Ethics Policy

Qlork's ethics policy is rooted in the principles that have defined credible journalism for generations: truth, fairness, accountability, and a commitment to minimising harm. These are not aspirations — they are binding standards that apply to every member of our staff, from reporters to editors to contributors. Journalism done right is a public service, and Qlork takes that responsibility seriously.

Qlork does not endorse political parties, candidates, or ideologies. Our news coverage is guided by the facts of a story, not by political preference. Staff are expected to maintain impartiality in their reporting and to avoid public expressions of political opinion that could undermine confidence in our independence.

• Journalists do not campaign for, donate to, or publicly endorse political candidates
• Party membership or political affiliations must be declared to editors
• Editorial positions on policy are clearly labeled as such and distinguished from news reporting

Sources who provide information in confidence will be protected. Qlork will not disclose the identity of an anonymous source without their explicit consent, except where required by law. This commitment to source protection is fundamental to the trust that makes investigative and public-interest journalism possible. Reporters are trained in secure communications and digital safety practices to protect sources from exposure.

Qlork covers difficult stories — crime, tragedy, conflict, and human suffering. We do so with care. Our journalists approach vulnerable individuals with compassion and without coercion. We follow established guidance on reporting sensitive subjects including:

• Suicide and self-harm — following safe messaging guidelines endorsed by mental health organisations
• Sexual violence — protecting survivor identity and avoiding gratuitous detail
• Child welfare — never publishing information that could identify or endanger a minor
• Grief and trauma — seeking consent before interviewing individuals in acute distress

Qlork is committed to reflecting the full breadth of the communities we cover. We seek out diverse voices, perspectives, and sources — not as a box-ticking exercise, but because journalism that represents only a narrow slice of society fails most of the people it is meant to serve. We review our sourcing regularly to identify and address gaps in representation across gender, ethnicity, geography, age, and background.

Individuals have a right to privacy. Qlork only intrudes on that privacy when there is a clear and demonstrable public interest that outweighs it. We do not publish private information without consent, unless the information is directly relevant to a significant matter of public concern.

• Public figures retain privacy rights in areas unrelated to their public role
• Private individuals receive stronger privacy protections than those who seek public attention
• Photographs and images are used only with permission or where their publication is clearly justified

Any content produced in partnership with or paid for by a commercial organisation is clearly and prominently labeled as sponsored or partner content. It is never presented in a way that could be mistaken for independent editorial coverage. Our commercial team and editorial team operate separately — no advertiser has input into our news coverage, and no editorial coverage is provided in exchange for advertising.

Qlork uses AI tools to assist in research, transcription, and administrative workflows. AI-generated text is never published as original journalism without full review, verification, and editing by a human journalist. We do not use AI to fabricate quotes, sources, or facts. Any article that involves significant AI assistance in its drafting will note this transparently. Our editorial standards apply equally to AI-assisted and human-authored content.

Members of the public or Qlork staff who believe an ethical standard has been breached are encouraged to raise the matter directly. Staff concerns can be raised confidentially with the Editor-in-Chief. Reader concerns should be submitted to [email protected]. All ethics reports are reviewed and responded to within two business days. Qlork takes every ethics concern seriously and investigates impartially.