Editorial Policy

Last Updated: February 18, 2026

Bolton Today is committed to delivering accurate, fair, and responsible journalism for the people of Bolton and the wider UK. Our editorial standards are designed to uphold the highest principles of integrity, independence, and transparency.

This Editorial Policy outlines how we create, verify, and publish our content.

Editorial Independence

Bolton Today operates with full editorial independence.
All editorial decisions are made without influence from advertisers, sponsors, political parties, or external organizations.

Advertising, sponsored content, and affiliate material (if any) are clearly labeled and separated from editorial content.

Accuracy and Fact-Checking

We are committed to publishing information that is accurate and verified.

Our editorial team:

Verifies facts using reliable and authoritative sources
Confirms information with primary sources whenever possible
Cross-checks claims before publication
Updates or corrects content promptly when errors are identified

We do not knowingly publish false, misleading, or manipulated information.

Sources and Attribution

Bolton Today values transparency in sourcing.

We:

Attribute information to its original source wherever applicable
Distinguish clearly between verified facts and opinion
Avoid anonymous sources unless necessary for public interest and safety
Do not plagiarize content from other publishers

All original reporting is clearly credited to its author.

Author Responsibility and Expertise

Each article published on Bolton Today includes:

The author’s name
A short author bio outlining their experience or expertise
The date of publication and last update (if applicable)

Our writers are selected based on their knowledge of local news, public affairs, and relevant subject matter.

Corrections and Updates Policy

We take responsibility for our mistakes.

If an error is discovered:

The article will be corrected promptly
A correction notice will be added where appropriate
Major factual changes will be disclosed transparently

Content Standards

Bolton Today publishes original journalism covering:

Local news and events
Politics and public services
Business and economy
Crime and safety
Education and health
Culture and community stories

We do not publish:

Hate speech or discriminatory content
Sensational or misleading headlines (clickbait)
Content that promotes violence or illegal activity
Medical, legal, or financial advice without qualified sourcing

Opinion and Editorial Content

Opinion articles are clearly labeled as “Opinion” or “Editorial.”

They represent the views of the author and not necessarily those of Bolton Today.
Opinion pieces are based on factual information and respectful debate.

Privacy and Ethics

Bolton Today respects privacy and ethical journalism standards.

We:

Avoid unnecessary intrusion into private lives
Protect minors and vulnerable individuals
Follow UK data protection and privacy regulations
Do not publish personal data without lawful and editorial justification

Community Trust and Accountability

We aim to serve the Bolton community with responsible reporting.

Readers can contact our editorial team for:

Corrections
Complaints
Feedback
Story tips

Use of Artificial Intelligence

If artificial intelligence tools are used in any part of content creation:

All content is reviewed and edited by human editors before publication
AI is used only as a support tool, not as the final decision-maker
Responsibility for accuracy remains with Bolton Today’s editorial team

Why This Editorial Policy Matters

This policy helps Bolton Today:

Meet Google News and Discover content quality requirements
Demonstrate transparency and trustworthiness
Improve eligibility for news surfaces and recommendation systems
Build long-term reader credibility