Editorial judgement, free of commercial influence

Independence Policy

Editorial judgement, free of commercial influence

is independent. No advertiser, sponsor or partner decides what we cover or how we cover it. This policy explains how we keep that promise.

Film & Stage maintains complete editorial independence. Advertising, sponsorship, affiliate relationships and commercial partnerships do not influence our reviews, ratings, news coverage or critical commentary. Commercial and editorial operations are managed separately to protect the integrity of our journalism.

A wall between commercial and editorial

Editorial decisions are made solely by our editorial team. Commercial operations — advertising, sponsorship and partnerships — are managed separately and have no say over our reviews, ratings, news coverage or critical commentary.

Advertising is always distinguishable

Any sponsored, branded or paid content is clearly labelled and visually distinct from independent journalism, so readers are never left in doubt about what they are reading. Buying advertising never buys coverage.

Access does not equal endorsement

Press access, screeners, review tickets, accreditation or travel provided in the course of reporting do not entitle any organisation to favourable coverage, and we disclose such arrangements where relevant. This works hand in hand with our Ethics Policy on gifts and conflicts of interest.

Transparent ownership

We are open about who stands behind the publication. Our ownership and funding are described in full on our Ownership & Funding page, and our overarching Editorial Standards hold every part of the publication to the same line.

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.

Editorial StandardsThe foundational principles that govern how we report, review and publish across every discipline.Fact-CheckingHow every claim is verified before publication, and the standards our checking process upholds.CorrectionsHow we handle errors, clarifications and updates — openly, promptly and on the record.EthicsThe ethical standards behind our reporting: fairness, conflicts of interest, gifts and accountability.AI UsageWhere artificial intelligence may and may not be used in our journalism, and the human oversight we require.Sources & AttributionHow we source, verify, attribute and, where necessary, protect the information behind our journalism.Diversity & InclusionOur commitment to inclusive coverage, contributors and a genuinely global view of the arts.
View all editorial policies