Ethics

Our publications follow the press ethics principles of their own countries. On top of those, we hold ourselves to the written rules below, so readers can see what we have committed to and hold us to it.

Conflicts of interest

When a story touches the owner of a publication or a commercial partner, it is covered on exactly the same terms as any other story, with the same checks and the same demands on sources. The connection is stated in the article.

Those who make our journalism do not cover matters in which they have a personal or financial interest, and they do not use what they learn at work for their own gain.

No payment for news

We do not pay sources for information, and we do not accept payment, gifts or favours in return for coverage. Free tickets, trips or products are not accepted in exchange for a story, and a review is never promised to anyone.

Treating people fairly

We do not mention a person's ethnicity, religion, sexuality, health or disability unless it is relevant to the story. We show restraint when reporting on grief, accidents and suicide, and we do not describe methods of suicide. We do not identify children in stories that could harm them.

Honesty in how we report

We do not invent quotations, details or scenes. We do not present something as seen or heard first hand when it was not. A picture shows what happened, and an illustration is labelled as one. We do not use hidden recording or deception unless there is no other way to reveal something of serious public interest, and the article then says how the information was obtained.

Victims and the accused

We do not name a victim of a sexual offence. We take care not to identify a suspect before there is a public interest in doing so, and we do not identify relatives who have done nothing wrong.

Paid content

Advertising and other commercial content is always labelled and kept apart from journalism. Our rules for it are on the advertising page.