Editorial Policy

The London Chronicle’s Mission

London is a city built on stories, but lately, those stories are getting harder to verify. Between the flood of “AI slop” filling up search results and the noise of social media influencers, finding a straight answer can feel like a part-time job.

At The London Chronicle, we believe that journalism should do more than just repeat what’s trending. Our job is to dig. Whether we’re looking at the net worth of a controversial figure like Russell Brand, explaining why your mortgage broker is obsessed with a new Labour tax, or tracking the rise of Eddie Hearn, we treat every story with the same level of grit.

We are not here to be a “neutral” observer that stands on the sidelines. We are here to be a witness. This editorial policy is not just a list of rules; it is our promise to you, the reader, about how we work and what we stand for.

Accuracy: Beyond Just Getting Names Right

If we get a fact wrong, we have failed you. It is as simple as that. But accuracy in 2026 is not just about spelling; it is about the full picture.

  • The Receipts Rule: We do not run “exclusive” claims based on a single tweet. If we are talking about business, we look at the Companies House filings. If we are talking about celebrities, we check the history. We want the receipts.
  • Verification Over Speed: The internet is a race to be first, but at The London Chronicle, we would rather be second and right than first and wrong. Every breaking story on our site goes through a human editor who asks, “How do we actually know this is true?”
  • Sound Evidence: We avoid unfounded speculation. If we do not know something, we will tell you we do not know it. We do not fill the gaps with guesses.

Our Independence: No Pay-to-Play

In London, everyone has something to sell. We do not.

  • The Wall Between Ads and News: Our commercial team and our journalists live in different worlds. An advertiser can purchase a banner on our site, but there is no such thing as buying a single word in our articles. If we are reviewing a product, a show, or a restaurant and something stinks, we say so.
  • Sponsored Content: We are transparent about how we keep the lights on. If a post is sponsored by a brand, it will be labelled as Promoted or Sponsored. If you do not see that label, the piece is 100 percent independent.
  • Gifts and Favours: Our writers are barred from accepting freebies in exchange for positive coverage. If a writer participates in a press trip, this is disclosed at the end of the article. We do not do secret handshakes.

Anonymous Sources: A Necessary Evil

Sometimes, the only way to get the truth in this city is to protect the person telling it. But we do not use anonymity as a shortcut for lazy journalism.

  • The Necessity Test: We only hide a source’s name if the information is vital and the source faces a real threat to their job or safety.
  • The Two-Source Goal: One person’s word is a rumour. Two people’s word is a story. We always push for a second, independent source to confirm any secret claims.

Owning Our Messes (Corrections)

We are human beings. Sometimes we will get a date wrong or misinterpret a complex law. When that happens, we do not silently edit and hope you did not notice.

  • The Correction Note: If we change a factual error, we add a note at the bottom of the article explaining what was changed and when.
  • The Right of Reply: If we write a story that makes serious allegations against a person or a company, we contact them before publication and give them a fair chance to respond. If they respond later, we update the story.

Editors’ Code

We are not a lawless blog. The London Chronicle voluntarily adheres to the Editors’ Code of Practice, regarded as the benchmark for UK journalism.

  • Privacy: We do not intrude into private homes. Even public figures are entitled to a private life, provided it has no bearing on their public obligations.
  • Grief and Trauma: We treat people with sensitivity and do not harass grieving families for comment.
  • Children: We provide extra protection for anyone under 18 and do not publish details that could put them at risk.

Our Human-in-the-Loop Tech Policy

It is 2026. Everyone is using AI tools. There is a difference between using a tool and letting a machine speak for you.

  • No AI Slop: We do not use AI to write articles from scratch. Every word on this site is drafted, edited, and checked by a human.
  • Visual Integrity: If we use an AI-generated image, we disclose it. We do not use AI to create fake news photographs.

Fairness, Language, And the London Voice

London is one of the most diverse cities in the world. Our reporting should reflect the people who live here.

  • No Stereotypes: We avoid lazy labels and treat every community with respect.
  • Diversity of Opinion: We hire writers with different political views and life experiences to reflect the complexity of London life.

Legal And Ethical Boundaries

We respect the law and do not publish anything that is libellous, obscene, unlawful, or in breach of a court order. We take our legal responsibilities seriously to ensure the long-term future of The London Chronicle.

How To Hold Us Accountable

If you believe we have crossed a line or made an error, you can contact us directly. We do not use no-reply email addresses and welcome reader feedback.

To learn more about our website, please visit our About Us page. If you’re interested in contributing, you can find all the article submission requirements on our Contributor Guidelines page.

We aim to reply to all formal complaints within 24-48 hours. Thank you for trusting The London Chronicle. We do not take it for granted.

Last Updated: 1 June 2026

Last Reviewed: 1 July 2026