At The Tech News Source, we are committed to providing our readers with accurate, fair, and comprehensive information about the technology landscape. Our primary responsibility is to our audience, and we strive to maintain the highest ethical standards in our reporting and reviews.
- Accuracy and Truthfulness
- We are committed to reporting facts accurately and verifying information from reliable sources before publication.
- Corrections and clarifications will be made promptly and transparently when errors are discovered.
- We will clearly distinguish between factual reporting, analysis, and opinion.
- Independence and Impartiality:
- Our editorial content, including news reporting and analysis, will be free from undue influence by advertisers, tech companies, or any external parties. Editorial decisions are made independently by our editorial team.
- We will avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived, in all our content. Any potential conflict will be disclosed to our readers.
- Reviews and Product Evaluation
- No Review Embargoes or NDAs: As a core principle of our commitment to providing timely, honest, and transparent coverage, The Tech News Source does not accept review units or access to products/services under embargo agreements or Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) specifically for the purpose of delaying review publication. We request that review units be provided for receipt on the official release day, unless a company is willing to provide one earlier without such restrictions. This policy ensures our editorial independence and our ability to serve our audience without constraints imposed by manufacturers or publishers.
- Source of Review Units: We will clearly disclose how review units (hardware, software, or services) are obtained – whether they are provided by companies, loaned for a specific period, or purchased independently by us.
- Honest and Unbiased Assessment: Regardless of how a product is obtained, our reviews will reflect our genuine, unbiased opinions and experiences based on thorough testing. Products and services will be evaluated on their merits, using consistent and transparent criteria.
- No Guarantee of Review or Positive Coverage: Acceptance of any product or service for review, even without an embargo or NDA, does not guarantee a positive review, nor does it guarantee that a review will be published at all.
- No Payment for Reviews: We do not accept payment, gifts (beyond the review unit itself, which may be returned or retained as per a clear, disclosed policy), or any other form of compensation in exchange for positive reviews or for the inclusion of a product in our coverage.
- Fairness and Objectivity (General Reporting):
- We will strive to present a balanced view of issues in our news reporting and feature articles, representing different perspectives fairly.
- We will provide subjects of our reporting a reasonable opportunity to respond to allegations or criticisms.
- Transparency (Beyond Reviews):
- Affiliate Links & Advertising: We may use affiliate links, and these will be clearly disclosed. Advertising content will be clearly distinguished from editorial content. These commercial relationships will not influence our editorial integrity.
- Sponsored Content: Any sponsored content or paid placements will be clearly and conspicuously labeled as such, distinguishing it from independent editorial content.
6. Sourcing, Attribution, and Information Embargoes:
– We will attribute information to its source whenever possible.
– We will respect requests for anonymity from sources when appropriate, ensuring their protection, but will strive for on-the-record sourcing.
– Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
– Information Embargoes (for News Reporting): For general news reporting (distinct from product reviews), The Tech News Source may, on a case-by-case basis, agree to receive information under an embargo. This is done to facilitate the preparation of accurate, comprehensive, and timely news coverage for our readers upon public announcement. Acceptance of an information embargo is contingent upon the terms being reasonable and allowing for proper journalistic due diligence. Such agreements will not compromise our editorial independence or the factual accuracy of our reporting. We reserve the right to decline information offered under embargoes we deem overly restrictive or not in the public interest.
7. Privacy and Data Protection:
– We respect the privacy of individuals and will handle personal data responsibly, in accordance with applicable laws and our privacy policy.
– We will be cautious and considerate when reporting on information that may infringe on personal privacy.
8. Accountability:
– We are accountable to our readers. We welcome feedback and criticism and will engage constructively.
– We will have clear channels for readers to contact us regarding ethical concerns or factual inaccuracies.
9. Responsible Reporting on Technology:
– We will consider the potential societal impact of the technologies we cover.
– We will strive to report on cybersecurity and data breaches responsibly, avoiding the dissemination of information that could further harm individuals or organizations.
Commitment:
All staff, contributors, and freelancers associated with The Tech News Source are expected to adhere to this Code of Ethics. Violations may result in corrective action, up to and including termination of the relationship. This code will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary.