Hauptfokus (hauptfokus.de) is committed to providing trustworthy Swedish journalism that helps readers understand complex issues without spin or oversimplification. The publication is owned and operated by Alpen Press Ltd, a private company registered in Gibraltar (company number 132587, Companies House Gibraltar, registered office: Office 3.7, ICC, Casemates Square, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA). Every article is drafted by a named writer, reviewed by an editor and fact‑checked before publication. This page explains the sources and standards we rely on and how readers can hold us accountable.
Who is responsible for our editorial standards?
The editorial direction of Hauptfokus is the responsibility of Chefredaktör Michael Jung. He oversees all publication decisions, corrections and compliance with our standards. The publication is owned by Alpen Press Ltd, a private company registered in Gibraltar.
Michael Jung (anders.lindqvist@hauptfokus.de, +46 8 525 030 61) sets the editorial mission and is the final authority on content, corrections and any reader complaints. He is supported by a dedicated team: Jessica Schuster, Redaktionschef, manages the daily newsroom and headline review; Tim Sommer, Politikredaktör, covers the Riksdag, government and municipal politics; Sarah Engels, Wirtschaftreporter, reports on the economy, markets and household finance; Sebastian Fischer, Kultur‑ och samhällsredaktör, writes about culture, lifestyle and society; and Melanie Hartmann, Ansvarig för faktagranskning, leads fact‑checking, source verification and corrections. Full team details are on our Our Team page. Our editorial policy is documented in full at Editorial Policy. The company’s ownership and funding structure is disclosed transparently at Ownership & Funding.
What do we rely on day to day?
Our daily reporting relies on primary sources such as official Swedish government documents, press conferences, parliamentary records and direct interviews with named sources. We also use reputable Swedish and international news agencies, academic studies and public data sets.
Our journalists prioritise first‑hand evidence: we attend Riksdag debates, review government reports (e.g. from Statistiska centralbyrån, Regeringskansliet) and interview policymakers, experts and citizens. We consult Swedish news agencies like TT and international services such as Reuters and AFP for background, but always verify key facts against primary sources. For economic reporting, we use official statistics from SCB, Riksbanken and Eurostat. Cultural and societal pieces draw on peer‑reviewed research, official inquiries and direct contributions from the communities we cover.
Before publication, every article is fact‑checked by Melanie Hartmann’s team. Our Fact‑Checking Policy details the methodology. AI‑assisted tools may support research, translation or formatting, but they never replace human editorial judgement. All content is reviewed by a human editor, and AI must never fabricate quotes, sources, interviews or bylines. See our AI & Automation Policy for full details.
Commercial partnerships, sponsored content and affiliate links are clearly labelled and never determine editorial conclusions. Our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure explains how we fund our journalism while maintaining independence. Sponsored content is governed by a separate Sponsored Content Policy.
How can you challenge our reporting?
If you believe our reporting contains an error or omission, you can submit a correction request via our dedicated corrections email at corrections@hauptfokus.de or use our complaints procedure. We investigate all substantiated concerns and publish corrections promptly.
We take every allegation of inaccuracy seriously. Readers should first contact the responsible editor or the fact‑checking team directly. If the issue is not resolved, we ask you to follow our formal Complaints Procedure. We aim to acknowledge receipt within two working days and to provide a substantive response within ten working days. Where an error is confirmed, we publish a correction with a clear note at the top of the affected article and, where appropriate, an editor’s note explaining the change. Our Corrections Policy outlines the process in detail.
We also welcome tips and suggestions for stories. You can send information securely via Tip Us or to tips@hauptfokus.de. We protect the confidentiality of sources to the fullest extent possible.
Our commitments
- Accuracy and fairness: We verify every fact before publication and correct errors promptly and transparently.
- Independence: Our editorial conclusions are never influenced by advertisers, sponsors or political interests. All commercial relationships are clearly disclosed.
- Transparency about sources and methods: We attribute information to named sources where possible and explain when we rely on anonymous sources or secondary data.
- Prompt correction of errors: We maintain a clear corrections policy and a formal complaints procedure, and we act on both without delay.
- Protection of sources and whistleblowers: We safeguard the identity of confidential sources and adhere to best practices for source protection in digital journalism.