This page explains how Headlines UK produces its journalism — from the moment a story is assigned to the moment it is published and, if necessary, corrected. It is designed to help you understand exactly what you are reading, who wrote it, how it was reviewed, and what to do if something does not meet our standards. Every article on this site can be traced back to a named writer, a named editor, and a clear editorial process. If you ever have a question about a specific piece, the contact details below will reach the person responsible.
How does Headlines UK decide what to publish — and how is each story checked?
Every article published by Headlines UK follows a structured editorial process that prioritises accuracy, fairness and clarity. A story begins when a named writer from our team — such as Thomas Whitmore for politics or Amelia Grant for business — receives an assignment from the managing editor or pitches an idea through the newsdesk. The writer gathers information from primary sources, official documents, verifiable reports and, where appropriate, named on-the-record interviews. Once a draft is complete, it is passed to the relevant section editor (for example, Sophie Marlowe for culture pieces) who reviews the argument, structure and sourcing. The draft then goes to Oliver Reeves, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, who verifies every factual claim, checks direct quotations against original recordings or transcripts, and confirms the provenance of data. Only after this review is complete does the editor-in-chief, David Harwood, or his delegated senior editor give final approval for publication. No article is published without a human editor having read and signed off every line.
How can I tell the difference between news, opinion, features, sponsored content and affiliate links?
Headlines UK clearly labels each piece of content so that you always know what you are reading and whether any commercial relationship exists. News articles report facts and events without commentary; they are published under the “News” section and carry no byline label other than the writer’s name. Opinion pieces — including columns, analysis and editorials — are explicitly marked with the word “Opinion” near the headline and contain the writer’s personal viewpoint, which may differ from the publication’s editorial stance. Feature articles are long-form, contextual pieces that may include narrative and analysis; they are labelled “Feature” and often appear in dedicated sections such as “Culture” or “Business Deep Dive”. Sponsored content is produced or commissioned by a commercial partner and is always labelled “Sponsored” or “Paid Promotion” in a prominent position at the top of the page. Affiliate links, which may earn Headlines UK a small commission if you purchase a product, are disclosed at the point of the link or in a standard footer note. In every case, commercial considerations have no influence on editorial conclusions. Our sponsored content policy and advertising and affiliate disclosure contain full details.
What about transparency within each article — do you tell me who wrote it and when it was updated?
Every article on Headlines UK displays the full name of the writer who drafted it, the editor who reviewed it, and the date of publication. If the article is updated after publication — for example, to add a statement from a government department or to correct a factual error — a change note is added at the bottom of the article explaining what changed, when, and why. Our corrections policy governs this process, and any correction that materially changes the meaning of the story is flagged at the top of the page. Specific sources are hyperlinked where possible, and direct quotations are attributed to named individuals or to official documents. If a source is anonymous — which we use only in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the editor-in-chief — we explain why anonymity was granted.
Does Headlines UK use artificial intelligence, and if so, how?
Yes, Headlines UK uses AI-assisted tools for certain support functions, but these tools never replace human editorial judgement. AI may assist with research, drafting of metadata and headlines, transcription of audio interviews, formatting, and generating summary options for internal editorial meetings. No content is published without the full review and approval of a human editor. The AI is never used to fabricate quotes, sources, interviews, bylines, author experience or expert profiles. Our full AI and automation policy details which tools we use, for which tasks, and how we audit their output for accuracy and bias. If you suspect that a piece of content on this site was generated without human oversight, please contact Oliver Reeves immediately at factcheck@headlinesuk.uk.
Who is responsible for what — and how do I know the writer is a real person?
Every article carries the name of the writer who produced it, and each writer has a profile page on our Our Team page that includes their role, professional background, and direct email address. David Harwood, as editor-in-chief, holds ultimate responsibility for editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections. Rebecca Haines, the managing editor, oversees the daily newsroom and headline review. Thomas Whitmore handles all Westminster, council and policy coverage. Amelia Grant covers the economy, business and cost-of-living issues. Sophie Marlowe edits culture, lifestyle and society pieces. Oliver Reeves leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections. No writer or editor is anonymous, and all can be contacted via the phone numbers and email addresses listed on this page and on the Our Team page. If you wish to verify a writer’s credentials or professional history, you may contact our editorial office at +44 20 4587 9485.
How this works in practice
Let us walk through a concrete example. Suppose Amelia Grant is assigned to write a story about a new inflation figure released by the Office for National Statistics. She drafts the article, including direct quotes from the ONS release and from a named economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Thomas Whitmore, as politics editor, reviews the piece for relevance and framing. Oliver Reeves then checks the ONS figure against the original government dataset, confirms the economist’s quote is verbatim from a public interview, and verifies the date and context of the statistic. Only after David Harwood approves the final version does it go live. Later that day, the ONS issues a revision to the figure. The article is updated with a change note at the bottom, the percentage is corrected, and the correction is logged internally. This same process applies to every piece of content on the site — from a 300-word business brief to a 3,000-word feature on cultural policy.
Who owns Headlines UK, and does that affect editorial independence?
Headlines UK 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 publication is funded through display advertising, affiliate links, commercial partnerships, sponsored content, newsletter sponsorships, and content licensing — all of which are clearly labelled and disclosed. Commercial relationships never determine editorial conclusions, and no advertiser or partner has editorial control over any story. Full details of our ownership and funding structure can be found on our ownership and funding page, and our advertising and affiliate disclosure page explains how we manage those relationships transparently. The editorial team operates independently of the commercial team under the oversight of David Harwood.
What should I do if I have a complaint or spot an error?
If you believe an article contains a factual error, misrepresentation, or breach of our editorial standards, please contact Oliver Reeves at factcheck@headlinesuk.uk or use our dedicated complaints form at complaints procedure. We aim to acknowledge your complaint within two working days and to respond substantively within ten working days. Our complaints procedure is reviewed annually by David Harwood. For general editorial enquiries, you can reach the newsdesk at editorial@headlinesuk.uk or call +44 20 4587 9485. For other matters — including legal queries, privacy requests, advertising enquiries, or content licensing — please use the function email addresses listed on this page: privacy@headlinesuk.uk for data-related requests, legal@headlinesuk.uk for copyright or takedown issues, and partnerships@headlinesuk.uk for commercial collaborations.
In short
Headlines UK exists to provide clear, trustworthy, human-edited journalism that helps readers understand UK politics, business, technology and public affairs. Every article is written by a named journalist, reviewed by an editor, fact-checked by a dedicated specialist, and published under the ultimate responsibility of editor-in-chief David Harwood. If anything in this policy is unclear, or if you have a specific concern about a piece of content, the best first step is to email Oliver Reeves at factcheck@headlinesuk.uk. We are here to be accountable to you, our reader.