Skip to content

Stanford Tech Review

Editorial Guidelines

Last Updated: January 2025

Editorial Guidelines

Stanford Tech Review is committed to the highest standards of journalism. These guidelines govern our reporting, writing, and editorial processes to ensure accuracy, fairness, and ethical journalism that serves our readers in Silicon Valley and the global technology community.

Core Principles

Accuracy and Verification

  • Fact-checking: Every factual claim must be verified through at least two independent sources before publication
  • Quotes: All quotes must be accurate and used in proper context. We do not alter quotes except for clarity, and any such changes must be clearly indicated
  • Corrections: When errors occur, we correct them promptly and transparently, noting the correction at the top of the article
  • Source attribution: We clearly identify the source of all information and distinguish between firsthand reporting and information obtained from other sources

Independence and Integrity

  • Editorial independence: Our editorial decisions are made independently of commercial, political, or other external pressures
  • Conflicts of interest: Journalists must disclose any potential conflicts of interest to editors and, when relevant, to readers
  • Sponsored content: Advertising and sponsored content must be clearly labeled and kept separate from editorial content
  • Gifts and favors: Staff members may not accept gifts, favors, or compensation from sources or subjects of coverage

Fairness and Balance

  • Multiple perspectives: Stories on controversial topics must include diverse viewpoints and give subjects of critical coverage an opportunity to respond
  • Context: We provide sufficient context for readers to understand the significance and implications of events and issues
  • Avoiding bias: While we embrace diverse perspectives in opinion and analysis pieces, news reporting must be fair and free from political, ideological, or personal bias
  • Representation: We strive to include diverse voices in tech, not just dominant personalities

Privacy and Sensitivity

  • Privacy rights: We respect individuals' privacy and only publish private information when it serves a clear public interest
  • Vulnerable subjects: Extra care is taken when reporting on children, victims of crime or tragedy, and other vulnerable individuals
  • Graphic content: We carefully consider whether graphic images or descriptions serve the public interest before publication
  • Cultural sensitivity: We are mindful of the tech industry's diversity challenges and ensure respectful coverage of all communities

Specific Standards

Sources and Attribution

  • On-the-record: We prefer on-the-record sourcing. Anonymous sources are used only when necessary and with editor approval
  • Anonymous sources: When granting anonymity, we explain why in the story and verify that the source has direct knowledge
  • Documents: We seek to review original documents rather than relying on others' characterizations
  • Expert sources: We identify experts' credentials and any potential conflicts of interest

Technology Company Coverage

  • Critical scrutiny: Tech companies receive the same critical scrutiny as companies in any other industry
  • Financial conflicts: Staff must disclose stock ownership, options, or investments in tech companies
  • Hype vs. reality: We distinguish between company claims and verified capabilities
  • Product launches: Product coverage balances enthusiasm with critical analysis
  • Corporate governance: We cover tech company governance, leadership, and board issues

Startup and Venture Capital

  • Funding disclosure: We report funding amounts, valuations, and investor identities when available
  • Skepticism: Startup coverage includes appropriate skepticism about claims and projections
  • Business model scrutiny: We examine the viability of business models, not just funding amounts
  • Failure coverage: We cover startup failures and pivots with fairness and context
  • VC relationships: We examine venture capital relationships, conflicts, and influence

Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Tech

  • Technical accuracy: AI and emerging tech coverage is technically accurate and informed
  • Expert consultation: We consult with qualified experts, including academic researchers
  • Hype detection: We distinguish between genuine advances and marketing hype
  • Ethical implications: We examine ethical, social, and policy implications of new technologies
  • Peer-reviewed research: When covering research, we prioritize peer-reviewed studies

Privacy and Security

  • Responsible disclosure: Security vulnerability reporting follows responsible disclosure practices
  • User privacy: We cover privacy issues with attention to user impacts
  • Data breaches: Data breach coverage is accurate, contextual, and timely
  • Encryption and surveillance: We cover encryption, surveillance, and civil liberties issues
  • Source protection: We protect confidential sources, especially in security reporting

Platform and Content Moderation

  • Free speech balance: We cover content moderation issues with nuance and balance
  • Platform accountability: We hold platforms accountable for their policies and enforcement
  • Misinformation: We cover misinformation and disinformation without amplifying false claims
  • Algorithm transparency: We examine algorithmic decision-making and its impacts
  • User harm: We investigate how platforms affect users, especially vulnerable populations

Diversity and Inclusion

  • Industry demographics: We cover diversity issues in tech with data and context
  • Hiring and promotion: We examine hiring, promotion, and retention practices
  • Workplace culture: We investigate toxic workplace cultures and harassment
  • Representation in coverage: Our coverage seeks diverse sources and perspectives
  • Founder diversity: We cover diversity among startup founders and venture capital

Research and Academic Coverage

  • Stanford connection: We maintain editorial independence despite Stanford affiliation
  • Academic rigor: Research coverage distinguishes between preliminary findings and established science
  • Conflict disclosure: We disclose research funding sources and potential conflicts
  • Peer review: We prioritize peer-reviewed research over preprints or press releases
  • Academic freedom: We respect academic freedom while maintaining journalistic scrutiny

Business and Financial Reporting

  • Disclosure: Journalists covering business must disclose any financial interests that could affect their coverage
  • IPOs and public markets: Public market coverage is accurate and contextual
  • Market-moving news: We handle market-sensitive information responsibly
  • Corporate relationships: We maintain independence from advertisers and business interests
  • Economic analysis: We provide informed economic analysis of tech industry trends

Policy and Regulation

  • Tech policy: We cover technology policy at local, state, federal, and international levels
  • Regulatory scrutiny: We cover antitrust, privacy regulation, and other regulatory issues
  • Lobbying and influence: We report on tech industry lobbying and political influence
  • Global regulation: We cover international tech regulation and its impacts
  • Policy expertise: Policy coverage includes qualified policy experts and advocates

Labor and Working Conditions

  • Gig economy: We cover gig work, contractor issues, and labor classification
  • Working conditions: We investigate working conditions at tech companies and in tech supply chains
  • Unions and organizing: We cover labor organizing in tech fairly and comprehensively
  • Automation: We examine automation's impact on workers and employment
  • Wage and equity: We cover compensation, equity, and economic inequality in tech

Digital and Social Media

Online Standards

  • Same standards apply: Editorial standards apply equally to all platforms, including social media
  • Headlines: Headlines must be accurate and not misleading, even for digital engagement
  • Speed vs. accuracy: We prioritize accuracy over speed and update stories as new information becomes available
  • Corrections online: Online corrections are made clearly and transparently, with notation of what was changed

Social Media Conduct

  • Professional standards: Staff maintain professional standards on personal social media accounts
  • Engagement: We engage respectfully with readers and critics on social media
  • Breaking news: Social media posts must meet the same verification standards as published articles
  • Personal opinions: Staff must be mindful that personal opinions on social media may reflect on the publication

Use of AI and Technology

  • AI assistance: Artificial intelligence tools may be used to assist with research, editing, and content generation, but all content must be reviewed and verified by human editors
  • Disclosure: Significant use of AI in content creation or newsgathering must be disclosed to readers
  • Critical examination: We critically examine AI tools we use and their limitations
  • Human oversight: Final editorial decisions and fact-checking remain the responsibility of human journalists
  • Transparency: We are transparent about our use of technology in the newsgathering and publishing process

Accountability

To Our Readers

  • Transparency: We explain our processes and decisions when readers have questions
  • Reader feedback: We welcome and respond to reader feedback and concerns
  • Complaints: Formal complaints are reviewed by senior editors and addressed promptly
  • Public editor: Readers may contact our editorial leadership with concerns about coverage

To Our Sources

  • Clarity: We are clear with sources about how their information will be used
  • Respect: We treat sources with respect, even when covering them critically
  • Promises: We honor commitments made to sources about attribution and timing
  • Follow-up: We follow up with sources when stories develop or change

To Our Profession

  • Ethical standards: We adhere to the highest standards of journalistic ethics
  • Continuous improvement: We regularly review and update our practices
  • Training: Staff receive ongoing training in journalistic standards and ethics
  • Industry leadership: We contribute to advancing journalism standards in technology coverage

These guidelines are living principles that evolve with our journalism. Questions about these guidelines should be directed to our editorial leadership.