EDITORIAL POLICY

Sukha Media PLT Editorial Policy

 

Scope of Guidelines

Sukha Media PLT (“SM”), is the parent company of news, culture, and lifestyle brands BohoBureau. All SM writers and editors are expected to adhere to the core journalistic principles of accuracy, fairness, transparency, and respect, and seek to report stories in the public interest while minimising harm. 

In practice, this involves fact-checking; sourcing from primary documents, vetted experts and groups, or other trusted media organisations as necessary; abiding by journalistic best practices in reporting, writing, and editing; reaching out to necessary parties for comment; taking all measures to avoid defamation; and abiding by SM inclusivity and sensitivity guidelines.

Sensitivity

SM writers and editors are expected to work sensitively with vulnerable individuals, such as minors and those impacted by violence and sexual misconduct, and to prioritise maintaining their safety. This includes avoiding contributing to abuse in any form (including, but not limited to, doxing, outing, revenge porn, etc.). If a minor is interviewed for a piece, parent or guardian consent must be secured before publication of the interview.

Anonymity may be granted in certain circumstances to protect the privacy or safety of a source. Any anonymous sources must be known to both the writer and editor, even if the identity of the source is not revealed in the piece. The use of an anonymous source in an article must be approved by a senior editor; if anonymity is granted, the reason for the source’s anonymity is noted in the story for transparency to the reader.

SM writers and editors are expected to abide by SM’s guidelines — developed by consulting with relevant organisations on reporting best practices — for coverage of sensitive topics, including drug use and such. This includes appending helpline information to relevant articles, adding warnings about graphic or detailed information that could be triggering to a reader, and being deliberate with the use, or non-use, of certain details or terminology.

Health & Wellness Content Standards

SM aims to provide expert-sourced, science-backed health and wellness information to its readers. Therefore, pieces that provide health and/or wellness information cite peer-reviewed medical journals when relevant, and are transparent about the sources and experts interviewed (including if the expert has any known brand affiliations or potential conflicts of interest). Health and wellness articles also include a clear list of citations to studies referenced within the piece, as well as a list of experts who were interviewed for, or contributed to, the piece.

Updates

Articles may be updated after the initial date and time of publication to include comment from sources. Previously published articles may also be updated to include new research, information, products, or releases.

If a source’s comment is added to a story after publication, a clear update notice specifically mentioning the comment is added to the story for transparency. Any piece that is updated with new information after publication receives an updated date stamp, as well as an appended notice to readers of the date the piece was originally published.

Corrections

Articles with factual inaccuracies are corrected promptly and transparently, with a correction notice appended to the piece. To submit a request for a correction, email editorial@bohobureau.co 

Plagiarism

SM has a zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism. Writers are expected to use their own words and ideas, and provide clear and accurate citations to outside sources when relevant. SM also does not permit writers to “self-plagiarise” (when a writer reuses their own writing from a past piece in a new piece), and considers that plagiarism.

Any writer or editor who is found to have plagiarised is immediately terminated, and their past work is reviewed for any other instances of plagiarism. If additional plagiarism is found, those pieces are updated to meet SM’s editorial standards, and an Editor’s Note is added for transparency to the reader.

Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest

SM has a zero-tolerance policy for quid pro quo, or the exchange of money or gifts for a source’s cooperation with a story. All SM writers and editors strive to avoid conflicts of interest, both real and perceived. Any unavoidable conflicts of interest with regard to editorial coverage are required to have management approval and are disclosed in the piece for transparency.

All products featured in SM editorial stories are selected independently by editors. However, if SM stands to earn revenue from a piece through affiliate links or similar, a clear and transparent disclosure notice is included in the piece. 

Additionally, all products featured in SM commerce stories are selected independently by the commerce team; all articles written by the SM commerce team contain a clear and transparent disclosure notice in the piece, clarifying SM may earn revenue from links to products included in the piece.

If an SM article is sponsored content or produced by the SM branded content team — and is therefore not produced by the SM editorial team — it is clearly labelled as such.

Employee Conduct

All SM employees are expected to uphold and represent the values of the company in how they conduct themselves, both online and off, and are prohibited from using SM’s name for personal advantage.

Media Appearances

SM editors and staff members may sometimes make appearances in non-SM broadcast media, or be interviewed for non-SM print or digital outlets. Whenever this happens, they must first receive approval from their manager and the company, and must be clear in their appearance/interview whether or not they are speaking on behalf of SM. All editors and staff who appear in or comment for external media interviews are expected to carry themselves in a manner that is representative of SM.

 

 

For assistance in reaching our writer or editor, email dayana@bohobureau.co.

Last updated August 15, 2022.