Editorial Guidelines

ByHakim Lethabo

Daily Pulse is committed to delivering accurate, transparent, and helpful information to readers across South Africa. These Editorial Guidelines explain how we create, review, and update our content to ensure the highest standards of quality and trust.

Our Editorial Mission

Our goal is to publish clear, factual, and easy-to-understand information related to:

  • SASSA grants and payment schedules
  • Government services and public assistance
  • Financial guidance for households
  • Community-focused news and updates

We aim to empower South Africans with information that is reliable, accessible, and relevant to their daily lives.

1. Accuracy and Fact-Checking

Accuracy is essential.
Before any article is published, our editorial team ensures:

  • All facts are verified through official government sources
  • Dates and payment schedules are double-checked
  • Data is cross-referenced against reputable public information
  • Updates are applied when policies or government announcements change

We do not publish unverified claims or rumours.

2. Independence and Transparency

Daily Pulse is independent and not affiliated with SASSA, the Department of Social Development, or any government agency.

We maintain editorial independence at all times and do not allow advertisers, affiliates, sponsors, or external parties to influence our reporting.

If an article contains affiliate links (where applicable), this will always be disclosed transparently.

3. Clarity and Accessibility

Our content is written so that all readers, regardless of education level or technical experience, can understand it easily.
We use:

  • Clear language
  • Simple explanations
  • Step-by-step guides
  • Straightforward formatting

Complex government or legal processes are broken down into clear, practical instructions.

4. Regular Updates

Government policies and grant rules change frequently.
To ensure accuracy, our team regularly reviews and updates:

  • SASSA payment dates
  • SRD/R370 grant guidelines
  • Application and appeal procedures
  • Important financial and public-service announcements

Each article includes the most recent information available at the time of updating.

5. Editorial Review Process

Every article at Daily Pulse goes through a structured review:

Initial Writing

Content is drafted by experienced writers who specialise in South African government processes and social grants.

Fact-Checking

The content is reviewed against:

  • Official SASSA publications
  • Government portals
  • Press releases
  • Credible public records

Compliance Review

A final reviewer checks:

  • Accuracy
  • Clarity
  • Tone
  • Compliance with Google Publisher and AdSense policies
  • Source transparency

No article is published until it passes all stages.

6. Corrections and Accountability

If an error is identified—by our team or by a reader—we correct it as quickly as possible.
Our process includes:

  • Correcting the inaccurate information
  • Noting the update when appropriate
  • Documenting the correction for internal tracking

Readers may request corrections through our Contact Us page.

7. Source Standards

We rely only on credible, authoritative sources such as:

  • SASSA (South African Social Security Agency)
  • Department of Social Development
  • Official government portals
  • Trusted public databases
  • Research institutions

We never rely on unverified social media posts, anonymous claims, or questionable datasets.

8. Ethical Content Standards

Daily Pulse follows ethical journalism principles, including:

  • Respectful, non-discriminatory language
  • Avoiding sensationalism
  • Protecting user privacy
  • Avoiding misleading headlines
  • Providing context to prevent misinterpretation

We do not publish content that misleads, confuses, or exploits vulnerable communities.

9. Use of AI Tools

We may use AI tools to assist with:

  • Grammar checks
  • Structure improvement
  • Readability optimisation

However:

  • All content is manually reviewed by human editors
  • AI-generated text is never published unchecked
  • Accuracy is always verified before publication

Human oversight remains the foundation of our editorial process.

10. Reader Feedback

We encourage readers to contact us with:

  • Corrections
  • Suggestions
  • Requests for clarification
  • Ideas for new topics

We value every message and use feedback to continually improve our content.

Our Commitment

Daily Pulse is dedicated to producing trustworthy, accurate, and community-focused content.

These guidelines ensure that everything we publish meets the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.

If you have any questions about our editorial practices, please reach out through our Contact Us page.