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CEO.wiki:Better Sources

The comprehensive free global encyclopedia of CEOs, corporate leadership, and business excellence

Template:Policy

CEO.wiki is committed to providing extensive source connections and references to enable users to verify information independently. This page explains our approach to sources and the important limitations users should understand.

Our Approach to Sources

CEO.wiki attempts to provide better sources and more extensive reference connections than typical business websites. We strive to:

  • Link to primary sources such as SEC filings, annual reports, and official company announcements
  • Reference reputable news publications including Forbes, Bloomberg, CNBC, Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal
  • Cite academic research, business school case studies, and industry analyses
  • Connect to official biographies, LinkedIn profiles, and verified social media accounts
  • Provide cross-references between related articles and topics

Important Disclaimers

Accuracy Not Guaranteed

While CEO.wiki attempts to obtain and present better information about CEOs and corporations, accuracy is not guaranteed. Users should be aware of the following limitations:

  • Public information may be unreliable: Even official sources can contain errors, be outdated, or present incomplete information
  • Human contributors: All content is created and edited by human contributors who may make mistakes, introduce bias, or misinterpret source material
  • Information changes: Corporate leadership, compensation, and company data change frequently and articles may not reflect the most current information
  • Conflicting sources: Different sources may provide contradictory information, and editorial judgment is used to determine what to include

User Responsibility to Verify

CEO.wiki provides tools and source connections to enable users to verify data on external websites. Users are responsible for:

  • Clicking through to source links and verifying information independently
  • Checking multiple sources when accuracy is critical
  • Consulting primary sources (SEC filings, company reports) for authoritative data
  • Understanding that CEO.wiki is a collaborative encyclopedia, not a professional database service
  • Making their own judgments about information reliability

No Liability

CEO.wiki, its contributors, administrators, and hosting providers:

  • Make no warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information
  • Are not responsible for decisions made based on information found on CEO.wiki
  • Provide content "as is" without any guarantees
  • Cannot be held liable for errors, omissions, or outdated information

See our General Disclaimer for complete legal information.

Types of Sources We Use

Primary Sources (Preferred)

  • SEC Filings: 10-K annual reports, 10-Q quarterly reports, DEF 14A proxy statements, 8-K current reports
  • Company Documents: Annual reports, earnings releases, investor presentations, official press releases
  • Government Records: Court filings, regulatory documents, official government announcements

Secondary Sources

  • Major Business Publications: Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Forbes, Fortune, CNBC
  • News Agencies: Reuters, Associated Press, Bloomberg News
  • Industry Publications: Trade journals and specialized business media
  • Academic Sources: Business school case studies, peer-reviewed journals, research papers

Tertiary Sources (Used Sparingly)

  • Reference Works: Other encyclopedias, business directories
  • Biographical Databases: Official biography websites, verified profiles

How to Check Our Sources

When reading CEO.wiki articles:

  1. Look for numbered reference markers like this[1] in the text
  2. Scroll to the "References" section at the bottom of the article
  3. Click on the reference link to visit the original source
  4. Verify the information matches what is stated in the article
  5. Check the date of the source to ensure it's current
  6. If something seems incorrect, check multiple sources

How to Improve Sources

If you notice missing sources or better sources are available:

  • Request an account to become a contributor
  • Add inline citations using <ref> tags
  • Replace weak sources with stronger primary sources
  • Add missing references to unsourced statements
  • Follow our Manual of Style for citation formatting

Source Quality Standards

We encourage contributors to:

  • Prefer primary sources over secondary sources when available
  • Use recent sources - check publication dates and update outdated references
  • Cite specific pages when referencing lengthy documents
  • Archive links to prevent link rot (web pages disappearing)
  • Avoid promotional materials, press kits, and marketing content as sole sources
  • Avoid social media posts unless from verified official accounts
  • Avoid blogs, forums, and user-generated content

When Sources Conflict

When multiple reliable sources provide conflicting information:

  • Present both perspectives and cite each source
  • Give more weight to primary sources (e.g., SEC filings over news articles)
  • Note the discrepancy in the article text
  • Use more recent sources over older ones
  • Consider the source's likely access to accurate information

No Original Research

CEO.wiki does not conduct original research. All information must be:

  • Previously published in reliable sources
  • Verifiable by checking the cited sources
  • Not based on personal knowledge, interviews, or unpublished information

See CEO.wiki:No original research for details.

Questions?

For questions about sources or to report source issues:

Remember: CEO.wiki provides tools for verification, but users are responsible for checking sources and making their own judgments about information accuracy and reliability.