Editorial Guidelines / Fairness & Right of Reply

3 Fairness & Right of Reply

If we are going to say something significant about a person, they are entitled to hear it from us first and to have their answer published alongside it.

On this page

Section 3.1 Principles

People who appear in our articles should recognise themselves in what we publish. Fairness means we do not distort, we do not ambush, and we do not let a headline say something the article cannot support.

Most of the people we write about will never contact us. That is precisely why the obligation matters: our standards cannot depend on whether someone has the resources to complain.

Section 3.2 Right of Reply

  1. 3.2.1 Where an article makes a significant criticism or allegation about a person, we must put it to them before publication and give them a fair opportunity to respond.
  2. 3.2.2 A fair opportunity means the specific allegation in plain terms, a named contact, and a reasonable deadline — normally at least 24 hours, and longer where the matter is serious.
  3. 3.2.3 If a response is received, it is reflected in the article itself, not appended as an afterthought. If none is received, we say that we approached them and received no response.
  4. 3.2.4 We do not describe someone as having “declined to comment” unless they actually declined. Silence is not a refusal.
  5. 3.2.5 Where a person responds after publication, we update the article to include their position.

In practice

Not acceptable Publishing an allegation about a player’s conduct and adding “his representatives were unavailable” without having contacted them.

Acceptable “We contacted the player’s agent on 4 March with these allegations. He did not respond by our deadline. We will update this article if he does.”

Section 3.3 Accurate Representation

  1. 3.3.1 Quotations are reproduced accurately and in context. We do not tighten a quote in a way that changes its meaning, and we do not merge separate statements into one.
  2. 3.3.2 Where a quote is translated or edited for length, we say so.
  3. 3.3.3 Headlines, subheadings, social posts and image captions must be supported by the article. A headline may not imply a claim the body does not make.
  4. 3.3.4 We do not use an image in a way that implies something untrue — for instance pairing an unrelated photograph with an allegation.
  5. 3.3.5 Archive material is labelled with its date. Old quotes are not presented as current comment.
  6. 3.3.6 We do not present our own inference as a subject’s statement. If we are drawing a conclusion, we say it is ours.

Section 3.4 Contributors & Interviews

  1. 3.4.1 Anyone we interview is told who we are, what the article is about, and where it will appear before they speak to us.
  2. 3.4.2 We honour agreed conditions on anonymity and off-the-record material. Where anonymity is granted, we protect it — including in metadata, images and file names.
  3. 3.4.3 We do not obtain information by misrepresenting who we are. Any exception requires editor approval and a documented public interest.
  4. 3.4.4 Contributors who are vulnerable, bereaved, or under 18 are handled with additional care, and interviews with under-18s require the consent of a parent or guardian.
  5. 3.4.5 A contributor may withdraw consent before publication. After publication we consider any withdrawal request on its merits, weighing harm against the public record.

Section 3.5 Conflicts of Interest

  1. 3.5.1 Writers declare any personal, financial or family connection to a person, club or organisation they are covering. Where a conflict exists, the article is reassigned.
  2. 3.5.2 Gifts, hospitality, paid trips and free tickets from a subject or their representatives are declined, or declared and disclosed in the article where accepting them was unavoidable.
  3. 3.5.3 Sponsored, affiliate and commercially arranged content is clearly labelled as such and is never presented as independent editorial.
  4. 3.5.4 Commercial partners have no influence over editorial judgement, and no right to review an article before publication.

Section 3.6 Mandatory Referrals

Refer to an editor before publishing

A writer may not publish the following on their own judgement, even where the guidelines above appear to permit it. Referral means written approval from an editor, recorded before the article goes live.

  • Any article containing a significant allegation about a named person.
  • Any decision to publish without a response where a right of reply was offered.
  • Any use of anonymous sourcing, off-the-record material, or a protected identity.
  • Any interview with a person under 18, or with a bereaved or vulnerable contributor.
  • Any request from a contributor to withdraw consent after publication.
  • Any article where the writer has a personal or financial connection to the subject.
2. Privacy & Family Members 4. Corrections & Complaints