Guidelines on Integrity
These guidelines supplement the Ethical Journalism Guidebook. They describe day-to-day checks editors run before a review, comparison, or Top Picks roundup goes live—not abstract values, but concrete gates.
Option Cutter earns from affiliate links and Content Egg product modules. Integrity means readers can separate editorial verdicts from buy buttons—see affiliate commerce conflicts for day-to-day checks. Commerce may suggest topics; it does not pick winners.
Sourcing and verification
Material claims—battery life, water resistance, compatibility, health-sensor accuracy, safety certifications—require a primary source or hands-on verification. Listing-page marketing copy alone is not enough, especially for YMYL-adjacent wearables and nursery gear.
Editors ask: *Where did this number come from?* If the answer is a press release only, the writer must measure, cite the manufacturer spec page with date, or soften the claim.
Anonymous tips and forum rumors may inspire testing but do not publish as fact without confirmation.
Samples, loans, and retail purchases
Every product section should reflect how the unit was obtained: purchased at retail, loaned with return date, or long-term keeper. We prefer retail purchases for mainstream comparisons when budget allows.
Editors track embargo dates separately from loan status. An embargo is not permission to skip testing.
Corrections and silent edits
Fix errors promptly with a dated correction note when the mistake could mislead a buyer—wrong winner, inverted spec, outdated price shown as current, missing subscription cost.
Silent edits that reverse a verdict or swap a Top Pick without disclosure are prohibited; follow accuracy and corrections. Use an update line: *Updated [date] to reflect…*
Independence from merchandising
Merchandising, SEO, and affiliate operations may propose categories or seasonal hubs. They do not assign star ratings, reorder comparison charts for commission spikes, or require favorable coverage for Content Egg placement.
When a strong product lacks an affiliate path, we may still recommend it and explain why—reader value outranks short-term revenue.
Anonymous sourcing and pre-publication review
We rarely grant anonymity in product coverage. When used for whistleblower-style supply-chain reporting, an editor and leadership must approve.
We do not send full unpublished drafts to brands for approval. Factual spec checks and embargo timing are fine; veto power over conclusions is not.