Last updated 06/02/2025.

Earning and keeping the trust of my audience is my top priority at threesixtysix. I don’t want to bullshit you. It’s important that you know how I make my newsletter and what my biases are. Being radically honest builds trust. To that end, my newsletter operates under this ethics policy (shamelessly stolen and adapted from The Verge’s gold-standard ethics statement).

Editorial independence

My most valuable asset is my independence. I have praised and critiqued people and organisations in this newsletter. You can trust in my editorial choices because I maintain the following code of conduct:

• I don’t accept gifts from people, organisations, companies or from their PR firms.
• I do not accept preconditions for coverage of a story that requires me to say certain things.
• I do not give subjects of my articles the ability to preview or approve interview questions, nor do I allow them to review my stories before publication.
• I always disclose any personal relationships or conflicts with organisations or people that I cover.
• I do not make paid endorsements of any kind.

Professional conduct

In addition to the above standards, I work hard to act ethically. This means that I take time to learn the truth and report it, protect sources, minimise the risk of harm, and strive for accuracy and honesty in everything I write.

Sourcing standards at threesixtysix

I work hard to only use good sources. I always link to the sources that I’m depending on to understand an issue, and I strive for every detail to be backed by facts from reputable organisations.

I strive to protect confidentiality when appropriate. These are the definitions I work by.

On the record

“On the record” is my default. You say things, I record them, I can report who you are and quote what you said. People speaking to me in an official capacity can expect to be on the record in almost every single case.

On background

“On background” means you can talk to me and I will not specifically identify you, instead using a descriptor like “company spokesperson.”

Going “on background” is an agreement between you and me. The general rules of an agreement apply: you may offer to go on background, and I will accept or deny your request. If I do not specifically accept, there is no agreement.

Off the record

“Off the record” is simple: you talk to me, I agree not to use anything I hear in any of my work unless I can source it otherwise. Like background, off the record is an agreement. If I don’t agree, you are not off the record.

Advertising

I don’t have any advertising on the site. I have got a threesixtysix patron tier. That is a completely voluntary tier for people who really love my work. The only perk they get: I will make a meme for them. They also get to feel good about themselves.

In the future, paid subscribers might get exclusive published works. Regardless of how it evolves, it will not be an opportunity for people or organisations I cover to influence my work.

Corrections and updates

Despite making every effort to be accurate in my reporting, sometimes I get something wrong. If I discover a factual mistake in a story, I’ll fix said error and add a correction at the bottom. If I fuck up a fact while making a reel I’ll make sure that the video has an embedded correction on screen or at the top of the caption.

Personal investing

Aside from stock in Apple, I don’t hold any individual company investments. Any investments I have in KiwiSaver or Sharesies are broad based ETFs.

Other employment

My day job is as at Massey University. Because of this, I won’t cover them or the tertiary sector. If I work elsewhere in the future, I will cover the tertiary sector if need be but I will disclose my previous employment. Any previous employment I’ve had will be mentioned in an article if it’s relevant.

Feedback

I want to hear from you if you’re concerned about these standards. Email me at kasey@threesixtysix.news.