Updated: April 16, 2025
Foreword
At African Folder, we pride ourselves on creating content that upholds the highest standards of journalism, creativity, and responsibility. As we continue to grow and evolve, these Editorial Standards and Policies are crafted to ensure that our content remains of the utmost quality, ethical, and aligned with our mission of promoting truth, transparency, and creativity across Africa. These standards will be continuously updated to reflect best practices and to adapt to new developments in the media landscape.
1. Introduction
1.1 Purpose of Standards and Policies
These editorial standards have been designed to help African Folder’s content producers deliver high-quality, original, and compelling content that aligns with our core values. We are committed to informing, educating, and entertaining our audience with a deep understanding of the cultural, social, and political landscape of Africa.
1.2 Audience Trust
As a leading platform for news and entertainment about Africa, we recognise the responsibility we have to our audience. We must ensure that our content is factual, balanced, and provides value to readers, maintaining their trust in the integrity of our work.
2. Editorial Values
At African Folder, we uphold nine core values that guide every piece of content we produce:
2.1 Truth
We are committed to presenting information that is accurate and truthful, ensuring that all claims are backed by reliable sources.
2.2 Transparency
We ensure transparency in our editorial process and make it clear when content is sponsored, curated, or external.
2.3 Accuracy
Our content is well-researched and factual. We ensure that all details, dates, figures, and statements are thoroughly verified before publication.
2.4 Accountability
We take full responsibility for our content and always act with integrity. If errors occur, we will issue corrections promptly.
2.5 Impartiality
Our content is free from bias, offering multiple viewpoints to allow the audience to form their own opinions.
2.6 Integrity
We conduct ourselves with the highest level of integrity and ethical standards in all content production and interactions.
2.7 Independence
We maintain editorial independence from commercial or external influences to ensure that our content remains unbiased and credible.
2.8 Fairness
We present stories fairly and ensure that all sides of a story are represented to avoid skewing the narrative.
2.9 Privacy
We respect the privacy of individuals and ensure that personal information is handled with care and responsibility.
3. Editorial Compliance
3.1 Editorial Oversight
All content producers—from reporters to editors—are expected to fully understand and follow these editorial guidelines. Compliance is monitored through regular checks and peer reviews.
3.2 Consultation with Senior Editors
Content producers should seek guidance from senior editors when unsure about the application of the standards, particularly for sensitive or controversial content.
4. Content Creation Standards
4.1 Headline Standards
- Headlines should be compelling, but avoid click-baiting tactics. They should reflect the content accurately and not mislead the audience for the sake of clicks.
- Use headline case for all major words in the title (e.g., ‘African Music Trends: How Afrobeat Is Dominating The World’).
- Avoid excessive punctuation or sensational language (e.g., “Unbelievable”, “Shocking”, “You won’t believe…”).
4.2 Article Leads
- Every article must have an engaging lead (also called the teaser) that sets the tone and provides a brief summary of the article’s content.
- The lead should be concise (1-2 sentences) and offer clear insight into the main idea of the article.
4.3 Content Quality
- All content must be well-researched and provide value to our audience. Avoid shallow or superficial stories that fail to engage with the core issue at hand.
- Avoid plagiarizing. Do not copy content verbatim. If curation or referencing is necessary, it should be transformed and properly credited.
4.4 Avoidance of Clickbait
- We frown upon click-bait headlines that mislead readers. Headlines should always reflect the content accurately and give a clear idea of what the reader can expect from the article.
- Content should not manipulate emotions or sensationalize topics purely to attract traffic.
5. Sourcing and Crediting
5.1 Primary Sourcing
- Always ensure the accuracy and credibility of sources before citing them. Sources must be reliable, verifiable, and transparent.
- Quotes must be attributed clearly. If a source is not named, provide context and rationale for the decision.
5.2 External Sources
- Citing and referencing external sources (including social media) is allowed, but should be done carefully, ensuring proper permissions are obtained where necessary.
- Reputable external sources should be preferred over less credible outlets.
5.3 Photo and Creative Credits
- All images, videos, and graphics used in the articles must be properly credited. Ensure permission is granted for usage and credit the source of the media.
- Images should be relevant, well-optimized, and appropriately captioned. Example: “Wizkid in France [Credit: @wizkidayo/Instagram]”
6. Writing Style
6.1 Language Usage
- Articles must be written in British English, adhering to the relevant spelling and grammar conventions (e.g., organisation, centre, favour).
- Use clear, concise language. Avoid overly complex or jargon-filled prose unless it is necessary for the context of the story.
6.2 Tense and Voice
- Avoid the passive voice where possible. Instead, focus on using an active voice.
- Tense should remain consistent throughout the article. For example, if the article is written in the past tense, avoid switching to present tense.
6.3 Style
- Song, album, movie, art or book titles should only be italicised within the body of the article. They are only be be accompanied by a single quotation mark in the headline of the article.
6.3 Clarity and Accessibility
- Content must be accessible and easily understandable for a broad audience. Avoid unnecessary complexity or confusion in the writing style.
7. Privacy and Consent
7.1 Respect for Privacy
- Always prioritize privacy when dealing with individuals, especially in sensitive topics. Obtain consent where necessary, particularly when discussing personal matters or sharing images of private individuals.
7.2 Children and Young People
- We exercise particular caution when covering issues involving children or young people, ensuring their privacy and consent are respected. This includes avoiding identifying children in photos or names unless explicitly required and agreed.
8. Ethical and Legal Standards
8.1 Avoiding Defamation
- Ensure that all statements are fact-checked and avoid publishing content that could be construed as defamatory.
- Always present multiple sides to a controversial story to ensure fairness.
8.2 Harm and Offence
- Content should not incite harm or offence. Articles should be written with empathy and respect for different cultures, beliefs, and individuals.
8.3 Legal Compliance
- Ensure all content adheres to applicable local and international laws, including copyright, intellectual property, and libel laws.
9. Conflict of Interest and Independence
9.1 Maintaining Independence
- Editors and writers should avoid conflicts of interest and never allow external pressures (advertisers, sponsors, or influencers) to affect editorial decisions.
- If a conflict of interest is present, it must be disclosed and addressed transparently.
10. Article Structure
10.1 Formatting
- Headlines should be short, clear, and relevant.
- Use subheadings where applicable to break down the content into digestible sections.
- Content should be properly punctuated, with clear use of paragraphs for readability.
10.2 Length of Articles
- Articles should be between 750-2,000 words, depending on the subject and complexity. Only updates on live events should have a word count of 400-500 for each fresh update. Opinion pieces or reviews should have a minimum of 900 words.
11. Content Updates and Corrections
11.1 Content Revisions
- If a mistake is identified post-publication, correct the error promptly and note the correction in the article or its headline.
11.2 Archival Content
- Archival content should be updated to maintain accuracy, especially when new information becomes available.
12. Reporting on Sensitive Topics
12.1 Sensitivity in Reporting
- Exercise extreme caution when reporting on sensitive topics such as violence, crime, trauma, or political unrest. Provide content that is both informative and sensitive to those affected by the issue.
12.2 Mental Health and Well-being
- Avoid sensationalising issues related to mental health. Approach with care, especially when discussing specific individuals or communities.
13. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
13.1 Purpose and Role of AI
African Folder uses AI as a tool to assist human editors and journalists, never to replace them. AI helps enforce editorial policies and assist in reporting, but it does not write or publish content independently.
13.2 AI-Assisted, Human-Verified
All AI-assisted outputs (e.g., fact-checking suggestions, headline checks, content structure assessments) are reviewed and approved by human editors.
14. Conclusion
The Editorial Standards and Policies at African Folder aim to set a high standard for our content, ensuring that we stay true to our commitment to the truth, integrity, and accuracy in everything we do. Our team of writers, editors, and contributors plays an essential role in maintaining these values, and we rely on your understanding and adherence to these standards. We continue to grow and inspire Africa through our content.
