Editorial Standards
The principles and requirements that govern every MAP editorial decision.
MAP's editorial standards govern how our team assesses publishers, writes coverage, and maintains the integrity of the MAP Verified™ system.
Independence
No advertiser, investor, or commercial partner influences MAP's verification decisions. Editorial decisions are made by the editorial team alone.
Documentation
Every MAP Verified™ record documents specific claims, sources, and observable characteristics.
Reviewability
Any MAP verification decision can be reviewed on appeal. The process is documented in our Corrections Policy.
Disclosure
MAP discloses its funding, ownership, and any material relationships with entities it covers.
Timeliness
Editorial decisions affecting a publisher's certification status are communicated to the publisher within 48 hours of being finalized.
Consistency
MAP applies the same review process to every publisher — regardless of political orientation, market size, or commercial relationship.
MAP does not arbitrate the truth of individual claims. We assess the practices of publishers — how they source, present, and disclose — not whether any specific statement is true or false.
MAP does not remove or suppress content. A MAP context record is information for readers, not a takedown mechanism.