What does Lagepunkt fact-check?
Lagepunkt verifies all factual assertions that appear in our news articles, analysis, and background pieces, including claims about politics, the economy, culture, and society made by public figures, institutions, documents, and data sources. Our fact-checking process covers statistics, dates, names, quotes, historical references, and any statement that could mislead readers if incorrect.
We do not fact-check every single word—opinion, commentary, and clearly labelled analysis may include interpretation—but every verifiable claim is checked before publication. The editorial team led by Chefredaktör Thomas Kuhn ensures that fact-checking is integrated into the workflow for every article, from breaking news to long-form features.
How do we source and prioritise evidence?
We use a transparent source hierarchy that privileges primary sources: official government documents, court rulings, statistical agencies, original research, direct interviews, and verifiable public records. Secondary sources such as reputable news agencies, think tanks, and academic journals are used only when primary sources are unavailable or to add context.
Our Sources & Standards page details the full hierarchy and explains how we weigh different types of evidence. Journalists are required to link directly to original source material where possible, and editors verify that links function and lead to the stated document or data set. We treat anonymous leaks with caution – they must be corroborated by at least one independent source before publication, and the rationale for anonymity is explained in the article.
How do we handle rumours and unverified claims?
Rumours, speculation, and unverified claims are clearly labelled as such and are never presented as established fact. If we report on a rumour because it is newsworthy – for example, a viral claim that has real-world impact – we explicitly state that it has not been independently verified and include the steps we are taking to verify it.
We do not repeat false claims without context. Every article that addresses a rumour includes a clear explanation of why it is unsubstantiated and what evidence would be needed to confirm or refute it. Lisa Schumacher, our Ansvarig för faktagranskning (head of fact-checking), oversees all such reporting to ensure rigour and fairness.
Who reviews sensitive or high-impact articles?
Articles that touch on topics such as national security, public health, electoral integrity, criminal investigations, or the reputation of individuals are flagged for extra review. Thomas Kuhn, as Chefredaktör, personally reviews these pieces, and Lisa Schumacher conducts a separate fact-check of every factual claim in them.
Sensitive articles also go through a second editor – often Maria Müller, Redaktionschef – to check for balance, tone, and potential harm. This multi-layer process ensures that high-impact journalism meets our editorial standards before it reaches readers. If an article involves AI-assisted research or drafting (which is always disclosed), the human editor verifies every AI‑produced fact against original sources before approval.
How can readers report potential errors?
Readers are a vital part of our fact-checking process. If you spot something you believe is incorrect, please email our dedicated corrections address: factcheck@lagepunkt.de. You can also use the general contact form at /about-us/contact/ for non‑fact‑related concerns.
Our fact-checking team aims to acknowledge receipt within 48 hours and to investigate all credible reports promptly. We take every report seriously, whether it comes from a source, a reader, or a competitor. When a reader points out an error, we check the original evidence and, if a mistake is confirmed, issue a correction in accordance with our Corrections Policy.
What happens if we make a mistake?
We correct errors openly and promptly. Every correction is noted at the top of the article with the date, a brief explanation of what was wrong, and what has been changed. For significant errors – those that change the meaning of a piece – we publish a separate note on the article and on our Corrections page.
Our Editorial Policy outlines the full corrections procedure, including how we decide when a correction warrants an editor’s note or a retraction. We do not delete articles to hide mistakes; transparency is the foundation of our trust with readers. The named writer, the reviewing editor, and the fact‑checker involved are all informed, and lessons learned feed back into our training processes.
What you can expect from us
Every Lagepunkt article you read has been drafted by a named writer, reviewed by an editor, and fact‑checked against our source hierarchy before publication. Our commitment is to factual accuracy, not speed. If a story cannot be verified to our standards, we hold it until it can, or we explain why we are not yet able to confirm key elements.
We use AI-assisted tools only for research, drafting, formatting, or translation – never for final editorial judgment. Every piece is approved by a human editor, and AI must never fabricate quotes, sources, or bylines. Our team page lists every editorial staff member and their responsibilities, so you can see exactly who is accountable for what we publish.
Questions or concerns?
If you have a general question about our fact-checking methods, or you believe we have failed to apply them correctly, please contact Lisa Schumacher directly at factcheck@lagepunkt.de. For complaints that involve editorial standards beyond fact‑checking, refer to our Complaints Procedure.
We also encourage readers to consult our Sources & Standards page for a detailed breakdown of how we evaluate evidence, and our Editorial Policy for the principles that guide every editorial decision. Your trust is earned through transparency, and we are glad to answer any follow‑up questions you may have.