1. Our Mission
African Affairs Network Television (AAN TV) is a pan-African media organisation based in Lagos, Nigeria. We report on politics, security, business, sports, breaking news, and other developments shaping Africa and its people. Through news reporting, analysis, interviews, videos, and other storytelling, we aim to inform audiences, promote public understanding, and contribute to meaningful discussion about African affairs.
2. Editorial Independence
Editorial decisions should be guided by newsworthiness, public interest, evidence, accuracy, relevance, and professional judgement. Political interests, advertisers, sponsors, commercial partners, personal relationships, and external pressure must not improperly determine our reporting. Staff and contributors should disclose relevant conflicts of interest to the appropriate editorial manager.
3. Accuracy and Verification
We aim to ensure that published information is accurate and presented in context. Our editorial team should verify names, dates, locations, figures, quotations, and significant claims; consult credible sources; corroborate important claims where practicable; distinguish verified facts from allegations, opinions, projections, and speculation; seek responses where appropriate; and communicate uncertainty where facts remain unclear. Social media material, anonymous sources, user submissions, and other publications should be assessed before being relied upon.
4. Fairness and Balance
We seek to represent relevant perspectives fairly and accurately. When reporting significant allegations or disputes, we will make reasonable efforts to seek a response from the person or organisation concerned, where appropriate and practicable. Fairness does not require treating all claims as equally credible. Reporting should reflect available evidence and relevant context.
5. Sources and Confidentiality
We assess sources based on knowledge, credibility, reliability, and potential motives. Where there is a legitimate editorial reason to protect a source's identity, we will take reasonable steps to maintain confidentiality consistent with applicable arrangements and law. Legal obligations, source safety, and public interest will be considered when determining how information may be used or disclosed.
6. Political and Election Reporting
AAN TV seeks to report on political parties, public officials, elections, governance, and public policy accurately and independently. We will make reasonable efforts to verify material claims, distinguish reporting from opinion and advocacy, provide context, avoid presenting unverified allegations as established facts, and clearly distinguish projections, preliminary figures, and officially declared results.
7. Security, Conflict, and Crime Reporting
When reporting on conflict, terrorism, violence, crime, or public disorder, we will consider accuracy, public interest, personal safety, and potential harm. We will take reasonable steps to verify sensitive claims, avoid gratuitously graphic content, and protect vulnerable individuals where appropriate. We will exercise care when publishing information that could expose sources, victims, witnesses, or others to foreseeable danger.
8. Privacy and Human Dignity
We recognise that public-interest reporting must be balanced with privacy, dignity, and individual rights. When reporting on children, victims of abuse, survivors of violence, or other vulnerable persons, we will consider the necessity of identification, consent where appropriate, safety, and the consequences of publication. Personal information should not be published merely because it is available.
9. Hate Speech and Discrimination
AAN TV does not support content that promotes unlawful discrimination, dehumanisation, or incitement to violence. Reporting should avoid unjustified stereotypes and must not attribute the actions of individuals to entire ethnic, religious, national, or other communities without a sound factual basis. Offensive language may be included when necessary for legitimate reporting, provided it is carefully assessed and contextualised.
10. Images, Videos, and Digital Media
Photographs, videos, graphics, and other visual materials should be appropriately sourced and presented without misleading manipulation. Material alterations that distort an event or misrepresent a person must not be presented as authentic documentary evidence. File photographs, archival footage, illustrative images, and material that could be mistaken for current footage should be labelled where necessary. AI-generated or materially AI-altered editorial content should be reviewed and disclosed where appropriate.
11. Artificial Intelligence
AAN TV may use artificial intelligence and other digital tools for appropriate editorial and operational tasks. AI-assisted material must be reviewed by a responsible human editor before publication where it forms part of editorial output. Staff and contributors should verify AI-assisted facts, quotations, translations, summaries, images, and other material. AI tools must not be treated as automatically reliable sources. Confidential source information and sensitive personal data must not be entered into unauthorised tools or services.
12. Advertising and Sponsored Content
We maintain a distinction between independent editorial reporting and paid promotional material. Sponsored articles, branded content, advertisements, and other paid placements should be clearly identified where appropriate or required by law. Advertising and sponsorship must not improperly influence independent news coverage. A commercial relationship does not automatically imply editorial endorsement.
13. Opinion and Analysis
AAN TV may publish commentary, expert analysis, opinion pieces, and guest contributions. Such content should be distinguishable from straight news reporting where necessary. Opinions should not be presented as established facts without appropriate support. AAN TV retains editorial oversight of material published through its platforms.
14. Corrections and Clarifications
We take credible reports of factual errors seriously. Where a material error is identified, we will assess available evidence and take appropriate action, which may include correcting an article, updating a report, adding a clarification, or retracting content where warranted. Corrections should be made transparently and within a reasonable time after verification. To request a correction, email aantelevision@gmail.com with the article URL, specific error, explanation, and supporting evidence. A request does not automatically require removal of accurate reporting or material justified by public interest.
15. Public Comments and Community Standards
AAN TV allows visitors to comment on published articles to encourage discussion and audience engagement. Commenters are expected to be respectful and must not use the platform for threats, harassment, unlawful discrimination, spam, impersonation, privacy violations, or other unlawful or abusive conduct. Comments represent their authors' views and do not necessarily reflect AAN TV's position. We may moderate, restrict, or remove comments that breach our rules or applicable law. Public comments are not automatically verified or endorsed by AAN TV. Visitors may be required to sign in with Google to comment; this does not automatically subscribe them to the newsletter.
16. Copyright and Attribution
We respect intellectual property rights and expect staff and contributors to use third-party photographs, videos, quotations, documents, and other materials lawfully. Sources and original creators should be credited where appropriate. Permissions must be obtained where required, and use must comply with applicable law.
17. Editorial Complaints
Readers, viewers, interviewees, and other affected individuals may raise concerns about published material by emailing aantelevision@gmail.com. Please provide the relevant article or video URL, the specific issue, an explanation, and supporting evidence. AAN TV will assess complaints fairly and take appropriate action where warranted. Complex complaints may be referred to the relevant editorial manager.
18. Accountability and Review
AAN TV expects staff and contributors to uphold these principles. We may review this policy to reflect developments in journalism, digital publishing, professional standards, technology, and applicable law.
African Affairs Network Television (AAN TV) | Lagos, Nigeria | Editorial contact: aantelevision@gmail.com | https://www.aantv.org/