Editorial Policy

Coverage Priorities

Our writers do not act formally or informally on behalf of special interests whether political, corporate, or cultural. Editors should be made aware of any conflicts of interest and act accordingly. We strive to take an impartial stance when reporting on issues and aim to deliver content in an unbiased and transparent manner at all times.

Bylines Policy

All of our articles will contain a clear author byline stating the name of the author and a link to their author biography. We will also publicly display the social profiles, contact details and accreditation of our authors. If any article is published without a byline for whatever reason we will give clear reasoning as to why that is and how any corrections can be submitted in that case.

Fact-Checking

Budodragon takes pride in its editorial standards and to that end employs editorial staff whose primary role within the company is to ensure the accuracy of the content that our writers produce. 

The following policies are in place to ensure facts are upheld: 

1. Writers must credit and link to the source of any information they are reporting. 
2. Writers are told to question the validity of sources and to take care of the information they are reporting, especially where it may touch upon a sensitive or controversial topic. 
3. Writers are expected not to write about topics when they feel they do not have sufficient knowledge to do so accurately. 
4. Writers must clearly distinguish between opinion, conjecture and fact. 
5. Editors review articles across our network and seek confirmation for any claims they feel may be inaccurate. 

Plagiarism

Any writer who is found to have used the work of others without accreditation will immediately face disciplinary action. 

Ethics

It goes without saying, that we follow the five core principles of ethical journalism, as outlined by the Ethical Journalism Network. 

1. Truth & Accuracy 
Journalists cannot always guarantee ‘truth’, but getting the facts right is the cardinal principle of journalism. We should always strive for accuracy, give all the relevant facts we have and ensure that they have been checked. When we cannot corroborate information we should say so. 

2. Independence 
Our writers do not act formally or informally on behalf of special interests whether political, corporate or cultural. Editors should be made aware of any conflicts of interests and act accordingly.

3. Fairness & Impartiality 
Articles should be balanced and add context. 

4. Humanity 
Journalists should do no harm. We should be aware of the impact our words can have on the lives of others. We should take special care and attention when reporting on sensitive issues or those that may cause upset. If we do not feel an article can be written without causing pain to others, we do not write that article. 

5. Accountability 
When we make mistakes, we will correct them and make a sincere expression of regret where that is appropriate. We listen to the concerns of our audience and provide remedies when we have been unfair. 

We will not intrude on individuals’ right to privacy. We will tackle issues that involve grief with sensitivity. We will not speculate about causes of death and when reporting suicide will not give excessive detail about the method used. 

Furthermore, Budodragon endeavors to follow the guidance given by The Society of Professional Journalists in their Code of Ethics. 

Corrections

We are responsive to feedback from readers and take concerns seriously. 

Our editorial and management teams are charged with ensuring that any errors are swiftly identified and remedied. As well as taking editorial care prior to publication, our editorial team routinely audits articles, checking for any possible factual inaccuracies.