Cities Under the Sun is written for general readers, but it takes evidence seriously.
The aim is to make complex subjects easier to understand without making them more certain, more dramatic or simpler than the evidence allows.
Sources
Whenever possible, articles rely first on primary or authoritative sources.
These may include:
- peer-reviewed scientific papers;
- official statistics and public datasets;
- planning documents and legislation;
- government and municipal publications;
- universities and research institutions;
- international organisations;
- original maps, photographs and observations.
Reliable journalism and specialist publications may also be used when they provide useful reporting, context or interviews.
Secondary sources are not treated as substitutes for primary evidence when the original material is available and relevant.
Scientific research
A published study is evidence, not automatically the final answer.
When reporting scientific research, Cities Under the Sun considers what was studied, where it was studied, how the researchers reached their conclusions and what limitations they identified.
A result from one neighbourhood, city or climate should not automatically be presented as a universal rule.
Correlation is not described as causation unless the evidence supports that conclusion.
Where several credible studies reach different conclusions, that disagreement should be made clear.
Facts and interpretation
Articles may contain several different types of information:
Reported facts are statements supported by identifiable evidence.
Research findings are conclusions reported by researchers and should be presented within the limits of the study.
Professional interpretation is analysis based on planning, engineering or spatial knowledge.
Observation describes something visible or experienced directly.
Opinion is a judgement or argument made by the author.
These categories may appear in the same article, but they should not be presented as though they were identical.
Numbers and comparisons
Numbers should include enough context to be meaningful.
Percentages should identify, where relevant, what population or quantity they refer to. Comparisons should use compatible periods and measurements. Maps and spatial data should identify their source whenever possible.
A striking number is not used simply because it makes a good headline.
Corrections
Accuracy matters more than preserving the original wording of an article.
If a factual error is discovered, it will be corrected.
Material corrections that affect the interpretation or conclusion of an article should be identified clearly rather than silently hidden.
Minor spelling, grammar, formatting and stylistic corrections may be made without a correction notice.
Updating articles
Cities change. Research develops. Data are revised.
Older articles may therefore be updated when better evidence becomes available or when circumstances materially change.
Where an update substantially changes the meaning of an article, the updated date should be shown.
Headlines
Headlines are written to be understandable and interesting, but they should not promise something the article does not support.
Questions may be used as headlines when the answer is genuinely investigated rather than assumed in advance.
Sensational claims, artificial controversy and misleading clickbait are avoided.
Links and citations
Where practical, articles link to the original study, official publication, dataset or document being discussed.
Readers should be able to find the evidence behind important claims.
Links are selected because they are useful to the reader, not because another website has paid for them.
Sponsored or commercial links, if ever used, will be clearly identified.
Independence and conflicts of interest
Cities Under the Sun may discuss developments, organisations, policies, companies, destinations or research institutions.
If the author has a professional, financial or other relationship that could reasonably affect how the reader interprets an article, that relationship will be disclosed.
Editorial conclusions are not sold.
Political and policy subjects
Urban planning often overlaps with public policy and politics.
Where an article discusses a political decision, public authority or policy dispute, the purpose is to explain the relevant evidence, decisions and consequences.
Contested claims should be attributed to the people or organisations making them.
The site does not exist to promote a political party, candidate or campaign.
Use of AI in research and writing
Artificial intelligence tools may assist with tasks such as organising notes, identifying questions for further research, checking structure, comparing terminology, language editing or exploring possible explanations.
AI output is not treated as a source.
Factual claims should be checked against identifiable sources before publication.
Responsibility for the final text, interpretation, source selection and errors remains with the author.
No article is published simply because an AI system produced a convincing answer.
Reader corrections
Readers who identify a possible factual error are encouraged to report it through the Contact page.
Useful criticism is part of serious publishing.
