Editorial Standards

MediaSource is a distribution platform. The person or organisation that submits content is responsible for its accuracy and lawfulness. These standards set the minimum we require and the basis on which we may moderate or remove material.

1. Accuracy

Content must be factually accurate to the best of the submitter's knowledge at the time of submission. Statistics, market data and forecasts must be attributed to a source. Where a claim is contested, material uncertainty must be disclosed.

2. Attribution

Quotes must be attributed to a real, named individual who has authorised the quote. Company statements must be attributed to a named spokesperson. Anonymous quotes are not permitted.

3. Evidence

Factual claims — particularly those relating to prices, rates, market share, or third-party performance — must be supported by evidence the submitter can produce on request. MediaSource may ask for that evidence before, or after, publication.

4. Conflicts of interest

Commercial relationships that a reader would need to know to evaluate a comment must be disclosed in the content itself. This includes sponsorship, paid research, shareholdings, panel memberships and professional relationships with the subject of the comment.

5. Promotional claims

Superlative claims ("cheapest", "best", "market-leading", "UK's largest") must be substantiated with a source and a date. Financial promotions must comply with the FCA's financial promotion rules where applicable. MediaSource may remove content that presents commercial offers as editorial.

6. Defamation

Content must not make false statements of fact about identifiable individuals or organisations that could damage their reputation. Criticism must be honest opinion, based on facts stated or referenced in the content, and in the public interest.

7. Confidential information

Do not submit information that is subject to a confidentiality agreement, a court order or regulatory duty of confidence unless you have documented authority to disclose it.

8. Copyright and third-party rights

Only submit text, images and attachments you own or have a licence to distribute. This includes stock imagery, logos, headshots and third-party statistics.

9. Embargoes

Embargoed material must clearly state the embargo time in UK time. MediaSource enforces embargoes technically — content marked embargoed is not publicly accessible until the embargo lifts. Do not use embargoes to game distribution timing without an underlying reason.

10. Corrections

Material errors must be corrected promptly. Corrections are logged in a visible correction history under the affected content. See our Corrections Policy.

11. Artificially generated content

Content produced substantially by generative AI models must be disclosed. Quotes, forecasts and expert analysis must originate from a real, identified person; AI-generated text presented as human quotation will be removed and may result in a permanent submission ban.

12. Fake identities

Every account, expert profile and journalist account must represent a real person. Impersonation, invented spokespeople and undisclosed use of pseudonyms are prohibited and grounds for removal.

13. Misleading qualifications

Job titles, professional accreditations, regulatory permissions and academic qualifications must be accurate and current. Do not describe unregulated activity in terms that imply regulation.

14. Data privacy

Do not include personal data about third parties (names, addresses, contact details, case details) without their consent, and never include special category data. Case studies must be anonymised or accompanied by documented consent from the person featured.

15. Discrimination and abuse

Content must not contain material that discriminates against, harasses or vilifies any person or group on the basis of a protected characteristic. Abusive, threatening or harassing communications sent through MediaSource messaging are grounds for immediate account suspension.

Moderation

MediaSource reviews submissions and may decline, edit for compliance, withhold or remove content that appears to breach these standards or the law. Moderation decisions can be appealed via our complaints process.