Where our reporting comes from
Three layers of source: primary (the league or team), accredited (the journalist pool), and original (our reporters on the ground). Each carries a different weight and we disclose which one a story leans on.
We do not republish unattributed data. We do not use anonymous quotes unless the reporter can demonstrate the source would face retaliation for being named. We do not invent quotes, percentages or claims.
Our methodology in plain language
What we publish
- The supporting case for a call
- The counter-case — what would make the call wrong
- A confidence label: Low, Medium or High
- The five anchors: form, availability, head-to-head, venue, competition context
- A timestamp that updates if the variables change
What we don’t publish
- Guaranteed-outcome language
- Paid tipster subscription
- Bookmaker affiliate links
- Win-probability percentages without a methodology disclosure
- Predictions on matches our desk doesn’t cover with named reporters
What happens when we get something wrong
Routine correction
Fact, spelling, score or attribution error. A dated note appears at the top of the article and the corrections log records it.
Material correction
A claim that meaningfully changes the read of the story. Editor on duty signs off the correction note and a follow-up article may be filed.
Retraction
A story that cannot stand after re-verification. The article is replaced with a dated retraction note and the corrections log records the chain.
Funding, conflicts and AI use
Funding
Reader-supported membership plus a small number of non-betting sponsorships. We do not take money from bookmakers, fantasy operators or gambling affiliate programmes. The funding statement is republished yearly.
Conflicts
Reporters disclose any personal connection to a team, competition or story. The disclosure appears at the bottom of the article when it applies.
AI use
We use AI for transcription, summarisation and translation support. Every published article is written, edited and signed off by a named reporter. AI does not file by-lines.
Sources we don’t use
We do not republish unattributed data from betting aggregators, social media rumour accounts, or unverified tipster feeds. If we can’t source a claim, we don’t publish it.
How a story moves from pitch to publish
The comesportsnow desk runs a five-stage editorial workflow. Every story passes through all five stages before it goes live.
Stage 1: Pitch. A reporter or freelancer files a pitch that names the story, the source, the angle and the deadline. The desk editor approves or rejects within 48 hours.
Stage 2: Filing. The reporter files the article under their own name. The article carries the by-line, the timestamp, the source list and the confidence label (where applicable).
Stage 3: Edit. A second editor reads the article for accuracy, sourcing, tone and adherence to the editorial standards. The article is returned to the reporter for revision if any of the five boxes fail.
Stage 4: Verification. Every named source is verified. Every score is verified. Every claim that can be checked is checked against a second source.
Stage 5: Publish. The article is published with the timestamp, the source list, the corrections log reference and the related-reading links. If the article is updated, the update is timestamped and dated.
What happens if a story fails verification
If a story fails verification at any stage, it is returned to the reporter with a written note explaining the failure. The article is not published until the verification gap is closed. If a story has already been published and a verification gap is discovered later, a dated correction note is added at the top of the article and the corrections log records the chain.
Anonymous sourcing
We do not use anonymous quotes unless the reporter can demonstrate that the source would face retaliation for being named. Where anonymous sourcing is used, the article carries a note explaining why the source is anonymous and the editor on duty has signed off the use of the quote.
Conflicts of interest
Reporters disclose any personal connection to a team, competition, story or source. The disclosure appears at the bottom of the article when it applies. Reporters do not cover stories in which they have an undisclosed financial or personal interest.
The editorial standards we work to
Every page on comesportsnow sits on the same five editorial principles: sourced claims, named by-lines, visible timestamps, dated corrections and disclosed conflicts. The five principles are not aspirational; they are the gate every page passes through before it goes live.
Sourced claims
Every claim that can be checked against a named source is checked. If we cannot source a claim, we do not publish it.
Named by-lines
Every by-line belongs to the reporter who filed the copy. We do not run anonymous syndication or AI-only by-lines.
Visible timestamps
Every article shows when it was filed and when it was last verified. Updates carry their own timestamps.
Dated corrections
Corrections are published within 24 hours of confirmation and recorded on the corrections log.
Disclosed conflicts
Reporters disclose any personal connection to a team, competition or story. The disclosure appears at the bottom of the article when it applies.
Coverage built for readers who follow for the love of the game
Most of our readers follow the game because they care about the shape of the side, the form of the player, the captaincy call that swung a match. They do not place a wager, and they do not need a betting angle to justify their interest.
Our coverage is built for them. The desk treats live scores as the starting point, not the headline. The desk publishes the supporting and counter evidence alongside every prediction. The desk does not run odds widgets, does not take bookmaker partnerships and does not run a paid tipster subscription.
If you follow sport for the love of the game, our coverage is built for you.
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The standards in detail
Sourcing. Every claim that can be checked against a named source is checked. Where a claim depends on attribution, the source is named or explained. Where a source must remain anonymous for safety reasons, the editor on duty signs off the use of the source.
Verification. Every score is verified against the official league feed or the accredited broadcaster’s scorecard. Every quote is verified against the recording. Every prediction’s confidence label is reviewed by the predictions editor before publication.
By-lines. Every by-line belongs to the reporter who filed the copy. We do not run anonymous syndication, we do not run wire-service copy without attribution, and we do not use AI-only by-lines.
Timestamps. Every article shows when it was filed and when it was last verified. Updates carry their own timestamps. The corrections log is dated and visible.
Corrections. Corrections are issued within 24 hours of the error being confirmed. Material corrections are signed off by the editor on duty and may trigger a follow-up article. Retractions are issued when a story cannot stand after re-verification.
Conflicts. Reporters disclose any personal connection to a team, competition or story. The disclosure appears at the bottom of the article when it applies. Reporters do not cover stories in which they have an undisclosed financial or personal interest.
AI use. We use AI for transcription, summarisation and translation support. Every published article is written, edited and signed off by a named reporter. AI does not file by-lines.
What this means for the reader
For the reader, the standards mean three things. First, you can read a comesportsnow article and trust that the claims have been sourced. Second, you can find out who wrote it, when it was filed and when it was last verified. Third, if we get something wrong, you can find the correction dated and visible on the same page.
That trust is the desk’s most important product. It is the reason readers come back. It is the reason the desk exists.