Center for Online Investigative Research

COIR's Ten Commandments

1. We will be fair, accurate, and objective.
2. We will not interject personal commentary or speculation into our research or reporting.
3. We will maintain a clear distinction between news itself and news analysis and commentary.
3. We will be respectful of all members. Everyone brings their own expertise to the table.
4. We will make this a safe-haven for sources and whistleblowers. Their careers and, at times, their lives may be at risk if we fail to protect them.
5. We will make this a refuge for good journalists. They often find themselves facing unrelenting deadlines, a lack of resources, and unsympathetic, if not hostile, powers-that-be. Often they are marginalized or attacked for doing their jobs such as protecting a source. We can help them by making this a place where they can safely research tips and report stories they can't otherwise get out.
6. We will regularly reach out to our community for assistance. Our collective wisdom is infinite.
7. We will grow and cultivate our community inviting in thought leaders, experts, journalists, sources, and whistleblowers.
8. We will contribute what we can, whether it is time, money, or expertise.
9. We will remember that our research is a "work in progress". We will be willing to make corrections as we do our work, continually testing our assumptions. We will learn from our mistakes. We will make comments and suggestions and be open to receiving them.
10. We will make a difference.