PublicReport.uk is committed to producing journalism that is accurate, fair, and transparent. This Editorial Policy sets out the principles and processes that govern our content, ensuring that every piece we publish meets the professional standards expected by our readers. It covers our editorial workflow, the clear labelling of different content types, the transparency we provide at article level, our independence from commercial influence, the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and the routes available for complaints or corrections.
Editorial Process
Every article published on PublicReport.uk is reviewed by an editor before it goes live. This review covers factual accuracy, clarity, tone, legal considerations, and adherence to our style and standards. The editor checks that sources are properly attributed, that quotes are verified, and that the article does not contain unsubstantiated claims.
For stories that involve heightened sensitivity or risk — including legal matters, allegations of wrongdoing, financial claims that could affect markets or individuals, stories involving minors, or any reporting that touches on privacy-sensitive issues — an additional layer of review is required. These articles are submitted to the Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Naomi Rivers, for pre-publication scrutiny. This second review ensures that any potential legal or ethical concerns have been identified and addressed, that the evidence supporting the reporting is robust, and that the article respects the rights of all parties involved. Naomi Rivers also oversees post-publication corrections and complaints related to editorial standards.
Clear Distinction Between Content Types
PublicReport.uk publishes a range of content types, each clearly distinguished to help readers understand the nature of what they are reading. Our editorial team takes care to label all material appropriately.
News
News articles report facts and events in a neutral, impartial manner. They are based on verified information from named sources, official documents, or direct observation. News pieces are written by staff reporters or trusted contributors and are subject to the full editorial review process described above.
Opinion
Opinion pieces, including editorials, columns, and comment articles, express the views of the author or the publication’s editorial board. These are clearly marked with an “Opinion” label or by a byline that identifies the piece as such. Opinion content is still edited for legal and factual accuracy, but the arguments and conclusions are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the broader organisation.
Features
Features are longer-form pieces that explore a subject in depth, often through narrative, analysis, or interviews. While they may contain the author’s perspective, they are built on rigorous reporting and are held to the same fact-checking standards as news.
Sponsored Content, Affiliate Content and Promotional Material
Any content that is paid for by a third party, or that includes commercial relationships such as affiliate links or sponsorships, is clearly labelled. Sponsored content is marked with a prominent “Sponsored” or “Paid Content” notice at the top of the page. Affiliate links are disclosed in a short note near the link or at the end of the article. Promotional material, including advertorials, is labelled “Promotional” or “Advertising Feature”. These labels are visible to readers before they engage with the content. Commercial relationships never determine editorial conclusions, and the editorial team retains full control over the integrity of all content, including sponsored pieces, which are subject to the same editorial review process.
Article-Level Transparency
Every article on PublicReport.uk includes a set of transparency markers so that readers can assess the provenance and reliability of the information. These include:
- Bylines and author profile links — each article carries the name of the writer, linked to their profile on the Our Team page, where their background and expertise are described, unless the writer requests anonymity for legitimate journalistic reasons (which is rare and always disclosed).
- Publication date and last-updated date — the date of first publication is shown, and if an article is substantially revised after publication, the “last updated” date is added.
- Editor/reviewer labels — for sensitive stories, the article may note that it was reviewed by the Standards & Fact-Checking Lead. All articles list the editor who handled the piece.
- Source references — we link to primary sources, official documents, or named individuals wherever possible. Anonymous sources are used only when necessary and are explained in the article.
- Disclosures of commercial relationships — any affiliate link, sponsorship, or other commercial tie is disclosed in the article itself.
- Correction notes — if an error is corrected after publication, a note is appended to the article explaining what was changed and when. Readers can find our full policy at /corrections-policy/.
Editorial Independence
PublicReport.uk operates with full editorial independence. Our journalism is never influenced by advertisers, sponsors, partners, or any external interests. We maintain a strict firewall between commercial operations and editorial decision-making. For more information on our ownership structure and funding sources, please see /ownership-funding/. Details of our advertising and affiliate disclosure practices are available at /advertising-affiliate-disclosure/.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
We may use AI-powered tools to assist with certain editorial tasks such as research, formatting, headline generation, summaries, transcription, or translation. However, all published editorial content is reviewed by a human editor before publication. AI tools are never used to fabricate quotes, sources, interviews, bylines, author experience, or expert profiles. Our full policy on the use of AI and automation can be found at /ai-automation-policy/.
Attribution and Named Writers
We believe that transparency about who writes our articles builds trust. The vast majority of our content carries a named writer with a link to their profile on our Our Team page. Contributors and freelance writers are also identified. In rare cases where a source’s safety or privacy would be compromised by naming the writer, we explain the reason for anonymity. Our editorial team, led by Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Cross, is listed in full on the Our Team page.
Complaints and Corrections
We take all complaints seriously and have a formal procedure for handling them. If you believe an article contains an error, breaches editorial standards, or otherwise requires correction, please refer to our Corrections Policy and our Complaints Procedure. These pages explain how to submit a complaint, how we will investigate it, and the steps we take to resolve issues promptly and fairly.