Editorial Policy

Labels come before atmosphere

Darkrecord can use unsettling design, suspenseful writing and cinematic presentation, but presentation should not erase the distinction between fact, memory and invention. Horror fiction is labeled as fiction. A personal account is identified as the contributor’s account. Research-based material should distinguish known information from disputed claims, interpretation and unresolved questions.

Reader-submitted accounts

A contributor may describe an experience exactly as they remember it, including details that cannot be independently verified. Publication does not automatically mean Darkrecord has confirmed that every detail happened exactly as described or that a paranormal explanation is established. Editing should improve clarity, spelling, grammar and structure without quietly changing the core meaning of the account.

Original horror fiction

Fiction published in the Horror Fiction archive should be identified as fiction. Darkrecord should not intentionally present invented material as a verified real event. Contributors should submit work they have the right to share and should avoid copying protected material from other writers or publications.

Research, sources and uncertainty

When a record reports verifiable events, names, dates, locations or public claims, reliable sources should be used where practical. The strength of the wording should match the strength of the evidence. Established facts should not be written as rumors, and disputed or unverified claims should not be presented as settled fact. If the available evidence does not support a definite conclusion, the record should say so.

Primary and secondary sources

Whenever practical, research should favor original documents, official records, direct statements and other primary sources for factual claims. Reliable secondary reporting can add context or explain a complicated record. Low-quality reposts, anonymous summaries and pages that merely repeat a claim without showing where it came from should not be treated as equal evidence.

Corrections and significant updates

Material factual errors should be corrected when credible evidence shows that a published statement is inaccurate. A correction should change the record itself rather than leaving known misinformation in place. When a substantial factual update changes the context of a story, the modified date or an editorial note can be used where appropriate to make that change visible to readers.

Privacy, anonymity and identifying details

Contributors should avoid sharing private addresses, passwords, financial information, medical records or other unnecessary sensitive information. Pseudonyms, generalized locations or withheld identifying details may be used when publishing a name or exact location would create a reasonable privacy or safety concern. More information about submitted and technical data is available in the Privacy Policy.

Real people, accusations and harmful claims

Unverified allegations about identifiable people require particular care. A frightening or mysterious story should not be used as an excuse to publish unsupported accusations, private information or claims that could unfairly damage a person’s reputation. When a record concerns a real person or active case, accuracy, relevance, sourcing and privacy should take priority over dramatic effect.

Commercial relationships and editorial independence

If a record contains a paid placement, sponsorship, affiliate relationship or another material commercial connection, that relationship should be disclosed clearly enough for readers to understand it. Commercial relationships should not change whether fiction is labeled as fiction or whether factual claims require appropriate support.

Submitting, questioning or correcting a record

Readers can submit a story for editorial review or use the Contact page for corrections, permissions and editorial questions. For more context about the purpose of the archive, read About Darkrecord.

The standard behind every record

The purpose of this editorial policy is not to remove mystery from Darkrecord. It is to keep the mystery where it belongs: inside the story, the evidence and the unanswered question rather than inside the labeling. Readers should be free to decide what they think about a record without first having to guess whether the page is fiction, testimony or research.