Editorial Standards

Defamer tells the stories behind Australian business — the empires and the outliers, the great brands and the great collapses. Some of those stories are celebratory. Some are not. Either way, we hold ourselves to one rule above all others: we publish what the record supports, and we show our work.

About the name

“Defamer” is a nod to this masthead’s history as an irreverent Australian title, and to the fact that the best business stories are often the ones somebody would rather you didn’t tell. It is not a statement of method. We do not set out to defame anyone. We report matters of public record and clearly labelled analysis — accurately, in context, and with a right of reply.

Sourcing — the public record comes first

For any story that concerns a living person or an operating business, we rely on matters of public record, such as:

• court and tribunal judgments;
• Royal Commission and public-inquiry findings;
• regulator actions and reports (ASIC, ACCC, APRA, AUSTRAC and the like);
• Parliamentary records (Hansard), company filings and administrators’ reports; and
• the contemporaneous reporting of established news organisations.

Every significant factual claim is attributed to its source in the piece. If we can’t stand a claim up against the record, it doesn’t run.

Allegation is not finding

We distinguish carefully between what has been alleged and what has been found. Where a matter is unproven, before a court, or was settled without admission, we say so plainly. People and companies are presumed innocent of anything not established against them, and we use language that reflects that.

Fact vs comment

Analysis and opinion are part of business journalism, but they are clearly signalled as such and are grounded in the facts set out on the page. We aim for fair comment on matters of genuine public interest, not gratuitous character attack.

Historical subjects

Much of what we cover — defunct companies, long-settled collapses, figures no longer living — sits firmly in the historical record. We still source it properly, and we flag where accounts of the time conflict.

Use of AI

We use AI tools to help research, draft and edit. Every piece is reviewed by a human before publication, and every factual claim is checked against a primary source. We do not publish unverified, unedited AI output, and we do not use AI to invent quotes, events or sources.

Images

Where possible we use archival, public-domain or properly licensed photography (including Wikimedia Commons and press materials used editorially). Illustrative imagery is clearly that. We do not use AI-generated images of real people.

Corrections, right of reply & takedowns

We correct errors quickly and transparently. If you are the subject of a story and believe something is inaccurate or unfair, you have a right of reply. Our full complaints, correction and takedown process — including how to reach us — is set out on our corrections & complaints page.

Independence

Defamer is independent. Where a page is sponsored or contains affiliate links, it is labelled. No subject of a story — and no advertiser — gets sign-off on our words.

Last updated: 7 July 2026