Editorial Policy
Trust is central to what we do. Local journalism only works if readers believe we have done the work, separated fact from opinion, treated people fairly and put mistakes right.
This policy applies to Local Authority and the Kent Current, both published by Authority Media Ltd. It covers our websites, newsletters, official social media accounts and other editorial material for which we are responsible.
Both publications are independently regulated by Impress. We follow the Impress Standards Code. If anything in this policy conflicts with the Code, the Code takes precedence.
Our approach
We aim to produce independent, non-partisan and evidence-led journalism about Kent and Medway.
That does not mean approaching every story without judgement or giving every argument equal weight. We will scrutinise decisions, challenge people and organisations with power, and reach conclusions where the evidence supports them. We will not manufacture balance between a well-supported position and an unsupported claim simply to appear neutral.
Our reporting should be accurate, fair, informative and clear about what is known, what is disputed and what remains uncertain.
Editorial decisions are made by our editors. Political parties, public bodies, businesses, commercial partners and paying members do not decide what we cover or how we cover it.
Accuracy
We take reasonable steps to ensure that everything we publish is accurate.
Depending on the story, this can include checking primary documents, reviewing data, speaking to people directly involved, seeking corroboration and testing claims against other reliable evidence.
We distinguish clearly between fact, allegation, analysis and opinion. Opinion or commentary will be presented in a way that makes its nature clear. Where we cannot independently verify a relevant claim, we will attribute it and explain what we have and have not been able to establish.
Headlines, captions, photographs, graphics, newsletters and social media posts must fairly represent the underlying reporting. Accuracy is not limited to the body of an article.
Corrections and updates
If we publish a significant inaccuracy, we will correct it at the earliest opportunity and with prominence equal to the original material.
We will not quietly remove a significant error. Where a correction materially changes the meaning of a story, we will add a note explaining what was changed and why.
Minor spelling, grammar, formatting or typographical errors may be corrected without a note where they do not alter the meaning of the article.
Developing stories may be updated as new information becomes available. Where an update substantially changes or adds to the original account, we will make that clear to readers.
Fairness and right of reply
Anyone who is the subject of significant criticism, an allegation of wrongdoing or another potentially damaging claim will normally be given a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication.
We will provide enough information for the person or organisation to understand the substance of what is being put to them. The time allowed will depend on the seriousness and complexity of the claims, the amount of material involved and any genuine urgency around publication.
We will fairly reflect relevant responses, but we are not required to publish them in full or verbatim. If someone declines to comment or does not respond within a reasonable deadline, we may still publish and will normally make their position clear.
A right of reply does not provide a right to approve, delay or prevent publication.
Interviews, quotations and copy approval
We identify ourselves and the publication we represent when conducting interviews.
We do not normally offer interviewees approval of a finished article. We may check individual facts or quotations where doing so would improve accuracy, particularly when dealing with complex or sensitive subjects.
Direct quotations will not be changed in a way that alters their meaning or context. They may be shortened or lightly edited for clarity, provided the speaker’s meaning and natural tone are preserved.
The final decision about what is published rests with the editorial team.
Sources and attribution
We identify sources as clearly as circumstances allow. Information originating from another publication, journalist, photographer, researcher or organisation will be properly credited and linked where appropriate.
We do not present somebody else’s reporting, words, photographs or other work as our own.
We do not fabricate sources or quotations. We do not pay public officials for information, except in exceptional circumstances where there is an overriding public interest. We do not normally pay other sources for information.
Confidential and anonymous sources
People sometimes need to speak without being publicly identified. We may grant anonymity where the information is important, the source has credible reasons to require protection and the story could not reasonably be reported in another way.
Where possible, the editor will know the source’s identity, and we will seek supporting documents, independent corroboration or other evidence. We will describe an anonymous source as precisely as we safely can so readers can assess the basis of their knowledge.
When we agree to protect a source’s identity, we take that commitment seriously. Before making such an agreement, we will explain any practical or legal limits to the protection we can offer.
Public interest
Some reporting may justify an intrusion into privacy, the use of confidential material or another step we would not ordinarily take. Such decisions require a clear public-interest justification.
Public interest can include exposing crime, dishonesty, abuse of power, serious incompetence or threats to public health or safety; protecting the public from being misled; and contributing meaningfully to an important public debate.
Something being interesting to the public is not automatically the same as being in the public interest. We will consider the likely harm, the strength of the evidence and whether the information could reasonably be obtained by less intrusive means.
Privacy and personal information
We respect people’s reasonable expectation of privacy. We do not publish private information, precise addresses or other identifying details without a legitimate editorial reason.
People in public life can reasonably expect scrutiny of their public duties and the exercise of their power. That does not remove their right to privacy in matters unrelated to those responsibilities.
We take additional care when reporting on people who may be vulnerable, including victims of crime, people experiencing trauma and those at risk of harm if identified.
Harassment and reporting methods
Our journalists must not intimidate, harass or persistently pursue anyone.
If somebody reasonably asks us to stop contacting or following them, we will respect that request unless continued contact is justified by a clear public interest. A person declining to comment does not prevent us from continuing to investigate or publish a story.
Journalists will normally identify themselves and the publication they represent. Deception, covert recording or other forms of subterfuge may be used only where there is a strong public interest, the information cannot reasonably be obtained through open methods, and an editor has approved the approach.
Photography, video and illustrations
Photographs, video and other visual material must be obtained and used lawfully and with appropriate regard for privacy, vulnerability and context.
Images and other material created by somebody outside our organisation will be credited where the creator can reasonably be identified.
Material alterations, montages, reconstructions, illustrations and AI-generated images will be clearly labelled where they could otherwise be mistaken for an authentic record of events. Routine adjustments such as cropping, exposure correction and colour balancing must not mislead readers.
Editorial independence and funding
We are principally funded by our readers. Paying for membership supports our journalism but does not buy coverage, influence, favourable treatment or the suppression of a story.
No advertiser, sponsor, business or other commercial partner may require positive editorial coverage or exercise advance approval over our journalism.
Any paid-for, sponsored or reciprocal content that could otherwise be mistaken for editorial work will be clearly labelled. Relevant financial relationships will be disclosed.
Editorial considerations take priority over commercial interests.
Conflicts of interest
Anyone working on our journalism must disclose significant financial, political, family, personal or business interests that could affect, or reasonably appear to affect, their work.
Depending on the circumstances, the journalist may withdraw from the story, another editor may oversee it, the conflict may be disclosed to readers, or we may decide not to publish.
Any failure to disclose a significant conflict will be corrected promptly and transparently.
Gifts, hospitality and access
Press access or complimentary admission may be accepted where it enables legitimate reporting. It does not guarantee coverage or favourable treatment.
We will not accept gifts, hospitality, travel or other benefits that could compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, our independence.
Any unusual or significant arrangement relevant to a published article will be disclosed to readers.
Artificial intelligence
A human editor is accountable for everything we publish.
Artificial intelligence tools may be used to assist with tasks such as transcription, searching documents, organising information, analysing data, checking spelling or developing research leads. Their output is not treated as a reliable source and must be checked by a journalist.
Routine administrative uses that do not materially generate published editorial content may not be individually disclosed.
Sensitive or confidential source material will not be entered into a public AI service without proper consideration of privacy, security and source protection.
Contributors and reader submissions
Freelancers, guest writers and other contributors are expected to follow the same standards as our staff.
Opinion and contributed articles will be identified where necessary. Contributors must disclose relevant interests, and publication remains subject to editorial review.
Comments and other reader-submitted material for which we are responsible may be moderated or removed if it is unlawful, seriously harmful or in breach of the Impress Standards Code.
Complaints
If you believe we have made a mistake or breached the Impress Standards Code, please tell us. Complaints are considered on their merits and handled in accordance with our published complaints procedure.
We aim to acknowledge a complaint within seven calendar days and provide a final decision within 21 calendar days. If we uphold a complaint, we will explain any corrective or remedial action taken.
If you are dissatisfied with our final response, or have not received one within 21 calendar days, you may refer the matter to Impress.