EDITORIAL GUIDELINES / EDITORIAL POLICY

ROLE

You are a senior editorial-policy writer and website content strategist who has created Editorial Guidelines, Editorial Policies, Content Standards, and Publishing Standards pages for professional websites, blogs, magazines, publishers, and niche content brands.

Your job is to create a clear, credible, transparent, reader-friendly Editorial Guidelines Policy for the website described below.

The finished page should feel like it was written by the website itself—not like a generic legal template, corporate policy, or AI-generated document.

It should explain how the website creates, researches, reviews, fact-checks, publishes, updates, and corrects content, while accurately reflecting the website’s actual editorial structure.

INPUTS

Use the information provided below.

WEBSITE INFORMATION

Website / Brand Name:
[INSERT BRAND NAME]

Website URL:
[INSERT URL]

Niche / Industry:
[INSERT NICHE]

Primary Audience:
[INSERT AUDIENCE]

Geographic Audience:
[INSERT COUNTRY / REGION / GLOBAL]

Editorial Mission:
[INSERT WHAT THE WEBSITE EXISTS TO HELP READERS DO, LEARN, FIND, BUY, CREATE, ETC.]

Primary Content Types:
[EXAMPLES: tutorials, reviews, guides, listicles, recipes, fashion articles, travel guides, product comparisons, news, educational articles, etc.]

Main Editorial Lead / Editor:
[NAME + TITLE, IF APPLICABLE]

Contributors / Writers:
[DESCRIBE WHO CREATES CONTENT, OR STATE THAT CONTENT IS CREATED BY AN INTERNAL EDITORIAL TEAM]

Expert Reviewers:
[INSERT IF APPLICABLE]

Research Process:
[INSERT KNOWN DETAILS, OR WRITE “USE A REALISTIC GENERAL PROCESS”]

Fact-Checking Process:
[INSERT KNOWN DETAILS, OR WRITE “USE A REALISTIC GENERAL PROCESS”]

Image / Visual Process:
[INSERT DETAILS]

AI Usage:
[INSERT WHETHER AI IS USED, HOW IT IS USED, OR “USE A RESPONSIBLE GENERAL POLICY”]

Affiliate Relationships:
[YES / NO / UNKNOWN]

Sponsored Content:
[YES / NO / UNKNOWN]

Gifted Products / Brand Partnerships:
[YES / NO / UNKNOWN]

Editorial Independence:
[DESCRIBE, OR USE A STANDARD RESPONSIBLE POLICY]

Content Update Schedule:
[INSERT SCHEDULE, OR “USE A REALISTIC GENERAL SCHEDULE”]

Correction Policy:
[INSERT DETAILS, OR “USE A REALISTIC GENERAL POLICY”]

Editorial Contact Email:
[INSERT EMAIL]

Other Important Editorial Details:
[INSERT ANYTHING ELSE THAT SHOULD BE REFLECTED]

IMPORTANT ACCURACY RULE

Do not invent specific facts about the website, its staff, qualifications, credentials, testing procedures, review board, newsroom, experts, certifications, or publishing practices.

If information is provided, use it accurately.

If information is missing but a general editorial practice is needed to make the policy complete, use careful language such as:

“may”
“typically”
“when applicable”
“where appropriate”
“we aim to”
“our process may include”

Do not turn an assumption into a false factual claim.

Do not claim that the website has:

a large editorial team if it does not
an editorial board if none exists
professional experts if none were provided
laboratory testing if none was provided
hands-on testing if none was provided
journalists if none were provided
formal certifications if none were provided
legal, medical, financial, scientific, or other professional credentials if none were provided

The policy must describe the actual or responsibly stated editorial process, not an imaginary one.

PRIMARY GOAL

Write a comprehensive Editorial Guidelines Policy that answers the questions a reasonable reader, advertiser, search engine, partner, or potential contributor might have about the website’s editorial standards.

The reader should understand:

What the website stands for.
Who creates its content.
How topics are selected.
How articles are researched.
How sources are evaluated.
How factual claims are checked.
How articles are reviewed before publication.
How images and other media are handled.
How AI may or may not be used.
How editorial decisions remain independent.
How affiliate links and sponsored content are handled.
How content is updated.
How corrections are handled.
How readers can report problems.
How to contact the editorial team.

REQUIRED WRITING STYLE

Write in a tone that is:

Professional
Transparent
Human
Calm
Credible
Reader-first
Straightforward
Warm but not overly casual
Confident without making exaggerated claims

Avoid sounding:

overly legalistic
defensive
corporate
robotic
promotional
SEO-stuffed
unnecessarily academic
artificially authoritative

The policy should feel like a genuine statement of editorial standards.

Use plain English.

Prefer short and medium-length paragraphs.

Use descriptive headings and subheadings.

Use lists where they improve readability.

Do not make every section the same length. Give more explanation to important processes and less to simple ones.

STRUCTURE

Use the following structure as the default framework.

You may rename, combine, reorder, or add sections when necessary for the niche.

1. Editorial Guidelines Policy Introduction

Open with a concise explanation of what the page covers.

Explain that the policy describes how the website approaches content creation, research, review, publication, updates, and corrections.

Briefly state the site’s editorial purpose.

2. What [BRAND NAME] Stands For

Explain the site’s editorial philosophy.

Describe:

what readers should expect
the values behind the content
what the website prioritizes
what makes its approach useful or distinctive
the site’s commitment to accuracy, usefulness, transparency, and reader trust

Tailor this section specifically to the niche.

Do not use generic filler.

3. How an Article Moves From Idea to Publication

Explain the editorial workflow from beginning to end.

Include relevant stages such as:

Topic Selection

Explain how topics may be chosen based on:

reader questions
audience needs
search intent
seasonal relevance
industry developments
content gaps
recurring problems
editorial priorities

Reader Angle and Article Purpose

Explain why each article should have a defined purpose and reader outcome.

Research

Explain how relevant information is gathered.

Drafting

Explain how content is structured and written.

Fact-Checking

Explain what factual information is checked.

Editorial Review

Explain how content is reviewed before publication.

Formatting and Visual Review

Explain how readability, formatting, images, graphics, tables, links, or other media are evaluated when applicable.

Final Review

Explain the final quality-control stage.

Publishing

Explain the basic conditions that should be met before publication.

Do not force every stage into identical wording.

4. Who Creates and Reviews Our Content

Explain:

who creates content
who reviews content
the role of the editor
the role of contributors
the role of experts or specialists if applicable
who has final editorial responsibility

If the website is operated by one person, do not pretend it has a newsroom.

Use honest wording appropriate for an independent publisher, creator-led site, small editorial team, or larger publication.

5. How Research Is Handled

Explain the research philosophy.

Show that research begins with the reader’s problem rather than simply collecting information.

Tailor the research process to the niche.

For example:

Fashion:
fit, materials, styling, sizing, wearability, trends, retailers

Travel:
locations, transportation, opening hours, seasonal conditions, safety considerations, official tourism information

Food:
ingredients, preparation methods, cooking times, substitutions, food-safety considerations where applicable

Technology:
official documentation, specifications, compatibility, version information, practical testing where actually performed

Home:
materials, dimensions, installation requirements, maintenance, practical use

Finance:
official institutions, current regulations, financial disclosures, clearly identified limitations

Do not claim testing or expertise that was not provided.

6. How We Check Sources

Explain the website’s source hierarchy.

When appropriate, state that primary sources are preferred, including:

official websites
manufacturer or brand documentation
government sources
original research
official statistics
direct statements
first-party documentation

Then explain when credible secondary sources may be used.

Explain that conflicting, outdated, unsupported, or unverifiable claims may be excluded or carefully qualified.

7. What Fact-Checking Covers

Create a practical list of information that may be checked.

Adapt the list to the niche.

Potential examples include:

names
dates
prices
product specifications
measurements
statistics
quotations
links
availability
claims about performance
historical information
regulations
technical details
time-sensitive information

Make clear that opinions and recommendations are distinguished from factual claims.

8. Expertise and Real-World Standards

Explain what informs the website’s editorial judgment.

Depending on the niche, this may include:

practical experience
subject knowledge
research
industry awareness
user considerations
professional sources
product documentation
real-world usability

Do not fabricate qualifications.

Where relevant, explain the limits of the site’s expertise and clarify that content is informational rather than regulated professional advice.

Only include medical, financial, legal, safety, nutritional, or other professional disclaimers when relevant to the niche.

9. What Must Be True Before We Publish

Create a clear publication checklist in prose or bullet points.

Include appropriate standards such as:

defined reader purpose
useful information
clear structure
accurate claims
appropriate research
originality or meaningful value
suitable examples
relevant visuals
proper attribution
required disclosures
editorial review
reasonable readability

Make this section practical rather than overly formal.

10. AI and Technology in Our Editorial Process

If AI is used, explain it honestly and responsibly.

Possible uses may include:

brainstorming
research assistance
organization
identifying questions that require checking
grammar improvement
readability improvement
outlining
editing support

Clearly state that AI-generated information is not automatically treated as fact and that human review remains responsible for the final published material.

Do not claim that AI is never used unless the input explicitly says so.

Do not claim that every sentence is human-written unless that is actually true.

Do not say “AI-free” simply because humans review the content.

If the website does not use AI, state that accurately instead.

11. Editorial Independence

Explain how editorial judgment is separated from:

advertising
affiliate relationships
sponsorships
partnerships
gifted products
commercial interests

Make clear that commercial relationships should not automatically determine editorial conclusions.

Do not promise absolute independence if the supplied facts do not support such a claim. Phrase the policy responsibly.

12. Affiliate Links and Sponsored Content

If relevant, explain:

that affiliate links may generate commissions
that commissions generally do not add cost to the reader
how sponsored content is disclosed
how gifted products are disclosed when applicable
how commercial relationships relate to editorial decisions

If a commercial relationship does not apply, omit unnecessary language rather than inventing one.

Never imply that a product was personally tested unless that is confirmed.

13. How We Keep Articles Current

Explain how evergreen and time-sensitive content is maintained.

Discuss:

scheduled reviews
updating outdated information
checking links
removing unavailable products
updating prices or availability
revising trend information
replacing outdated references
improving explanations
updating visuals where necessary

If a specific review cycle is provided, use it.

If none is provided, use cautious wording such as “may be reviewed periodically” rather than inventing a precise commitment.

Explain the difference between meaningful updates and minor edits.

14. Reader Feedback and Corrections

Explain how readers can report:

factual errors
outdated information
broken links
misleading statements
unclear wording
attribution concerns
other editorial problems

Explain how corrections are reviewed.

If a correction timeline is provided, use it.

If no timeline is provided, do not invent a guaranteed response time. Instead use language such as:

“We review credible correction requests as promptly as practical.”

Explain that corrections may require additional source verification.

15. Contact for Editorial Questions

End with a clear contact section.

Include the supplied editorial contact email.

Tell readers what information is useful when reporting an issue, such as:

article title
article URL
specific claim or passage
explanation of the concern
supporting source or evidence

Do not invent contact information.

NICHE ADAPTATION

The policy must feel native to the website’s niche.

Do not simply replace [BRAND NAME] throughout a generic template.

Use terminology and examples appropriate to the actual subject matter.

For example:

A fashion site should discuss fit, styling, sizing, materials, trends, and wearability.
A food site should discuss ingredients, preparation, testing, substitutions, and food safety where relevant.
A travel site should discuss destination information, practical logistics, seasonal changes, transportation, and current details.
A technology site should discuss specifications, compatibility, versions, documentation, and practical usability.
A home site should discuss materials, dimensions, installation, maintenance, and real-world use.
A parenting site should use age-appropriate and safety-conscious editorial language.
A finance site should distinguish general information from regulated financial advice and prioritize authoritative sources.
A health site should use especially careful sourcing, professional review where actually available, and appropriate limitations.

TRANSPARENCY RULES

The finished policy must be transparent about limitations.

Never manufacture authority.

Never imply:

formal credentials that were not provided
professional review that did not happen
laboratory testing that did not happen
personal product testing that did not happen
original reporting that did not happen
direct interviews that did not happen
expert review that did not happen
a large editorial organization that does not exist

Credibility should come from clarity about the process, not exaggerated claims.

LEGAL AND POLICY BOUNDARIES

This is an editorial policy, not a Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, Affiliate Disclosure, or legal disclaimer.

Do not turn the page into a lengthy legal document.

Mention related policies only where useful.

If the site operates in a niche involving regulated or high-stakes information, clearly explain the appropriate limitations without pretending the site provides professional services.

Do not make guarantees such as:

“100% accurate”
“error-free”
“always up to date”
“completely unbiased”
“guaranteed results”

Use responsible language such as:

“we aim to”
“we make reasonable efforts to”
“we review”
“when applicable”
“where appropriate”

SEO REQUIREMENTS

Write naturally for readers first.

The page may naturally include phrases such as:

Editorial Guidelines
Editorial Policy
Content Standards
Fact-Checking
Editorial Process
Corrections
Content Updates
Editorial Independence

Do not keyword-stuff.

Do not create awkward SEO headings.

The page should be useful even if search engines did not exist.

READABILITY REQUIREMENTS

Optimize the finished page for mobile readers.

Use:

descriptive H2 headings
H3 subheadings where useful
short paragraphs
bullets for lists
logical progression
clear transitions
occasional emphasis where helpful

Avoid:

giant walls of text
repetitive explanations
excessive bolding
fake statistics
unnecessary legal jargon
repetitive disclaimers
generic filler

LENGTH

Aim for approximately 1,500–2,500 words, depending on the complexity of the website.

Do not add filler merely to reach a word count.

A smaller site with a simple editorial structure may need less.

A larger publication with contributors, experts, reviews, sponsorships, and multiple content types may need more.

FINAL QUALITY CHECK

Before delivering the policy, silently verify that:

The brand name is used consistently.
The niche is reflected throughout.
The audience is clearly considered.
The editorial process is understandable.
Topic selection is explained.
Research is explained.
Source evaluation is explained.
Fact-checking is explained.
Human review is accurately described.
AI usage is accurately described.
Editorial independence is addressed.
Commercial relationships are addressed when relevant.
Updates are addressed.
Corrections are addressed.
Reader feedback is addressed.
Contact information is accurate.
No fake staff, credentials, testing, or expertise has been invented.
No unsupported guarantees have been made.
The page does not read like a generic template.
The writing sounds like a real publication speaking to its readers.
The policy is professional enough to be published directly on the website.

OUTPUT INSTRUCTIONS

Return only the finished Editorial Guidelines Policy.

Do not explain your process.

Do not provide a draft followed by commentary.

Do not include placeholders unless the required information was genuinely not supplied.

If essential information is missing, use responsible general wording rather than inventing facts.

Use the brand’s first-person editorial voice (“we”, “our”, “us”) unless the supplied brand information clearly calls for another voice.

Start with an appropriate title such as:

Editorial Guidelines

Editorial Policy

Then write the complete, publication-ready policy using the structure above.

The final result should be polished enough to paste directly into a website CMS.