewsLeash clearly distinguishes original reporting from aggregated or summarized reporting. Stories based on reporting from other news organizations identify and credit those sources. Original reporting is identified through the byline and the sourcing within the article. Stories in our Investigates section are original, in-depth work.
Ownership, funding and independence
NewsLeash is independently owned and operated by Kris Asvestis. Advertising and sponsorship do not influence what we cover or how we cover it. NewsLeash will disclose material sponsorships, partnerships, affiliate relationships or other financial relationships when they are relevant to coverage.
Corrections
We fix errors promptly and openly. See our Corrections Policy.
How we use technology
See How We Use AI for how automated tools are used in our newsroom.
Who we are
Kris Asvestis is the journalist, editor and publisher of NewsLeash, and also handles the technical side of the site, including web development and administration. Kris is responsible for the content we publish. Reach Kris and the newsroom at contact@newsleash.com.
About the “Scout Barker” byline
Many NewsLeash stories carry the byline Scout Barker. Scout is NewsLeash’s mascot, a German shepherd news hound, and is a brand name rather than a person. Kris Asvestis and the NewsLeash team are accountable for every story published under that byline.