Our Editorial Policy & Standards at The Stories Today

1. Introduction: Why We Set the Bar High

In the digital age, finding “news” is easy, but finding stories you can actually trust is becoming a bit of a challenge. At Stories Today, we don’t believe in just adding to the noise. This editorial policy isn’t just a page of “corporate speak”—it’s our contract with you, the reader.

At the end of the day, Stories Today is built on trust. That’s why we’ve laid out these guidelines. If we’re reporting on the M20 being a car park or digging into the real numbers behind a celebrity’s fortune, we want you to feel confident in what you’re reading. We aren’t here to play games with misleading headlines. Our commitment is to honest, responsible reporting—putting real, verified facts way ahead of viral metrics.”

2. Our Content Scope: Why These Stories Matter

You’ve likely noticed that our homepage is a bit of a mix. We cover everything from health and news to business, travel, and finance. Some might ask why a site covers both “hard” financial advice and “soft” celebrity updates. The answer is simple: that’s what real life looks like for our UK audience.

We cover business because you’re navigating a changing economy. We cover travel because we know the frustration of a cancelled flight to Greece or a ruined Cornish holiday. We cover health because wellness shouldn’t be a mystery. By covering this broad spectrum, we provide a holistic view of the world today—delivered through a lens that feels personal and relevant.

3. Our Research & Fact-Checking Process

A good story is only as strong as its foundation. At Stories Today, our research process starts long before a writer types their first word. We don’t just “summarise” what other people are saying. Our team is tasked with digging into the “why” of a story.

If we are reporting on a business trend, we look at the data. If we’re writing about a celebrity’s financial filings, we look at the actual documents, not just the social media chatter. Every piece of content goes through a rigorous internal review. We ask the tough questions: Is this source reliable? Is there a second opinion? Are we providing enough context for the reader to make their own mind up? This “slow-down” approach ensures that when we hit publish, we aren’t just fast—we’re right.

4. Sources & Information Standards

We don’t trade in shadows. Our reporting is built on a “gold standard” of sourcing. We rely on:

  • Verified Interviews: We talk to real people—from the “mate” who had a bad holiday experience to industry experts who know their stuff.
  • Official Statements: We don’t guess what the government or the police are doing; we wait for the official word from reputable bodies and press offices.
  • Reputable News Organisations: While we do our own legwork, we cross-reference our findings with established, high-integrity news outlets to ensure we aren’t missing a beat.
  • Public Databases: We are big fans of the paper trail. Whether it’s Companies House, land registries, or public court records, we use factual, public data to anchor our more complex financial and business stories.

5. The Rumour Mill: Our Stance

The internet loves a rumour, but we don’t. Our intent is always to inform, never to mislead. We have a strict policy against publishing baseless speculation. If a story is “breaking” and certain details are still up in the air, we will tell you that directly.

We would rather lose a few minutes of “breaking news” time than publish something that turns out to be a load of rubbish. If we mention a rumour, it is only to debunk it or to explain the context of why people are talking about it.

6. AI-Assisted Content Policy: Human-First

It’s 2026, and we’d be full of it if we claimed not to use technology! We do have AI tools at our disposal to aid in brainstorming and organising large sets of data—or to help a writer find a more succinct rendering of an obtuse sentence. But—and this is a big “but”—AI is a tool, not a journalist.

At Stories Today, every article is crafted and refined by real humans. And we believe the nuance, wit and empathy needed to tell a good story can come only from a person. An algorithm can’t inform you how it feels to have one’s holiday cancelled — but our writers certainly can.

7. Corrections, Updates, and Your Voice

We are human, and occasionally, we might trip up. The difference is how we handle it. We don’t “quietly” edit mistakes and hope no one notices. We are committed to total transparency.

If an error is identified:

  • We fix it immediately.
  • We update the timestamp.
  • We add a note if the change was significant, so you know exactly what was corrected.

We take your feedback positively. If you see something that doesn’t look right—be it a typo or a factual slip-up—please reach out. You can email us at contact@storiestoday.co.uk or use the contact form on our Contact Page. We don’t have an ego; we just want the site to be the best it can be.

8. Keeping Things Independent: No Secret Sales Pitches

Nothing kills trust faster than feeling like you’re being sold a “hidden” advert when you just wanted to read the news. That’s why we keep a massive wall between our editorial stories and our advertising partners. It’s what we call the “church and state” rule.

If a brand has paid for a post or if an item is part of a promotion, we’re not going to obscure it in tiny grey text. It will be labelled loud and clear so that it is obvious what is what. We don’t do “sneaky” ads or “under-the-table” deals. Our writers have the opportunity to express themselves and tell the truth without some corporate sponsor breathing down their necks. If we like something, you’ll hear it from us; if we don’t, you’ll also know that.

9. Our Moral Compass: Ethics and Plain Old Respect

Our approach to ethics isn’t complicated: we just treat people with the respect they deserve. We aren’t interested in being a “trashy” tabloid; we’re here to be a reliable neighbour.

  • Privacy is vital: we aren’t the types to hide in bushes or go for “paparazzi-style” cheap shots. Unless there is a genuine, massive reason for the public to know, a person’s private life stays just that—private.
  • Death to Clickbait: We despise those “You won’t believe what happened next!” headlines as much as you do. We like for our titles to actually tell the reader what the story is about. We want you to click because you care, not because we tricked you into it.
  • Facts Over Friction: We trade in hard evidence, not character assassination. If we can’t substantiate it, we don’t publish it. We don’t do bullying; we do reporting.
  • Handling the Heavy Stuff: When we write about health scares, personal grief, people losing money — we never make light of that. We understand that these stories involve real families and real stress, so we treat those topics with the sensitivity they merit.

10. Building Long-Term Trust

At the end of the day, we want to be a site you hit every morning. We aim to foster a community, not just a single viral post. We believe that adhering to the rules is how we can build a space that is entertaining while also trustworthy.

Stories Today is guided by strict editorial standards, including observation, neutrality, expert judgement and consistency. We don’t just follow the crowd; we lead with integrity, ensuring our readers always get the full picture.

11. Contact Us

For any editorial concerns, suggestions for stories, or just to say hello, our team is ready to listen. You can reach us through our official channels on the Stories Today website. Your input is what helps us grow and stay sharp.

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