1. Purpose of These Terms
These terms set out the responsibilities, rights, and ethical expectations for anyone contributing written, visual, or research material to UKPoliticsDecoded. They ensure that all contributions meet the standards required by the IMPRESS Standards Code, support our commitment to accuracy and neutrality, and protect contributors from unethical pressure or detriment.
These terms apply to all contributors, whether paid, voluntary, occasional, or regular.
2. Editorial Standards and Code Compliance
All contributors must:
- Adhere to the IMPRESS Standards Code
- Follow the Editorial Standards & Code Compliance Policy
- Respect privacy and avoid unjustified intrusion
- Ensure accuracy, fairness, and responsible sourcing
- Distinguish clearly between fact, analysis, and interpretation
- Avoid discriminatory or prejudicial language
- Provide context to avoid misleading impressions
Contributors must not submit material that knowingly contains inaccuracies, unsupported claims, or misleading framing.
3. Accuracy, Sourcing, and Evidence
Contributors are responsible for ensuring that:
- All factual claims are supported by reliable, verifiable sources
- Sources are cited clearly and transparently
- Data is presented accurately and without distortion
- Quotations are faithful and not taken out of context
- Any uncertainty or limitation in evidence is acknowledged
Fabrication, manipulation, or omission of evidence is strictly prohibited.
4. Independence and Neutrality
UKPoliticsDecoded maintains a neutral, non‑partisan editorial tone. Contributors must:
- Avoid promoting political parties, candidates, or partisan agendas
- Declare any personal, financial, or organisational conflicts of interest
- Avoid writing about topics where they have a direct personal stake unless explicitly agreed
- Ensure that analysis is grounded in evidence, not advocacy
Contributors may express interpretations or explanations, but not partisan persuasion.
5. Privacy, Intrusion, and Sensitive Material
Contributors must:
- Respect individuals' privacy rights
- Avoid unnecessary intrusion into private lives
- Apply heightened care when writing about children, vulnerable people, or victims of crime
- Consider whether publication of personal information is proportionate and in the public interest
- Notify the editor immediately if a subject has expressed a desire for no press intrusion
A separate Privacy & Intrusion Guidance page provides detailed principles.
6. Use of AI Tools
Contributors may use AI tools to support drafting or research, but:
- All submitted work must be reviewed and approved by the contributor
- AI‑generated text must not be published without human oversight
- AI tools must not be used to fabricate facts, simulate evidence, or generate synthetic quotes
- Contributors must disclose any use of AI in their workflow
Human judgement remains essential.
7. Corrections and Accountability
If a contributor becomes aware of an inaccuracy in their work, they must:
- Notify the editor promptly
- Assist in preparing corrections or clarifications
- Provide additional information if required
Contributors may be asked to help address complaints or compliance issues relating to their work.
8. Right to Refuse Unethical Instructions
Protected Rights
Contributors have the explicit right to refuse any instruction that would:
- Breach the IMPRESS Standards Code
- Violate privacy or cause unjustified intrusion
- Misrepresent evidence or distort facts
- Promote discrimination or prejudice
- Compromise editorial independence
No contributor will face detriment for refusing such instructions.
9. Whistleblowing Protection
Whistleblowing Protections
Contributors are protected from detriment if they:
- Raise concerns about unethical practices
- Report potential Code breaches
- Use the IMPRESS whistleblowing hotline
- Decline to participate in conduct that breaches the Code
UKPoliticsDecoded will not penalise, dismiss, or disadvantage any contributor for raising concerns in good faith.
More information is available on our Whistleblowing & IMPRESS Hotline page.
10. Ownership, Licensing, and Rights
Unless otherwise agreed:
- Contributors retain copyright in their work
- Contributors grant UKPoliticsDecoded a non‑exclusive licence to publish, edit, and archive the material
- Contributors confirm that their work does not infringe the rights of others
- Contributors must not submit material that is plagiarised or unlawfully copied
If a contributor wishes to republish their work elsewhere, they may do so provided it does not misrepresent UKPoliticsDecoded.
11. Confidentiality
Contributors must:
- Keep unpublished editorial material confidential
- Not disclose internal discussions, drafts, or editorial decisions
- Respect the privacy of individuals involved in the editorial process
Confidentiality obligations continue after the contributor's involvement ends.
12. Termination of Contributor Relationship
UKPoliticsDecoded may decline or discontinue contributions where:
- The contributor repeatedly breaches these terms
- The contributor refuses to correct inaccuracies
- The contributor engages in unethical behaviour
- The contributor's conduct risks undermining trust or regulatory compliance
Contributors may withdraw from contributing at any time.
13. Review and Updates
These terms are reviewed regularly to ensure alignment with:
- The IMPRESS Standards Code
- Best practice in public‑interest journalism
- The evolving needs of UKPoliticsDecoded and its contributors
Updates will be published on this page.