Editorial Guidelines — Chronicle by The Trending People
Effective Date: January 01, 2026
Last Updated: January 01, 2026
At Chronicle by The Trending People, our mission is to deliver accurate, fair, and timely journalism that informs, educates, and engages readers. These Editorial Guidelines explain how we gather, verify, publish, review, and correct information across our platform. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and editorial integrity.
1. Our Editorial Values
Chronicle follows these core principles in every story we publish:
- Accuracy over speed
- Truthfulness and fairness
- Independence from political or commercial influence
- Transparency in sourcing and reporting
- Respect for individuals and communities
- Accountability for errors
Our editorial team works to ensure all content upholds these values.
2. Accuracy and Verification
Accuracy is our highest priority. Before publishing any content, we:
- Verify information using multiple credible sources
- Cross-check facts, statistics, and claims
- Attribute information clearly to its source
- Avoid exaggeration, speculation, or misleading framing
- Ensure headlines accurately reflect the story
We do not knowingly publish false or unverified information.
3. Use of Sources
We rely on a combination of:
- Official statements
- Government documents
- Verified press releases
- On-record interviews
- Direct reporting from the field
- Expert opinions
- Reputable news agencies
When anonymous sources are used, they must meet strict requirements:
- The information is essential and cannot be obtained otherwise
- The source is credible and vetted
- Editorial staff knows the identity of the source
- We explain why anonymity was granted
We avoid using unnamed social media posts as standalone sources.
4. Corrections and Updates
Chronicle maintains full transparency about errors and updates.
If an article contains a factual error:
- We correct it as quickly as possible
- We add an update note at the bottom of the article
- We do not hide or delete mistakes unless legally required
For major corrections, we publish a Correction Notice.
For minor updates (such as additional context), we add an Update Note with a timestamp.
Readers can request corrections at: corrections@thetrendingpeople.com
5. Editorial Independence
Our editorial decisions are independent of:
- Political affiliations
- Government pressure
- Corporate influence
- Paid partnerships
- Sponsors or advertisers
Advertising never influences our news reporting.
Sponsored content is clearly labeled as “Sponsored,” “Advertisement,” or “Partner Content.”
6. Conflicts of Interest
Editors and writers may not:
- Report on organizations in which they have financial interests
- Accept gifts, money, or favors from sources
- Promote personal political opinions in news stories
- Use their position for influence or personal gain
If a conflict exists, the staff member is removed from coverage relating to that topic.
7. Use of AI and Automated Tools
We follow strict guidelines for AI:
- AI tools may assist with research, transcription, or grammar checks.
- AI does not generate entire news articles.
- All content is edited and verified by human editorial staff.
- AI-generated suggestions are reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
Readers will never receive unchecked or unverified AI-produced news.
8. Sensitive Content Handling
We avoid unnecessary graphic, violent, or disturbing details.
When reporting sensitive issues such as crime, disaster, or death, we:
- Prioritize accuracy over sensationalism
- Protect identity of victims and minors
- Avoid publishing unverified allegations
- Provide context without encouraging harm or stigma
9. Opinion, Analysis, and Editorials
We clearly distinguish between:
- News (objective reporting)
- Opinion (personal views)
- Analysis (expert interpretation of facts)
Opinion and analysis pieces include clear labels and disclaimers.
10. Diversity, Inclusivity, and Representation
Chronicle strives to:
- Represent communities fairly
- Avoid stereotypes and discriminatory language
- Ensure diverse voices and viewpoints in coverage
- Use respectful terminology when referring to individuals and groups
11. User-Generated Content
When publishing comments, submissions, or reports from readers:
- We review for authenticity, clarity, and appropriateness
- We remove content that violates our policies (hate, abuse, misinformation, spam)
- We clearly label user submissions when used in a story
12. Sponsored, Branded, and Affiliate Content
Sponsored or branded content:
- Is clearly labeled as non-editorial
- Does not influence newsroom decisions
- Must follow our ethical guidelines
Affiliate links may appear in some stories, but they do not affect editorial choices.
13. Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
We do not:
- Copy content from other publishers
- Reuse quotes or data without attribution
- Reproduce copyrighted content without permission
Writers using external material must provide attribution and links where appropriate.
14. Photo, Video, and Graphic Use
All visual content must:
- Be original, licensed, or used with permission
- Be credited appropriately
- Not misrepresent reality through deceptive editing
When images are representational, we include captions such as “Representative Image”.
15. Legal Compliance
Chronicle follows all applicable laws, including:
- Copyright (DMCA)
- Data protection and privacy laws
- Indian media and IT regulations
- Defamation laws
- Advertising and disclosure laws
We remove or review content when required by legal notice or court order.
16. How to Reach Our Editorial Team
For editorial questions, story pitches, corrections, or concerns:
Email: editorial@thetrendingpeople.com
Corrections: corrections@thetrendingpeople.com
General inquiries: info@thetrendingpeople.com
Conclusion
These Editorial Guidelines ensure every story published by Chronicle is accurate, fair, and responsible. Our commitment to journalistic integrity remains at the core of everything we do.
