Editorial Guidelines

Last Updated: November 2025

At The Royal Observer™, editorial integrity is the cornerstone of our journalism. Our audience trusts us to deliver reporting that is accurate, fair, transparent, and rooted in historical and cultural context. These guidelines apply to all editors, reporters, producers, contributors, freelancers, and partners who publish content for The Royal Observer™.

1. Scope & Purpose

These guidelines apply to all content:

  • Articles
  • Briefs and explainers
  • Photo features
  • Video packages
  • Visual storytelling
  • Social media posts
  • Newsletters
  • Special projects

Our goals:

  • Protect reader trust
  • Promote accuracy and fairness
  • Ensure transparency
  • Support consistently high editorial standards

2. Commitment to Accuracy

Accuracy is non-negotiable. Every piece of content must be factually sound and properly sourced.

We prioritize:

  • Primary sources: official statements, palace communications, court filings, government records, verified archives
  • On-the-record interviews
  • Historical documentation
  • Expert input when appropriate (legal, royal historians, constitutional scholars, cultural analysts)

When primary sourcing is unavailable, we rely on multiple reputable secondary sources with clear attribution.

Breaking news may evolve quickly. We will:

  • Clearly label unverified or developing information
  • Update reports with timestamps
  • Avoid speculation beyond established facts

Fabrication, distortion, or omission of material facts is strictly prohibited.

3. Fairness, Balance & Representation

Royal coverage requires sensitivity to:

  • Cultural heritage
  • Institutional tradition
  • Constitutional frameworks
  • Personal and family privacy
  • Differences in regional media practices

We commit to:

  • Seeking multiple viewpoints
  • Providing context for historical or constitutional issues
  • Avoiding stereotyping or sensationalism
  • Respecting personal boundaries in coverage of private individuals

We avoid referring to race, gender, religion, or ability unless directly relevant and covered with context and care.

4. Editorial Workflow

Assignment

Editors assign stories based on relevance, urgency, and potential sensitivity. Royal reporting often involves legal and reputational implications.

Reporting & Drafting

Reporters must:

  • Verify all claims
  • Cross-check historical details
  • Confirm document authenticity
  • Review archival or photographic material carefully

Fact-Checking

Editors verify:

  • Quotes
  • Dates
  • Titles, ranks, and official styles
  • Historical references
  • Public-record claims

Legal and reputational sensitivity may require additional review.

Final Review

A senior editor ensures:

  • Fairness and balance
  • Clear sourcing and attribution
  • Compliance with legal and ethical standards
  • Proper labeling of news, analysis, opinion, and sponsored content

5. Corrections & Transparency

We correct errors promptly and transparently.

  • Minor updates may be made silently for clarity
  • Substantive corrections require a timestamped Editor’s Note
  • Updated stories receive visible change logs when appropriate

To request a correction, email:

editor@theroyalobserver.com
Subject: Correction

6. Editorial Independence & Ethics

Independence

Editorial decisions are independent of business, advertisers, affiliate partners, or external influence.

Conflicts of Interest

Staff must disclose:

  • Personal relationships
  • Financial interests
  • Previous work or affiliations
  • Personal biases that may affect coverage

Editors may reassign stories as necessary.

Gifts & Access

We do not accept gifts, perks, or preferential access that could influence coverage.

7. Sensitive Coverage

Royal reporting often involves:

  • Family disputes
  • Legal matters
  • Public scrutiny
  • Health issues
  • Children and minors

We adhere to the following:

Privacy

We do not intrude into private residences or private moments without clear public-interest justification.

Legal Matters

We avoid prejudicial reporting on ongoing legal issues and rely on verified documents.

Suicide, Mental Health & Medical Coverage

We follow recognized guidelines to avoid harmful detail or stigmatizing language.

Children

We do not identify minors involved in sensitive matters unless publicly announced by official sources and clearly in the public interest.

8. Sources, Anonymity & Protection

We prefer named, on-the-record sources.

Anonymous sources:

  • Are used sparingly
  • Require senior-editor approval
  • Must have verifiable access to the information
  • Must present minimal risk of manipulation

We do not base serious allegations on a single anonymous source.

We also protect the identity of confidential sources when the information is of strong public interest.

9. Social Media & Personal Conduct

Staff represent The Royal Observer™ even on personal accounts.

They must avoid:

  • Harassment
  • Hate speech
  • Political campaigning that compromises neutrality
  • Sharing unverified information
  • Public commentary on stories they are covering

Social media may be subject to editorial oversight.

10. Governance, Transparency & Accountability

We align with industry standards and encourage accountability.

Readers may contact us with concerns at: contact@theroyalobserver.com

11. Freelance Contributions

Freelancers must:

  • Follow all editorial guidelines
  • Avoid conflicts of interest
  • Provide original, verifiable reporting
  • Agree to proper licensing terms

Pitches: editor@theroyalobserver.com (Subject: Freelance Pitch)