Editorial Standards
How we report, review and publish
covers the performing arts as a single, borderless culture. These standards define the discipline behind every article, review and report we publish.
Everything publishes is held to the same principles, whether it is a festival dispatch, a first-night review or an investigative report. Our standards exist to protect readers and to hold our own work to account.
Accuracy above all
We publish what we can verify. Every factual claim is checked before publication, and reporting is prioritised over speed. Where a fact cannot be confirmed, we say so plainly rather than imply certainty we do not have. Our Fact-Checking Policy sets out how verification works in practice.
Named, accountable authorship
Reporting, reviews and criticism are written by named journalists who stand behind their work and disclose relevant credentials. Reviews reflect the honest, independent judgement of the critic; they are never bought, traded or influenced by commercial relationships.
A clear line between fact, analysis and opinion
We distinguish clearly between reporting, informed analysis and personal opinion, so readers always know what kind of writing they are reading. Criticism is labelled as such; news is kept free of editorial judgement.
Global by default
We treat creative capitals around the world as equal. The most important story is rarely told in only one place, and our coverage seeks out artists, works and communities wherever they are — a commitment set out further in our Diversity & Inclusion Statement.
Independence and accountability
Editorial decisions are made solely by our editorial team, entirely separate from commercial operations, as described in our Independence Policy. When we get something wrong, we correct it openly under our Corrections Policy.
Editorial Policies
Explore the rest of our editorial standards
Every policy in our editorial suite is public and cross-linked. Read the full framework, or browse each standard individually below.