Our ethics policy
The values that decide what we cover, how we cover it, and what we will not run no matter who is asking. These rules apply to every reporter, subeditor, columnist, and contributor under the behindtalkies masthead.
Independence
behindtalkies is editorially independent of political parties, party functionaries, government bodies, and the commercial interests of our advertisers. No party, official, advertiser, or shareholder has approval rights over a story, a headline, a placement decision, or a publication date. The editor-in-chief reports to the publisher on budget and staffing only; on editorial matters, the editor's decision is final.
Members of the editorial team do not hold office in any political party, do not work on or fundraise for any campaign, and do not take retainers, gifts, junkets, or hospitality from sources or subjects of coverage. Travel and accommodation paid for by a subject of a story — a film studio, a record label, a government department, a corporate house — is disclosed at the foot of the story.
Conflicts of interest
Reporters disclose any personal, financial, or family relationship with a subject of coverage to their section editor before the story is commissioned. If the relationship would reasonably cause a reader to doubt the reporter's neutrality, the story is reassigned. Material conflicts that cannot be reassigned around — for example, a senior editor's spouse working at a company we are investigating — are disclosed in the story itself.
Sponsored content
Sponsored content, partner content, and affiliate links are clearly labelled with a Sponsored or Partner content banner at the top of the page, in the article card, and in any social share. Sponsored stories do not appear in breaking-news rails, in the Top Stories module, or in the daily newsletter's editorial section. The newsroom does not write sponsored copy; the sales team handles those briefs separately.
We retain the right to refuse sponsored placements that promote misleading claims, that target minors, that promote political candidates during an election period, or that conflict with the public-interest reporting on this site. No advertiser receives advance copy of editorial stories — including stories about that advertiser.
No paid placement
We do not accept payment, gifts, or favourable arrangements in exchange for editorial coverage, for a positive review, or for burying a story. Approaches of this kind are reported to the editor-in-chief and, in serious cases, become a story themselves.
Anonymity and whistleblowers
Readers and sources may contact the newsroom anonymously. We use Signal, ProtonMail, and a physical drop address for sensitive tips, and we do not log the IP address of submissions made through these channels. We will protect a source's identity to the limit of the law and beyond the comfort of any reporter or editor who handles their material.
Reporting on minors
We do not name minors involved in criminal investigations, whether as accused, victim, or witness, and we do not publish identifying photographs of minors in distress. Stories that involve children are reviewed by the editor-in-chief or a deputy before publication. The same rule applies to social-media material involving children: a post going viral is not a licence to amplify a child's name or face on this site.
Survivors of violence
We do not name survivors of sexual violence. We do not publish photographs that could identify them, including images of their homes, neighbourhoods, schools, or workplaces. We do not republish such material from other publications, social media, or wire services.
Communal and electoral reporting
We do not run copy or headlines that could foreseeably incite violence against a community on the basis of religion, caste, gender, sexual orientation, or language. During election periods we follow the Election Commission of India's silence-period rules and do not publish exit polls before they are formally permitted.
Corrections and accountability
When we get something wrong, we correct it openly. The full process is documented on the corrections page. Persistent disregard for this ethics policy is a disciplinary matter and, in serious cases, a termination matter.
To raise a confidential concern about a story or an editorial decision, write to hi@behindtalkies.com. The editor-in-chief reads every message at this address.
For the verification rules that sit alongside this policy, see the fact-checking page. To see the people responsible for each desk, visit the editorial team page.