Editorial standards

Sourcing

Every article ends with the sources checked at the time of writing, and we link the primary document wherever one exists — a fund’s own holdings page, a regulator’s filing, a lottery’s official results, a manufacturer’s specification, a police or agency statement. Where only secondary reporting exists, we say which outlet reported it rather than presenting it as established. We do not cite anonymous aggregator posts as evidence.

Fact, analysis and rumor

These are three different things and we mark them as three different things. Confirmed information is stated plainly. Interpretation is presented as interpretation. Unreleased-product details, leaks and speculation are labeled as rumor and attributed to whoever is making the claim, with an explicit note when a detail is unconfirmed. Figures that move — prices, returns, holdings, wait times — are dated so a reader knows how fresh they are.

Use of AI, and its limits

We are direct about this because readers deserve to know. AI tools assist with research, structuring and drafting, and they generate the editorial illustrations that head each article. They are not the final authority on anything: James Morales checks factual claims against the linked sources, removes anything that cannot be supported, and takes responsibility for what is published under the byline.

Illustrations are captioned as AI-generated editorial illustrations. They visualize a concept and are never presented as photographs of real events, places or people. We do not generate images depicting identifiable private individuals, and we do not use generated imagery to illustrate breaking news in a way that could be mistaken for documentation of it.

Corrections

We correct errors on the page rather than quietly deleting them. Substantive corrections carry a dated note describing what changed; typographical fixes are made silently. Reader-reported errors are treated as the highest priority in the inbox. Report one to contact@mainstreamspectrum.com with the URL and the specific sentence.

Sensitive coverage

In reporting on violent incidents and other developing events, we describe what officials have confirmed and avoid speculation about motive, identity or casualty figures before they are established. Health and finance stories carry the limits set out in our terms and disclaimer: they are educational, not individualized professional advice.

Independence from advertising

Display advertising funds the site and is served by third-party networks. Advertisers do not see coverage before publication, cannot commission or block a story, and have no influence on conclusions. We do not publish paid links or sponsored content dressed as editorial; if a paid placement ever runs, it will be labeled at the top of the page. Ads are visually distinct from editorial content and labeled as advertising.

Privacy

We collect no personal data beyond what you email us. Advertising cookies and your controls over them are described in the privacy policy.