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Editorial standards

Our Editorial Standards & Process

How we research, verify and update everything we publish about the Baliem Valley and its people — on this site and in client briefings.

Guiding principles

Four rules for everything we publish

Accuracy and cultural sensitivity come before anything else.

01

First-hand knowledge

Our content starts with what our coordinators record in the field and what local guides and residents tell us. Published sources are cited as such.

02

Respect for local knowledge

The Dani, Lani and Yali are the true experts. We consult elders, and we never publish what communities consider sacred or private.

03

Commitment to accuracy

Every claim, fact and figure goes through verification before it is published.

04

Transparency

We are open about being a travel provider, and we separate factual information from our own recommendations.

Our workflow

From field notes to published page

01

Research & drafting

Drafts combine primary and secondary sources.

  • Primary: guide trip reports, team interviews, consultations with community elders, and site inspections by our operations staff.
  • Secondary: official Indonesian government publications, academic research and published ethnographic studies.
02

Expert review

Each draft goes to the most relevant internal reviewer. Cultural content is reviewed by our Editorial Desk; logistics and safety content by the desk’s operations side, together with the coordinators who work in the valley. They check accuracy, consistency, and whether the people described would recognise the description as fair.

03

Cross-verification

Facts about regulations, travel advisories and safety are checked against current official sources, including flight regulations and entry-permit requirements. Trekking distances and times are re-checked every year.

04

Update cadence

  • Quarterly: core content, including itineraries and safety protocols, is reviewed every three months.
  • Annually: every page gets a full review and update.
  • As needed: changes to airline schedules, regulations or travel advisories are reflected immediately.

Our field teams also revisit the valley, typically every six months, to check conditions on the ground.

05

Ethical reporting

We avoid sensationalism, cultural appropriation and stereotypes. Any portrayal of individuals or communities is made with explicit consent and respect for local custom.

06

Conflict of interest

We do not accept payment, gifts or any other compensation for positive coverage or partner recommendations. Recommendations come only from our own evaluation process, set out in Our Methodology.

Editorial FAQ

Can you trust what we publish?

Sources, review and independence, briefly.

01 Where does your information come from?

Mainly from our own field work — guide reports, site inspections and conversations with community elders — supported by official and academic sources, which we cite as such.

02 Who checks cultural information?

Our Editorial Desk, in consultation with Dani, Lani and Yali elders and cultural leaders, so descriptions are accurate and respectful.

03 How often is content updated?

Core content is reviewed every three months, every page once a year, and urgent changes such as new regulations immediately.

04 Do you accept payment for recommendations?

No. We accept no payment, gifts or other compensation for coverage or recommendations.