Editorial Standards

Methodology

How we gather, verify, and present information. Our commitment to accuracy and transparency.

Sourcing Standards

Every claim published on Voices is backed by verifiable sources. We prioritize primary sources — SEC filings, court records, government data, and direct interviews — over secondary reporting.

Our source hierarchy:

  • 1. Government records (SEC, FTC, state regulatory filings)
  • 2. Direct interviews and on-the-record statements
  • 3. Industry data from recognized associations (CANA, NFDA, BLS)
  • 4. Publicly available corporate reports and investor materials
  • 5. Secondary reporting (attributed and linked)

Data Collection

Our acquisition tracker is compiled from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings, state funeral board records, and direct reporting. We verify each transaction against at least two independent sources before inclusion.

Stock market data is delayed 15 minutes and sourced from public market feeds. We do not provide real-time trading data and all financial information is presented for informational purposes only.

Key data sources:

CANA
Cremation Association of North America — annual cremation statistics and projections
NFDA
National Funeral Directors Association — industry surveys and funeral cost data
BLS
Bureau of Labor Statistics — employment and wage data for deathcare occupations
SEC EDGAR
Corporate filings for publicly traded deathcare companies

Verification Process

All investigative pieces undergo a minimum three-source verification process. For claims involving specific companies or individuals, we provide advance notice and opportunity to respond before publication.

  • Minimum three independent sources for factual claims
  • Direct outreach to parties mentioned in investigations
  • Legal review for investigative pieces
  • Fact-check by a second editor before publication

Editorial Independence

Voices accepts no funding from deathcare companies, industry associations, or affiliated entities. Our revenue comes from advertising and reader support. No advertiser receives editorial consideration in exchange for advertising placement.

Corrections Policy

When we make an error, we correct it promptly and transparently. Corrections are noted at the bottom of the affected article with the date and nature of the correction. Substantive corrections are also noted in the following week's newsletter.

To report an error, email corrections@VoicesJournalism.com or use our contact form.

Questions about our methods?

We're happy to discuss our sourcing and methodology in detail.

Contact Us