This page exists because transparency is not optional. If you are going to trust Margalla Times with your attention, you deserve to know how we make decisions.
Story Selection
We do not cover everything. Our editorial team selects stories based on national importance, public interest, trending conversations, and editorial judgment. The deciding factor is always the same: does this story matter to the educated, critically minded Pakistani reader, and can we cover it in a way that adds something to the conversation rather than just adding to the noise?
We do not publish press releases as news stories. We do not cover events simply because they are sent to us.
Sources
Margalla Times operates largely on open-source journalism—publicly available information, official statements, on-record sources, and verifiable data. When we use anonymous or confidential sources, we do so only when the information is genuinely significant and cannot be obtained on the record, and we verify it through at least one additional source before publishing.
We do not grant anonymity to sources who are simply avoiding accountability. We do not quote “sources” as a device to introduce speculation.
Attribution in our stories reflects what is genuinely necessary for the reader’s understanding. We do not footnote every piece of information. We credit sources when the information is sensitive or contested or where the attribution itself is part of the story.
Corrections
We get things wrong. When we do, we correct them—promptly, clearly and in a way that is just as visible as the original error. See our Corrections & Clarifications Policy for the full process.
Independence
Margalla Times has no affiliation with any political party, government body, intelligence agency or religious organisation. Our editorial decisions are made by our editorial team alone.
We maintain partnerships with embassies, government bodies, NGOs and institutions for specific projects and programmes. These partnerships do not influence our editorial coverage of those organisations. Our partners are covered by the same standards as everyone else.
Advertising and Sponsorship
Advertising and commercial relationships have no influence on editorial decisions. Our advertising team and our editorial team operate separately. Advertisers do not receive favourable coverage in exchange for spending.
Sponsored content, when published, is clearly labelled as such. It is not presented as independent editorial.
Conflicts of Interest
Our journalists and editors are required to disclose any personal, financial or professional relationship that could affect—or be seen to affect—their coverage of a story. When a conflict cannot be resolved, the journalist is removed from that story.
Social Media
Our official social media accounts represent MT’s institutional voice. They are subject to the same editorial standards as our published content.