Ethics policy

This policy describes the ethical commitments that govern how PQR News works. They apply to everyone who reports, edits or makes editorial decisions for the publication.

Independence

Our editorial judgement is our own. No advertiser, sponsor, funder, owner or subject of coverage has any say over what we investigate, what we conclude or what we publish. Commercial and editorial functions are kept separate. If a story touches a party with a commercial relationship to PQR News, that relationship changes nothing about how we report it, and we disclose it to readers where it is relevant.

Conflicts of interest

Our journalists and editors must avoid conflicts of interest, and disclose any that cannot be avoided. That includes financial interests, personal relationships and outside affiliations that could reasonably be seen to bear on a story. Where a conflict exists, the person concerned steps back from the relevant coverage, and where a conflict is material to a published piece, we disclose it to readers. We do not accept gifts, hospitality or inducements intended to influence coverage.

A culture of corrections

We will get things wrong sometimes, and when we do we fix them openly. We treat corrections as a mark of integrity, not embarrassment. Errors of fact are corrected promptly, the correction is dated and describes what was wrong and what changed, and it is visible on the article it concerns. We maintain a public corrections log so that our record is open to inspection. We do not quietly delete or rewrite our mistakes.

Treatment of sources

We deal honestly with the people who talk to us. We are clear about who we are and that we are reporting. We honour undertakings we give about anonymity and confidentiality, and we take the protection of confidential sources seriously, including their safety. We do not misrepresent ourselves to obtain information except in the rare case where there is a clear public interest and no other means, and any such decision is taken at editor level.

Right of reply

Where our reporting makes significant critical claims about an identifiable person or organisation, we give them a fair and genuine opportunity to respond before we publish, and we reflect their response accurately in the piece. A right of reply is meaningful only if it is offered in good time and with enough detail to answer, and that is the standard we hold ourselves to.

Public interest

Where our work involves intrusion, sensitive information or difficult ethical trade-offs, we weigh it against a genuine public interest and choose the least intrusive means of serving it. We report on matters because they are consequential and in the public interest, not because they are merely sensational.