If you have a story, a document, a pattern of concern or a lead that you think Headlines UK should investigate, this page explains how to share it with us safely and effectively. Every tip we receive is treated seriously, and our editorial team follows a clear process to assess, verify and, where appropriate, publish the information in the public interest.
What kind of stories should you tip us about?
We are looking for tips that serve the public interest: political developments that affect how the country is run, business stories that reveal market failures or consumer harm, data that exposes systematic problems, and evidence of institutional wrongdoing or misuse of power. A good tip is specific, verifiable and timely.
For example, a leaked council document showing a pattern of safety violations in social housing, an internal memo from a government department outlining a policy change that has not been announced, or a spreadsheet from a tech company’s finance team that suggests unfair pricing practices — all of these would fit our editorial mission. We are less interested in personal grievances, rumours or anonymous allegations that cannot be backed by documentary evidence or multiple sources. If in doubt, send it anyway; our fact-checking team will decide whether it meets our thresholds.
How do you get in touch?
You can reach us securely through three dedicated email addresses. For general tips and story suggestions, write to tips@headlinesuk.uk. For time-sensitive developments or coordinated story submissions, use newsdesk@headlinesuk.uk. If you represent an organisation or are a PR professional with a press release or background briefing, press@headlinesuk.uk is the correct channel.
All emails are received by our editorial team and reviewed daily. If you prefer not to email, you may also phone our UK editorial line on +44 20 4587 9485 and ask for the newsdesk. Please note that voicemails are checked regularly and we cannot guarantee a callback for every message, but we will make every effort to respond where a genuine lead is apparent.
What should you include in your tip?
The more context you can provide, the better we can assess your tip. At a minimum, please include a clear summary of what you are reporting, when and where the events occurred, and any documents, images or links that support your claim. If you are a source with direct knowledge, indicate your relationship to the story (for example, “I worked in the finance department from 2020 to 2024”) without revealing personal details you are not comfortable sharing.
If you have a large dataset or complex files, a brief covering note explaining what the data shows and why you believe it is newsworthy is extremely helpful. We do not require a fully written article — we have journalists for that. What we need is the raw material and a plausible reason to investigate.
How do we verify tips?
Verification is at the heart of everything we publish. Our standards desk, led by Oliver Reeves, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, reviews every tip that reaches publication stage. The team cross-checks documents against official records, contacts relevant parties for comment, and consults independent experts where needed.
We operate under a published fact‑checking policy and a set of sourcing standards that require at least two independent sources for any claim that could cause reputational or legal harm. Anonymous tips are never used as the sole basis for a story; we will seek additional corroboration or decline to publish. If you are uncomfortable revealing your identity, read the confidentiality section below.
What about confidentiality?
We treat the identity of every tipster with the highest level of discretion. Our editorial team will not disclose your name, contact details or any identifying information without your explicit consent, unless compelled by a court order. If you wish to remain anonymous, please state that clearly in your first message, and do not include your real name in the body of the email.
For particularly sensitive material, we encourage you to use encrypted email or a secure drop. Our editorial team can provide guidance on secure methods if you contact us with a request. We also advise against using work computers or networks to send tips that could be monitored by your employer.
What happens after you submit a tip?
Your tip is logged by our newsdesk and assigned a reference number within one working day. A reporter or the managing editor, Rebecca Haines, will review it to decide whether it fits our editorial priorities and meets initial plausibility checks. If it does, we will begin a fact‑finding process — this may take from a few hours to several weeks depending on complexity.
You will receive an acknowledgement unless you have requested no further contact. We cannot promise that every tip will become a story, but we will let you know if we decide not to pursue it. If we do publish, you will be informed beforehand, and we will discuss how (if at all) you are credited. If you later discover an error in a published story that originated from your tip, please send corrections to corrections@headlinesuk.uk and we will follow our corrections policy.
How this works in practice
Consider a real example. A former council employee emailed tips@headlinesuk.uk with a spreadsheet showing that a local authority had consistently under‑reported the number of temporary housing placements for homeless families. The tip included the council’s internal data, a short explanatory note, and the employee’s role (without their name). Our fact‑checking team obtained the official statistics from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, cross‑referenced the figures, and interviewed two housing charities. The discrepancies were confirmed. The story ran with the council’s response and led to a parliamentary question. The tipster remained anonymous throughout.
About Headlines UK and its ownership
Headlines UK (headlinesuk.uk) is an independent British digital news publisher covering UK politics, business, technology, culture and public affairs. It is owned and operated by Sliema Media Limited, a company registered in Malta (Malta Business Registry number C 84217), with its registered office at Level 3, Tower Business Centre, Tower Street, Swatar, Birkirkara BKR 4013, Malta. The site is funded through display advertising, affiliate links, sponsored content, newsletter sponsorships and content licensing — all clearly labelled. Our ownership and funding page provides full details.
Our editorial independence is absolute. Commercial relationships never determine editorial conclusions. The editor‑in‑chief, David Harwood, is responsible for all editorial decisions and can be reached at david.harwood@headlinesuk.uk or on +44 20 4587 9485.
In short
If you have a tip that serves the public interest — whether it concerns politics, business, public‑interest matters or data that reveals systematic problems — send it to tips@headlinesuk.uk with as much context as possible. Our fact‑checking team led by Oliver Reeves will assess it confidentially, and if the story is verified, we will publish it with full editorial accountability.