Computer Weekly Editorial Policies and Code of Conduct

Computer Weekly is an international B2B technology publication from TechTarget, with journalists employed in the UK, Germany, Singapore and Mexico. We also commission freelance journalists from around the world.

Our mission, as detailed in our About Us page, is to help senior IT professionals make better IT strategy and technology purchasing decisions; improve their knowledge and skills, and develop their careers; and connect with the people and information they need to be successful in their jobs. 

Our journalists follow the editorial codes of conduct, media regulations, ethics and transparency policies applicable to the region in which they are located, as detailed here. We also comply with the relevant parts of TechTarget’s Editorial Ethics Policy, shown below.

UK 

In the UK, Computer Weekly complies with the Editor’s Code of Practice published by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), although it should be noted that we are not a member of IPSO.

We also comply with the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Code of Conduct, although we do not mandate membership of the NUJ for our staff.

We also comply with relevant media regulations, such as the UK Data Protection Act (2018) – the UK implementation of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – where it applies to the activity of journalism.

ASEAN countries

We comply with the Confederation of ASEAN Journalists' Code of Ethics. Besides adhering to general ethical principles of accuracy, fairness, transparency and accountability, ASEAN journalists shall pay due regard to the multi-ethnic, cultural and religious fabric of ASEAN countries. 

ASEAN journalists shall not write reports, opinions or comments which would endanger the security of his/her country or foment armed confrontation between his/her country and any other ASEAN country, striving at all times, instead, to promote closer friendly relations among them. 

Australia

We comply with the Press Charter/Code of Ethics from the Australian Press Council.  

The press shall not be subject to government licence and government authorities should not interfere with the content of news nor restrict access to any news source. The press has a responsibility to the public to commit itself to self-regulation which provides a mechanism for dealing with the concerns of members of the public and the maintenance of the ethical standards and journalistic professionalism of the press. This includes adhering to principles of accuracy and clarity, fairness and balance, privacy and avoidance of harm, and integrity and transparency. 

India

We comply with the Press Council of India – Norms of journalistic conduct. General journalistic principles of accuracy, fairness, transparency and accountability apply in India.

The press has a right to highlight cases of corruption and irregularities in public bodies, but such material should be based on irrefutable evidence. The press shall not intrude or invade the privacy of an individual, unless outweighed by genuine overriding public interest, not being a prurient or morbid curiosity.

The press shall not tape-record anyone's conversation without that person's knowledge or consent, except where the recording is necessary to protect the journalist in a legal action, or for other compelling good reason. 

Caste identification of a person or a particular class should be avoided, particularly when in the context it conveys a sense or attributes a conduct or practice derogatory to that caste. 

Germany 

Computer Weekly publishes a German website at ComputerWeekly.de, which includes our editorial code of conduct and policies as it applies to that region. 

Latin America 

Computer Weekly publishes a Spanish website at ComputerWeekly.es and a Brazilian website at ComputerWeekly.com.br, both of which include our editorial code of conduct and policies that apply to Latin America.

Latin American sites seek to adhere to the principles of honesty, truthfulness, credibility, reliability, actuality, seriousness, independence, objectivity, professionalism, versatility and excellence wielded by various publishing groups.

Likewise, TechTarget's editorial team in Latin America follows the principles established in the World Charter of Ethics for Journalists, espoused by the International Federation of Journalists of Latin America and the Caribbean (FECALP).

Other regional bodies that promote regulations and ethical principles for Latin American journalists include the Declaration of Principles of Journalism of the Latin American Center for Journalism, and the Codes of Ethics of the Inter-American Journalism Society.

In Brazil, our collaborators must adhere to the Code of Ethics for Brazilian Journalists of the National Federation of Journalists, as well as the principles established by the Brazilian Press Association and, if they belong to a union, obey the applicable code of ethics.

TechTarget Editorial Ethics Policy

Conflicts of Interest

TechTarget's editorial staff makes final editorial decisions on content coverage. In all ways, editorial coverage is based primarily on reader needs in the view of the editors.

All dealings with non-editorial personnel -- including public relations representatives and story sources -- are conducted with the clear understanding that no preferential editorial treatment should be expected from the interaction.

Contacts With Advertisers and Advertising Sales Staff

No quid pro quo. There is no trading of advertising for editorial coverage or editorial coverage for advertising.

Editorial staff should never be part of advertiser, client or sponsor solicitation. In the rare instance an editorial staff member accompanies TechTarget sales personnel on calls, it is with the clear mutual understanding that the meeting won't result in preferential editorial treatment of the sponsor, advertiser or client.

If an editor accompanies a publisher or sales staff on an advertising, client or sponsorship-related visit, agenda items may include discussing industry trends, explaining editorial policy and direction, or describing the readership. Editors are not permitted to be present during any specific discussion of advertising or sponsorship matters.

If an advertiser recommends a story idea or lead, editors make an independent judgment about possible use, based on their analysis of reader needs.

Favorable editorial coverage never hinges on the prospect of ad sales, financial gain or other factors that are not related to editorial integrity.

Non-editorial staff are not permitted to preview an unpublished article. Exceptions - allowed to ensure the technical accuracy of material - include sharing previews or article excerpts for experts, editorial advisory board members or other sources. It may be acceptable for the editor to ask a source to review quotes or sections to ensure accuracy and clarity.

Public Relations Personnel

If a public relations contact arranges for an expert author to produce an article at an editor's request, the author should be identified as a guest contributor, with company affiliation and job title clearly listed. The article provided should meet all editorial requirements set by the editors, and should be edited in the manner of staff-generated or freelance-contracted content.

When an article idea originates from a press release or PR contact, editors and reporters are expected to seek more details from other sources of their choice.

PR professionals are not permitted to be on interview calls with the parties they represent unless preapproved by the editor. In general, this is discouraged.

When the same person handles advertising and public relations responsibilities, the editorial staff should seek an alternative source to avoid a conflict of interest.

Advertisement Adjacencies, Use of Trade Names in Editorial, Product Placements, and Advertising Design

Where appropriate, it is preferable to use generic names of products or services in editorial content. When product names are mentioned in editorial material, the trade name alone is used, without trademark and similar symbols, and capitalised to show that the name is a proper noun.

TechTarget editors are not permitted to receive paid or implied compensation to mention a brand or place the picture of a product in editorial content. Nor should advertisers be preferentially provided a contextual link in an online story unless it is germane to the editorial content (e.g., the advertiser is a news source or provided information that can be read in its entirety on the advertiser’s site).

Advertisements that may be confused for editorial content are clearly labeled as non-editorial content. Special advertising sections and supplements and single-sponsored issues are labelled as such.

Editors have final approval of all contextual links within editorial content. These are not sold to advertisers. The use of hover text, or other means, allow readers to see that links are advertising before clicking through them.

Gifts to Editors and Writers

TechTarget editorial staff does not accept gifts from sources, advertisers or prospective advertisers, public relations personnel, or agents acting on behalf of these parties. If gift giving is an established custom, or is otherwise difficult to avoid completely, these guidelines apply for acceptable gifts:

1. Modest, souvenir-type gifts commonly given out at press affairs or conferences or distributed to large groups of editors or individual editors during traditional gift-giving seasons, are generally acceptable.
2. Modest gifts sent to a large number of editorial staff are generally acceptable, although even a modest gift sent to a single B2B editorial staff member should be avoided.
3. Money or lavish gifts for single editorial staff member or a select few are not acceptable.
4. Avoid acceptance for personal use of samples or gifts of items, products, services or other valued commodities that are or may be the subject of editorial mention.

If samples or copies of books or software are provided for products reviews or for use in the publication’s understanding of a subject, items are to be returned after use or disposed of. Expensive products should always be returned.

Travel and Conference/Event Coverage

To maintain editorial integrity, TechTarget pays for its non-US editorial staff's personal expenses incurred in connection with editorial coverage. At conferences and trade shows, TechTarget editorial staff's primary duty is to collect news, learn industry trends, attend press conferences and programme sessions, obtain information and meet with readers and other editorial sources.

In Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, providers often invite journalists to cover regional events, expenses paid. However, this does not mean an obligation for TechTarget collaborators to conduct interviews with sources other than those requested by the editors of Computer Weekly, or to write a report with the information that the provider wants to publish. The content published before and after an event will be made solely at the discretion of Computer Weekly editors, without any obligation for the sponsors of the event.

Conflicts of Interest

TechTarget editorial staff should not write, work, consult for, or otherwise contribute to, competing online or print publications, or those publications' companies, except as permitted by established and authorised business relationships.

Editors should not hold other non-journalism positions that could represent a conflict of interest with an editorial position.

Editorial staff are not to invest in, or hold stock of, any company that they will cover or be likely to cover. This constraint generally does not apply in the case of investments held in a mutual fund or a 401(k) plan, or in similar plans that benefit the editor and other group members, and over which the editor does not control sales of individual stocks or other financial functions by which they might gain personally. Actual or potential conflicts from investments of any kind made before an editor’s employment should be disclosed to the proper superior to avoid conflicts.

Editors abide by all applicable laws addressing insider trading information.

Editors are free to participate in civic, political, business or religious activities that do not present a conflict with coverage or do not lead to a compromise of trust or respect for the publication.

Feedback and Corrections

TechTarget provides a range of ways for readers to offer feedback to editors and staff news writers, including by mail, email and telephone.

Corrections, clarifications and retractions are considered by editorial management teams and addressed as quickly as possible. Corrections are noted in a way that is easy for the reader to find.

Suggestions and complaints about TechTarget international editorial operations, ethics or quality are taken to the editor. If the issue is not resolved through discussion with the editor, the VP of International Editorial should be informed.

TechTarget's Editorial Ethics Policy has been adapted from the American Society of Business Publication Editors' Guide to Preferred Editorial Practices.