Evidence Family
Menu

Sourcing standards

Single-source and two-source rules

Last checked 6 November 2026 · 6 sources

Short answer

A two-source rule asks for two independent sources before a fact is published. The Washington Post's published policy prefers at least two sources for facts in stories that depend on confidential informants, says those sources should be independent of each other, and allows single-source publication only after deliberation by senior editors 1. Other codes set duties without a fixed number. NPR prefers to confirm information itself 2, and the German Press Code requires unconfirmed reports to be labelled as such 5.
Two-source example
The Washington Post, for stories that depend on confidential informants 1
Who approves a single source at the Post
The executive editor, managing editor and the department head 1
SPJ Code revision
Revised 4 October 2026 3
UK Editors' Code in force
1 January 2025 4
German Press Code version
19 March 2025 5

The two-source rule as published

The Washington Post's Policies and Standards say the paper prefers at least two sources for factual information in stories that depend on confidential informants 1. The policy says those sources should be independent of each other 1. It says a relevant document can sometimes serve as the second source 1.

The same policy says there are situations in which the paper will publish information from a single source. That happens only after deliberation involving the executive editor, the managing editor and the appropriate department head 1.

Why independence matters more than the count

Two reports that come from the same place are one source. NPR's accuracy guidance says it is a red flag when outlets reporting something all rely on the same single source 2. It warns against verifying facts through other news outlets, and says incorrect information can pass from one news story to another 2.

In US intelligence analysis, ICD 206 does not set a number of sources. It strongly encourages a source summary statement that says which sources are meaningfully corroborative or conflicting 6.

Codes that set a duty without a number

CodeJurisdictionRule
SPJ Code of EthicsUnited StatesTake responsibility for the accuracy of work before releasing it, and use original sources whenever possible 3
Editors' Code of PracticeUnited KingdomThe press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, and must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact 4
Pressekodex, clause 2GermanyInformation meant for publication must be checked for truth with the care the circumstances require. Unconfirmed reports, rumours and assumptions must be marked as such 5
NPR Ethics HandbookUnited StatesStrong preference to confirm and verify information before reporting 2

Anonymous sources and the second source

  • The Washington Post says named sources are vastly to be preferred to unnamed sources, and editors have an obligation to know the identity of unnamed sources used in a story 1.
  • The SPJ Code says anonymity or confidentiality should be a last resort for sources with information of substantial public interest 3.
  • The Post discourages vague labels such as sources or informed sources in favour of more descriptive wording 1.

What a single source can still support

A single source is not banned in these codes. The Post allows it with senior approval 1. The German code allows publication of unconfirmed material if it is labelled as unconfirmed 5. The UK code asks that conjecture be kept apart from fact 4. In each case the reader is meant to see how firm the information is.

Common questions

Do all newsrooms have a two-source rule?

No. The Washington Post publishes one for stories that depend on confidential informants 1. The SPJ Code, the UK Editors' Code and the German Press Code set accuracy duties without a fixed number of sources 3,45.

Can a document count as a second source?

The Washington Post policy says a relevant document can sometimes serve as the second source 1.

Do two outlets reporting the same thing make two sources?

Not if they rely on the same origin. NPR calls that a red flag 2.

Who signs off on a single-source story at the Post?

The policy names the executive editor, the managing editor and the appropriate department head 1.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@evidencefamily.com.

Sources

  1. The Washington Post: Policies and Standards
  2. NPR: Accuracy (NPR Ethics Handbook)
  3. Society of Professional Journalists: SPJ's Code of Ethics (revised 4 October 2026)
  4. Editors' Code of Practice Committee: The Code (in force from 1 January 2025)
  5. Deutscher Presserat: Pressekodex (Fassung vom 19. März 2025)
  6. Office of the Director of National Intelligence: ICD 206, Sourcing Requirements for Disseminated Analytic Products (copy hosted by the Federation of American Scientists)

Related

  • Circular reporting explained

    How one source can look like many, what newsroom guides and US intelligence reviews say about it, and the checks that published standards set out.

  • How to trace a story to its source

    A step-by-step method for following a claim upstream through credits, agency copy, documents and file provenance, based on published rules.

  • Attribution terms explained

    What common attribution phrases signal about where a fact came from, and what published newsroom codes in the US, UK and Germany say about using them.

  • Intelligence sourcing standards explained

    How US Intelligence Community Directives 203 and 206 require analysts to cite, describe and weigh their sources, and what official reviews found.