Ethics Policy

HeadLines Decoded exists to bring clarity to a noisy world. Our work spans Disney parks and experiences, film and entertainment, health and wellness, practical preparedness, and politics explained in plain language. Whatever the beat, the same commitments apply. This policy sets out how we report, how we treat the people in our stories, how we handle conflicts, and how we keep our journalism honest. We hold ourselves to standards consistent with widely recognised journalism-transparency frameworks, including clear accountability for accuracy, independence from improper influence, and fair treatment of the people we write about.

Our journalism is human, and someone always answers for it

Every story begins as an editor’s idea and reflects an editor’s judgment about what is worth your time. It is reported, written, and edited under human direction, and a person reads and approves it before it reaches you. We are not a content farm, and we will not behave like one. We would rather publish less than publish filler, and no article goes out unread and unchecked by a human being who puts their name, or the newsroom’s, behind it.

Where we use AI, and where we do not

We would rather tell you this plainly than have you wonder. The journalism here is human from beginning to end. The story ideas are our founder’s, the reporting is his, and the writing is his. What AI adds is a light boost around the edges: help getting the formatting and presentation right, and generating an illustration when no real photograph fits the story. When an image is made with AI, we label it as an illustration on the image itself, so you are never misled about what you are looking at.

What AI does not do here is the important part. It does not report, it does not decide what is true or what is fair, it does not choose our stories, and it does not write them. Our founder does the editing and gives the final approval on everything we publish, which makes one person responsible for each piece from the first idea to the last read. We use these tools to sharpen the presentation, never to replace the judgment, and the judgment and the responsibility are ours.

Independence

We report without fear or favour. We do not accept payment, gifts, or pressure in exchange for coverage, and no advertiser, sponsor, or business partner sees or approves editorial work before it runs. Where we have any interest that a reasonable reader would want to know about, we disclose it in the story, and our Ownership and Funding page states who owns and funds us.

Accuracy and fairness

We verify before we publish and we say plainly what is confirmed, what is estimated, and what is still uncertain. We give people and organisations a fair chance to respond to claims about them, and we describe conduct rather than reaching for loaded labels. When someone declines or does not respond, we say so. When we get something wrong, we fix it in the open under our Corrections Policy.

Honest images

Every photograph we present as real is real. Illustrations are clearly labelled as illustrations, including any generated with AI, so you always know when you are looking at a real moment and when you are looking at art. We do not stage or alter a picture to imply something that did not happen, and we do not use a real person’s image to illustrate a story that is not about them.

Treating people fairly

• We take extra care with private individuals, who never asked to be in the news, and with sensitive subjects such as health, grief, and safety.
• We do not publish rumour as fact, and we do not amplify an accusation we cannot stand behind ourselves.
• We weigh the public interest against real harm, and we are willing to hold or drop a story when the harm outweighs the value.

Conflicts of interest

We disclose personal, financial, or professional connections that could reasonably affect how a story is read. Our founder is a former Disney cast member, which we disclose given how much Disney coverage we publish. A conflict we cannot disclose our way out of is one we step back from.

Accountability

If you believe we have fallen short of this policy, tell us. Our Feedback and Complaints page explains how to reach the newsroom and what happens after you do. Holding power to account only works if we are willing to be held to account too.