CEO.wiki:Reliable sources

Reliable sources are publications and documents that can be trusted to provide accurate information for CEO.wiki articles. Using reliable sources is fundamental to maintaining the credibility and accuracy of our content.

Overview

A reliable source:

• Has editorial oversight and fact-checking processes
• Is independent of the subject being discussed
• Has a reputation for accuracy in the relevant field
• Provides verifiable information that can be checked by readers

Articles on CEO.wiki must be based on reliable, published sources. Information that cannot be verified through reliable sources should not be included.

Types of reliable sources

Generally reliable

Major news organizations

Established news organizations with strong editorial standards:

• Wire services: Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Bloomberg News
• National newspapers: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The Washington Post
• Business publications: Forbes, Fortune, Business Insider, CNBC, MarketWatch
• International news: BBC, The Guardian, The Economist, Le Monde, Nikkei

These sources are generally reliable for:

• Current events and news
• Company announcements and developments
• Executive appointments and departures
• Financial results and market data
• Industry trends and analysis

Trade and industry publications

Respected publications focused on specific industries:

• Technology: TechCrunch, Ars Technica, The Information, Wired
• Finance: American Banker, Investment News, Institutional Investor
• Healthcare: Modern Healthcare, MedTech News
• Retail: Retail Dive, Chain Store Age
• Energy: Oil & Gas Journal, Energy News

These are reliable for industry-specific information but should be evaluated for potential bias.

Academic sources

Scholarly publications with peer review:

• Academic journals in business, management, and economics
• University press books
• Business school case studies
• Research papers in established repositories

Academic sources are excellent for:

• Business theory and concepts
• Historical analysis
• In-depth research on companies and industries
• Critical evaluation of business practices

Official documents

Government and regulatory filings:

• SEC filings: 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, Proxy statements (DEF 14A)
• Patent applications and grants
• Court documents and legal filings
• Government reports and statistics
• Corporate annual reports and earnings releases

These are highly reliable for factual information but may present information favorably to the company.

Books

Published books from reputable publishers:

• Biographies from major publishers
• Business history and analysis
• Management and business strategy books
• Academic texts

Books should:

• Be published by established publishers
• Have identifiable authors with relevant expertise
• Undergo editorial review
• Be cited in other reliable sources

Sometimes reliable

These sources may be reliable depending on context:

Press releases

• Use cautiously: Press releases are promotional by nature
• Acceptable for basic facts: Company announcements, appointments, product launches
• Not for analysis: Don't rely on press releases for interpretation or significance
• Verify when possible: Confirm with independent reporting

Corporate websites

• Factual information only: Official company history, product details, executive bios
• Not for claims of importance: Companies' self-assessments are not reliable
• Verify controversial claims: Independently confirm disputed information

Trade shows and conferences

• Reports from reliable media: Coverage by major publications is acceptable
• Official conference materials: May be used for factual details
• Vendor presentations: Generally not reliable without independent coverage

Interviews

• Reliable when published in reliable outlets: Interviews in Forbes, WSJ, etc.
• Attributed quotes only: Clearly attribute statements to the speaker
• Context matters: Consider potential bias from the interviewee

Generally unreliable

Social media

• Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Facebook posts: Not reliable sources
• Exception: Official statements from company accounts about basic facts
• Personal opinions: Never reliable, even from executives
• Verification required: Social media claims must be confirmed by reliable sources

User-generated content

• Wikipedia and other wikis: Not reliable as sources for CEO.wiki
• Reddit, forums, message boards: Not reliable
• Comment sections: Not reliable
• Review sites: Generally not reliable for factual claims

Promotional material

• Marketing materials: Not reliable
• Sponsored content: Not reliable unless clearly labeled and from reputable publishers
• Advertorials: Not reliable
• Company brochures: Not reliable for claims of significance

Questionable sources

• Tabloids: Generally not reliable
• Blogs: Usually not reliable (exceptions: recognized experts in established venues)
• Self-published sources: Not reliable
• Press release aggregators: Not reliable (use original source)
• Content farms: Not reliable

Evaluating sources

When assessing whether a source is reliable, consider:

Editorial oversight

• Does the publication have editors and fact-checkers?
• Are there corrections policies and mechanisms?
• Is there a clear editorial structure?

Author expertise

• Does the author have relevant expertise?
• Has the author written extensively on this topic?
• Is the author affiliated with respected institutions?

Independence

• Is the source independent of the subject?
• Does the publication have financial ties to the subject?
• Is there disclosed or undisclosed conflict of interest?

Reputation

• Is the source widely cited by other reliable sources?
• Does the source have a history of accuracy?
• Has the source won journalism awards?

Consistency

• Does the information match other reliable sources?
• Are facts verifiable through multiple sources?
• Are there significant discrepancies with other sources?

Source-specific guidance

Financial data

Preferred sources:

• SEC filings (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K)
• Bloomberg Terminal
• Reuters data
• Company earnings releases (for official figures)
• Financial statements in annual reports

Use with caution:

• Analyst estimates (clearly label as estimates)
• Projections and forecasts (attribute and date)
• Non-GAAP metrics (explain and provide context)

Executive compensation

Reliable sources:

• Proxy statements (DEF 14A) filed with SEC
• News articles citing proxy statements
• Salary databases from major business publications

Not acceptable:

• Estimates without source
• Social media claims
• Unofficial compensation databases

Company history

Preferred sources:

• Historical news coverage
• Business history books from academic publishers
• Academic journals
• Corporate histories from independent authors

Use with caution:

• Company-published histories (verify with independent sources)
• Founder memoirs (good for quotes, verify facts independently)

Controversies and criticism

For controversial information:

• Require multiple reliable sources
• Present all significant viewpoints
• Use high-quality sources (major news organizations, legal documents)
• Avoid tabloid coverage
• Include response from subject when available

International sources

• Sources in any language can be reliable
• Apply same standards as English-language sources
• Major national newspapers generally reliable in their countries
• Consider cultural context and local standards

How to use sources

Citation requirements

Every article should:

• Cite sources for all factual claims
• Provide inline citations using <ref> tags
• Include author, title, publication, date, and URL
• Use archived versions when possible

Multiple sources

Use multiple sources for:

• Controversial claims
• Key facts about the subject
• Financial data
• Significant events

Single sources may be sufficient for:

• Routine factual information
• Widely reported basic facts
• Information from primary sources (SEC filings, etc.)

Conflicting sources

When sources conflict:

• Present both views with attribution
• Favor more authoritative sources
• Note the discrepancy in the article if significant
• Seek additional sources for clarification

Dating sources

• Include publication dates in citations
• Note when information is from older sources
• Update articles with newer information when available
• Use "as of [date]" for time-sensitive information

What cannot be sourced

Some information cannot be verified and should not be included:

• Original research or analysis not found in sources
• Personal opinions without attribution
• Synthesis of sources to reach new conclusions
• Rumors or speculation
• Unpublished information
• "Everyone knows" type claims

Red flags

Be cautious of sources that:

• Lack clear authorship
• Don't provide their own sources for factual claims
• Mix news with opinion without clear separation
• Have obvious financial interest in the subject
• Publish rumors or speculation
• Have history of corrections or retractions

Common questions

Can I use the company's own website?

Yes, for basic factual information like:

• Official company name and headquarters
• Product and service descriptions
• Executive titles and names
• Company history dates

No, for:

• Claims about importance or leadership
• Competitive comparisons
• Future projections
• Characterizations of the company's impact

Can I use Wikipedia as a source?

No. Wikipedia itself is not a reliable source for CEO.wiki. However, you can use the sources cited in Wikipedia articles.

What about blogs by industry experts?

Generally no, unless:

• The expert is widely recognized as an authority
• The blog is hosted by a reputable publication
• The information is factual and verifiable
• No other sources are available for specialized information

Are press releases acceptable?

Use sparingly for:

• Official announcements (appointments, product launches)
• Company-provided facts and figures
• Direct quotes from executives

Always seek independent coverage when available.

What if I can't find reliable sources?

If you cannot find reliable sources for information:

• Don't include it in the article
• The topic may not meet notability guidelines
• Wait for coverage to develop

See also

• Notability guidelines
• Manual of Style
• How to contribute

External links

• SEC EDGAR Database - Public company filings
• Pew Research Journalism Project - Journalism standards