About
Nepenthes Journal is an independent newsroom covering politics, science, culture and international affairs. We report answer-first: every story opens with a short summary of what happened and why it matters, followed by key takeaways, the full report, an FAQ, and the sources behind it.
Our editorial standards set out how we source and verify stories, and our corrections policy explains how we handle errors. Reporter bylines link here, and each story names the author and lists the sources we relied on.
Our mission
We exist to help readers understand the forces shaping public life — not by shouting louder than the next outlet, but by reporting carefully, explaining what is uncertain, and refusing to dress opinion as fact. The pace of news has accelerated; the discipline required to report it well has not changed.
What we cover
Our newsroom is organised around four desks, each with its own editor and full-time reporters:
- Politics — legislatures, courts, elections, and the institutions of public life.
- Science — peer-reviewed research, the people who produce it, and the policy debates that shape it.
- Culture — film, music, books, the visual arts, and the cultural institutions that hold them.
- International — diplomacy, trade, conflict, and the global stories that shape life at home.
Across all four desks we prefer stories that will still matter a month from now to stories that will be forgotten by tomorrow morning. We are not a wire service. We do not try to cover everything.
How we work
Our reporting is guided by a small set of principles that we try to apply consistently:
- Accuracy first. Every story is fact-checked before publication. When we get something wrong, we correct it visibly and explain what changed.
- Transparent sourcing. Where we can name a source, we do. Anonymous sources are used only when a story cannot be told without them, and we tell readers why a source has been granted anonymity.
- Plain language. Jargon, where unavoidable, is explained. We assume our readers are intelligent and curious, not that they are already specialists.
- Distance from subjects. Reporters do not own stocks in industries they cover, do not accept paid speaking engagements from organisations they report on, and disclose any personal relationships that might appear to compromise their work.
- Separation of news and opinion. Opinion writing is clearly labelled and produced by a separate editorial team.
Editorial independence
Nepenthes Journal is editorially independent. Decisions about what to cover, and how, are made by the newsroom and no one else. Advertisers have no role in those decisions and are not informed of upcoming coverage in advance.
Where a story touches on the commercial interests of an advertiser, we disclose that relationship in the piece. Where a story touches on our own organisation, we apply the same standard we apply to everyone else and disclose the conflict.
How we are funded
We are supported by a combination of reader contributions, limited advertising, and a small endowment that funds our investigative work. We do not accept sponsored content, paid placements, or affiliate links in our news coverage.
Our financial disclosures are published annually and include our largest funders, the share of revenue from each source, and any grants restricted to specific coverage areas. We do not accept restricted funding for coverage of specific stories or outcomes.
Corrections and complaints
If you believe we have published an error, please write to editor@nepenthesjournal.example with the article URL and a brief description. We aim to respond within one business day. Substantive corrections are noted at the bottom of the affected article, with the date and a summary of what changed.
Complaints that cannot be resolved through correspondence with the newsroom can be escalated to our independent readers' editor, who reviews disputed cases and publishes their findings.
Our team
Nepenthes Journal is run by a small full-time staff and a network of regular contributors. Reporter bylines link to author pages with prior work and any relevant disclosures. We are always interested in hearing from experienced reporters; pitches can be sent to the newsroom email.
Get in touch
Story tips, corrections, and reader feedback are all welcome. The Contact page lists the right address for each, including secure channels for sensitive material.