Applies to: sababu.mv and en.sababu.mv, and Sababu's official social media accounts
Effective date: 23 September 2024
Last updated: 3 October 2026
Approved by: Ahmed Naseer, Editor
Introduction
Sababu is a Maldivian news organisation. It publishes in Dhivehi at sababu.mv and in English at en.sababu.mv. Our purpose is to give readers clear, accurate and fair news and information about the Maldives and the world, and to do so responsibly.
This Editorial Policy sets out the principles that decide what Sababu publishes and how we publish it. It covers all content published under the Sababu name: news, reports, features, opinion, photographs, video, graphics, headlines, push notifications and social media posts. Every member of the editorial team, whether full-time, part-time, freelance or a contributor, must follow it. The Sababu Code of Conduct sets out in more detail the personal standards expected of our journalists and editors. Read the two documents together.
This policy is written to be consistent with the Constitution of the Maldives, the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act (Act No. 16/2025) and the Code of Conduct issued under that Act by the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission. Section 55 of the Act allows a newspaper to adopt its own code of journalistic objectives and ethical standards in line with the Commission's code. If this policy and the law ever conflict, the law prevails.
This policy stays in force until the Editor amends it. Any amendment will be published on this page with a new effective date.
1. Our readers' trust
Sababu exists for its readers. Our credibility depends entirely on readers being able to trust what we publish. Every editorial decision should be judged by one question: does this deserve our readers' trust? We will earn that trust by being accurate, fair, independent and open about our mistakes.
2. Accuracy and verification
2.1 We publish information only after making every reasonable effort to confirm that it is true. Where we can, we confirm important facts with more than one independent source and seek out the people and records closest to the event.
2.2 We do not publish information we know to be false, or that is very likely to be false. If a claim cannot be verified but is newsworthy, we say clearly what has and has not been confirmed and who is making the claim.
2.3 We present facts in their proper context. We do not distort, exaggerate or selectively omit facts in a way that misleads readers, and we do not present true facts so that they appear doubtful.
2.4 Headlines, photo captions, social media posts and notifications must be supported by the story they accompany.
2.5 We write in clear and simple language so that readers can easily understand what happened and why it matters.
3. Fairness and impartiality
3.1 Our news reporting does not take sides. On matters of public debate and controversy, we make a genuine effort to report the relevant perspectives fairly and in proportion.
3.2 When a story makes a serious allegation or criticism against a person or organisation, we give them a fair opportunity to respond before publication, and we include their response or state that they did not respond. Where a response arrives after publication, we add it promptly.
3.3 We give space to different views on matters of public interest, within the limits of the law.
4. Independence
4.1 Sababu's editorial decisions are made by its editors on journalistic grounds alone. They are not made at the direction of any political party, government body, business, advertiser, sponsor or other outside interest.
4.2 Advertisers, sponsors and commercial partners have no influence over our news coverage. We do not give them favourable treatment in our reporting, and we do not avoid reporting on them.
4.3 Sababu pays its own reporting costs. We do not let any party pay for our journalists' travel, accommodation or other news-gathering expenses in return for coverage, unless the arrangement is disclosed to readers in the story.
5. Separating news, opinion and advertising
5.1 Readers must always be able to tell the difference between news, opinion and paid content.
5.2 Opinion columns, editorials, analysis and guest articles are clearly labelled. The views of guest writers and columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent Sababu's views.
5.3 Advertisements on our websites are labelled "Advertisement". Sponsored or paid content (advertorials) is clearly marked as such and is never presented as independent news.
5.4 Where a writer has a personal interest in the subject of a story or opinion piece, that interest is disclosed to readers or the writer does not take part.
6. Privacy and the public interest
6.1 Everyone has a right to respect for their private and family life. This right is protected under Article 24 of the Constitution. Freedom of expression and freedom of the media, under Articles 27 and 28, are equally rights we hold. Sababu balances these rights in every story.
6.2 We intrude into a person's private life only when there is a clear public interest that outweighs that person's right to privacy. Public interest includes, for example, exposing crime or serious wrongdoing, protecting public health and safety, and preventing the public from being misled by a person in public life.
6.3 In weighing privacy, our editors consider the following:
- what a person does in a public place is generally less private than what they do at home or in places where they reasonably expect privacy;
- conduct that is a criminal offence, or a serious breach of accepted public standards, has weaker claims to privacy;
- information that is already lawfully and widely in the public domain carries less expectation of privacy, though republishing it must still be justified;
- personal information obtained for one purpose should be used only for that purpose;
- the health, sexual life, family matters and personal grief of individuals require special care.
6.4 Photographs, videos and personal information posted on social media are not automatically free to use. We consider privacy, consent and copyright before republishing them, and we credit the source.
6.5 We store personal information gathered during reporting securely and protect it from misuse, loss and unauthorised access.
7. Children and vulnerable people
7.1 When a story involves a child (a person under 18), the child's best interests come first. We do not publish anything likely to harm a child physically, emotionally or psychologically.
7.2 We do not identify children who are victims, witnesses or alleged offenders in criminal matters, or who are involved in abuse, family disputes or similar sensitive matters, directly or through details such as their school, family or home island that would make them identifiable. Our approach is guided by the Protection of the Rights of Children Act (Act No. 19/2019).
7.3 We do not identify victims of sexual offences without their informed consent.
7.4 We take particular care when reporting on persons with disabilities, people with mental health conditions, migrant workers and other groups who may be vulnerable. We refer to a person's race, nationality, religion, gender, disability or health only when it is relevant to the story.
8. Sources
8.1 We identify the sources of our information wherever possible, so that readers can judge its reliability.
8.2 We use anonymous sources only when the information is important to the public interest and cannot be obtained on the record, and when an editor knows the source's identity and is satisfied that the source is credible. We explain to readers, as far as possible, why the source has not been named.
8.3 When we promise confidentiality to a source, we keep that promise. Article 28 of the Constitution provides that no person shall be compelled to disclose the source of information they publish. Journalists should be aware that the Evidence Act, in force since January 2023, allows courts in some circumstances to order disclosure of sources, and should seek an editor's guidance before giving any promise of confidentiality.
9. Corrections and right of reply
9.1 When we make a mistake, we correct it promptly and openly. We do not quietly change published content to hide an error.
9.2 Significant corrections are noted on the story, with the date of the correction and a brief explanation of what was changed. Where the error was serious, we publish a separate correction or clarification in the same place where the original appeared, including on social media.
9.3 A person or organisation that has been inaccurately or unfairly reported on may ask for a correction or a right of reply. Requests should be sent to news@sababu.mv with a link to the story and an explanation. We aim to respond within 3 working days.
9.4 Readers who are not satisfied with our response may complain to the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission under the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act.
10. Dignity, reputation and defamation
10.1 We do not publish material intended to insult, humiliate or damage the dignity or reputation of any person without a factual basis and a public interest reason.
10.2 Criticism in our reporting and opinion pieces must be fair and based on facts, and must not descend into personal abuse.
10.3 We report people's words and positions accurately and do not misrepresent them.
11. Taste, decency and sensitive content
11.1 Sababu respects Islam, the laws of the Maldives and the accepted social values of our readers.
11.2 We do not publish pornographic material or content that glorifies or encourages sexual misconduct.
11.3 We use graphic images, video or audio of violence, serious injury or death only when they are necessary to tell a story of public importance, and we give readers a warning. We do not publish them gratuitously.
11.4 We report suicide, self-harm, terrorism and violent crime in a way that does not glamorise them, encourage imitation or reveal methods in unnecessary detail. When reporting on suicide, we include information about where help can be found: the National Mental Health Helpline, 1677 (free, 24 hours a day), or, in an emergency, the police on 119.
11.5 We avoid vulgar and offensive language unless it is essential to the accuracy of a quotation and an editor has approved it.
12. Gifts, inducements and bribery
12.1 No Sababu staff member may accept money, gifts, favours or other benefits offered to influence what we publish, or to keep something from being published.
12.2 If such a gift is received, it is returned to the sender and reported to an editor.
12.3 Staff may accept only token items of nominal value, such as a pen or a calendar, and only where accepting them cannot influence, or appear to influence, our coverage.
13. Attribution, copying and copyright
13.1 We do not plagiarise. When we use material from another news organisation, a publication or any other source, whether text, information, photographs, video or graphics, we credit the source clearly.
13.2 We respect copyright under the Copyright and Related Rights Act (Act No. 23/2010). We use third-party photographs, video and other protected works only with permission, under a licence, or where the law otherwise allows.
13.3 Images that have been edited, illustrated or digitally altered beyond normal adjustments are labelled.
13.4 AI-generated images and text are allowed only when they are clearly labelled as AI-generated.
14. Conflicts of interest
14.1 Staff must not report on, or make editorial decisions about, matters in which they or their close family have a personal, financial or political interest. They must declare any such interest to an editor.
14.2 The detailed rules on political activity and outside work are set out in the Sababu Code of Conduct.
15. Legal responsibility
15.1 Sababu stands behind what it publishes. If legal action is brought against Sababu or its staff over content published in line with this policy, Sababu will respond to it as an organisation.
15.2 Under the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act, the editor is responsible for content published without a byline. For content published with a byline, the author (or photographer) and the editor share responsibility. Editors must therefore review content before publication.
16. Contact and complaints
Questions about this policy, complaints about our journalism and requests for corrections can be sent to the Editor, Ahmed Naseer:
- Email: news@sababu.mv or info@sababu.mv
- Hotline / WhatsApp: 9393535 (+960 939 3535)
- Address: H. Leema, Malé, Republic of Maldives