The East Turkistan Post is committed to professional, responsible journalism grounded in accuracy, transparency, and editorial integrity.
This Editorial Policy defines the standards that guide how content is gathered, verified, and presented across the publication.
1. Editorial Context
The East Turkistan Post operates within the East Turkistani exile media and civic space and reports on issues arising from a broader political conflict affecting East Turkistan and its people. The publication does not claim political neutrality. It applies journalistic standards of accuracy, attribution, and transparency within a clearly stated anti-colonial and external self-determination framework.
Contributors and editors may support East Turkistan’s independence or have affiliations with the broader East Turkistani national movement; such affiliations do not determine how content is reported, classified, edited, or presented under this policy.
2. Editorial Formats
All content is clearly labeled to distinguish between reporting, explanation, and commentary:
- News: Reporting on verifiable events, statements, and developments affecting East Turkistan and its people, both inside the country, in exile, and internationally.
- Explainers: In-depth, contextual journalism that provides historical, political, legal, or technical analysis of complex or ongoing issues.
- Opinion: Commentary and analysis reflecting individual perspectives; editorials express the collective view of The East Turkistan Post on significant issues.
- Letters to the Editor: Short, reader-submitted opinions responding to coverage or contributing to public discussion. All are reviewed for clarity, accuracy, and length.
Each article is assigned one editorial format and one primary topical category.
3. Categories and Tagging
All content published by The East Turkistan Post is clearly categorized and labeled to distinguish between reporting, explanation, and commentary. Each article is assigned one editorial format and one primary topical category.
Editorial Formats
- News – Coverage of current events, statements, and developments related to East Turkistan based on verifiable information and clearly attributed sources. Subcategories: East Turkistan, Exile, International.
- Explainers – In-depth, contextual journalism that provides historical, political, legal, or technical analysis of complex or ongoing issues. Includes In-Depth Explainers, Infographics, and Profiles.
- Opinion – Commentary and argument reflecting individual or collective perspectives. Includes Editorials and Guest Essays.
Topical Categories
- News: Subcategories: East Turkistan, Exile, International
- Covers verifiable developments, statements, and events directly affecting East Turkistan and its people.
- Explainers: Subcategories: In-Depth, Infographics, Profiles
- Provides historical, political, legal, or technical context on complex or ongoing issues to deepen understanding beyond standard news coverage.
- Opinion: Subcategories: Editorials, Guest Essays, Letters to the Editor
- Publishes commentary, analysis, and perspectives reflecting individual or collective viewpoints.
- Life: Subcategories: Community, Culture & Arts, History, Religion, Health
- Explores social, cultural, and historical dimensions of East Turkistani life and identity.
- Politics:
- Covers governance, policy, diplomacy, and movements related to self-determination and independence, as well as defense and security.
- Business & Economy:
- Examines trade, resources, infrastructure, and economic exploitation affecting East Turkistan and its people.
- Science & Technology:
- Focuses on research, surveillance, technological development, and innovation with implications for East Turkistan.
- Tags
- Each article may include up to three tags identifying cross-cutting themes such as human rights, colonization, international law, or occupation, as well as relevant countries or institutions. Tags improve discoverability and highlight recurring issues across coverage areas.
4. Sourcing, Attribution, and Verification
Reporting must rely on verifiable evidence, clear attribution, and transparent sourcing.
- Official statements are identified as such and not presented as the publication’s own voice.
- Chinese state narratives or claims are attributed explicitly to “Chinese authorities” or “Chinese occupation forces.”
- Anonymous sources are used only when necessary, with an explanation of why anonymity is required (for example, safety, surveillance risk, or threat of detention).
- Verification draws on multiple, independently corroborated sources, including documentation, expert analysis, reports by governments, NGOs, and international institutions, as well as satellite imagery and open-source data where appropriate. The East Turkistan Post also cross-references credible news reports and official statements to ensure accuracy and context.
5. Coverage of Political and Exile Organizations
The East Turkistan Post operates from an explicitly stated editorial perspective grounded in the principles of decolonization, external self-determination, and independence. The publication reports on political and institutional developments across the East Turkistani exile space in accordance with professional standards of accuracy, sourcing, and transparency. Narratives or organizations that advance China’s claims over East Turkistan, promote the “autonomy” framework, or deny East Turkistan’s right to external self-determination are covered when relevant.
6. Balance, Claims, and Corrections
- “Balance” does not require false equivalence.
- The publication does not equate systems of colonization, occupation, and repression with legitimate alternative viewpoints.
- Narratives that justify colonialism, genocide, and crimes against humanity are not treated as neutral.
- Narratives that deny the right to external self-determination are not treated as neutral.
- Factual inaccuracies are corrected promptly and transparently, with correction notices appended to the original text where appropriate.
7. Style and Language
Writing follows professional journalistic standards emphasizing clarity, accuracy, and context.
- Language must be precise, factual, and free of sensationalism.
- The publication refers to the country as East Turkistan, noting on first reference: “East Turkistan, which Beijing calls ‘Xinjiang (New Territory)‘”
- References to Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic peoples are used accurately and respectfully.
- Chinese state-imposed or minimizing terminology such as “ethnic minority / ethnic minorities,” “minority / minorities,” or“indigenous peoples” is avoided.
- Euphemisms such as “ethnic tensions,” “unrest,” or “re-education” are avoided when describing state repression or systemic policies constituting genocide, colonization, crimes against humanity, or mass internment, except when quoting external sources.
- Dehumanizing or criminalizing terms such as “terrorists,” “extremists,” or “separatists” appear only in direct attribution to external sources.
- Headlines and summaries prioritize clarity and accuracy over rhetoric.
8. Ethics, Safety, and Privacy
Because reporting on East Turkistan involves surveillance risks and potential retaliation, The East Turkistan Post exercises particular care in handling sensitive material.
- Editors assess possible harm before publication and may withhold identifying details when necessary to protect individuals.
- The public’s right to know is balanced against legitimate concerns for safety and privacy.
9. Editorial Oversight
- All material undergoes editorial review for factual accuracy, clarity, and compliance with this policy.
- Editors ensure that every piece aligns with the publication’s ethical and professional standards.
- Corrections or updates are issued transparently as new information emerges.
10. Transparency and Review
This Editorial Policy and the accompanying Editorial Position & Principles are publicly available to give readers a clear understanding of how The East Turkistan Post operates and how editorial decisions are made. The policy is reviewed periodically to maintain consistency with international journalistic standards and the evolving realities of exile-based reporting.
