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Tech Forum

Editorial Guidelines

Last Updated: January 2025

Editorial Guidelines

Tech Forum is committed to the highest standards of journalism. These guidelines govern our reporting, writing, and editorial processes to ensure accuracy, fairness, and ethical journalism that serves our readers across Canada and the technology community.

Core Principles

Accuracy and Verification

  • Fact-checking: Every factual claim must be verified through at least two independent sources before publication
  • Quotes: All quotes must be accurate and used in proper context. We do not alter quotes except for clarity, and any such changes must be clearly indicated
  • Corrections: When errors occur, we correct them promptly and transparently, noting the correction at the top of the article
  • Source attribution: We clearly identify the source of all information and distinguish between firsthand reporting and information obtained from other sources

Independence and Integrity

  • Editorial independence: Our editorial decisions are made independently of commercial, political, or other external pressures
  • Conflicts of interest: Journalists must disclose any potential conflicts of interest to editors and, when relevant, to readers
  • Sponsored content: Advertising and sponsored content must be clearly labeled and kept separate from editorial content
  • Gifts and favors: Staff members may not accept gifts, favors, or compensation from sources or subjects of coverage

Fairness and Balance

  • Multiple perspectives: Stories on controversial topics must include diverse viewpoints and give subjects of critical coverage an opportunity to respond
  • Context: We provide sufficient context for readers to understand the significance and implications of events and issues
  • Avoiding bias: While we embrace diverse perspectives in opinion and analysis pieces, news reporting must be fair and free from political, ideological, or personal bias
  • Representation: We strive to include voices from across Canada's tech ecosystem

Privacy and Sensitivity

  • Privacy rights: We respect individuals' privacy and only publish private information when it serves a clear public interest
  • Vulnerable subjects: Extra care is taken when reporting on children, victims of crime or tragedy, and other vulnerable individuals
  • Graphic content: We carefully consider whether graphic images or descriptions serve the public interest before publication
  • Cultural sensitivity: We are mindful of Canada's diversity and ensure respectful coverage of all communities

Specific Standards

Sources and Attribution

  • On-the-record: We prefer on-the-record sourcing. Anonymous sources are used only when necessary and with editor approval
  • Anonymous sources: When granting anonymity, we explain why in the story and verify that the source has direct knowledge
  • Documents: We seek to review original documents rather than relying on others' characterizations
  • Expert sources: We identify experts' credentials and any potential conflicts of interest

Canadian Technology Coverage

  • Canadian focus: We prioritize Canadian tech companies, startups, and innovation
  • Regional diversity: We cover tech ecosystems across Canada, from Toronto to Vancouver, Montreal to Waterloo
  • Critical scrutiny: Canadian tech companies receive the same critical scrutiny as international companies
  • Financial conflicts: Staff must disclose stock ownership or investments in tech companies
  • Government programs: We cover government tech initiatives, grants, and policies

Startup and Venture Capital

  • Funding disclosure: We report funding amounts, valuations, and investor identities when available
  • Canadian VC landscape: We cover Canadian venture capital with depth and context
  • Business model analysis: We examine the viability of business models, not just funding amounts
  • Scale-up challenges: We cover challenges Canadian companies face scaling globally
  • Exit coverage: We cover acquisitions, IPOs, and other exits with context

Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Tech

  • Technical accuracy: AI and emerging tech coverage is technically accurate and informed
  • Canadian AI leadership: We cover Canada's AI research and commercial leadership
  • Expert consultation: We consult with qualified experts from Canadian universities and research institutes
  • Ethical implications: We examine ethical, social, and policy implications of new technologies
  • Research excellence: We cover Canadian research institutions and their contributions

Privacy and Cybersecurity

  • Responsible disclosure: Security vulnerability reporting follows responsible disclosure practices
  • Canadian privacy laws: We cover privacy with understanding of Canadian privacy legislation (PIPEDA, etc.)
  • Data breaches: Data breach coverage is accurate, contextual, and timely
  • Critical infrastructure: We cover cybersecurity of Canadian critical infrastructure
  • Source protection: We protect confidential sources, especially in security reporting

Software Development and Open Source

  • Developer community: We cover Canada's software development community and culture
  • Open source: We cover Canadian contributions to open source software
  • Programming languages: We cover development tools and language adoption
  • DevOps and cloud: We cover modern development practices and cloud computing
  • Technical depth: Technical coverage is accurate and accessible

Digital Transformation

  • Enterprise tech: We cover how Canadian businesses adopt technology
  • Industry digitalization: We cover digital transformation across industries
  • Government digital services: We cover federal and provincial digital government initiatives
  • Legacy systems: We examine challenges of modernizing legacy systems
  • Implementation: We follow digital initiatives from announcement through implementation

Telecommunications and Internet

  • Telecom regulation: We cover CRTC decisions and telecommunications policy
  • Internet access: We cover broadband access, especially in rural and remote Canada
  • Competition: We cover competition issues in Canadian telecommunications
  • 5G and infrastructure: We cover network infrastructure and deployment
  • Consumer issues: We cover telecommunications from consumer perspective

Business and Financial Reporting

  • Disclosure: Journalists covering business must disclose any financial interests that could affect their coverage
  • TSX tech: We cover Canadian tech companies on public markets
  • Market-moving news: We handle market-sensitive information responsibly
  • Corporate relationships: We maintain independence from advertisers and business interests
  • Economic impact: We examine tech's economic impact across Canada

Innovation and Research

  • Academic research: We cover research from Canadian universities and institutes
  • Government funding: We cover federal and provincial research funding (NSERC, CIHR, etc.)
  • Commercialization: We cover technology transfer and commercialization
  • Research partnerships: We cover industry-academia partnerships
  • Patent and IP: We cover intellectual property issues relevant to Canadian tech

Tech Policy and Regulation

  • Canadian policy: We cover federal and provincial technology policy
  • Digital regulation: We cover digital platform regulation and competition policy
  • Privacy legislation: We cover privacy law development and enforcement
  • Innovation policy: We cover government innovation initiatives and effectiveness
  • International alignment: We cover Canada's position in international tech policy

Diversity and Inclusion

  • Industry demographics: We cover diversity in Canadian tech with data and context
  • Hiring and retention: We examine hiring, promotion, and retention practices
  • Workplace culture: We investigate toxic workplace cultures and harassment
  • Underrepresented founders: We cover diversity among startup founders and in venture capital
  • Immigration: We cover tech immigration issues and talent attraction

Labor and Working Conditions

  • Tech workers: We cover working conditions in Canadian tech companies
  • Remote work: We cover remote and hybrid work trends and impacts
  • Compensation: We cover salary, equity, and benefits in tech
  • Skills development: We cover tech training and skills development
  • Contractor issues: We cover contractor classification and gig work in tech

Digital and Social Media

Online Standards

  • Same standards apply: Editorial standards apply equally to all platforms, including social media
  • Headlines: Headlines must be accurate and not misleading, even for digital engagement
  • Speed vs. accuracy: We prioritize accuracy over speed and update stories as new information becomes available
  • Corrections online: Online corrections are made clearly and transparently, with notation of what was changed

Social Media Conduct

  • Professional standards: Staff maintain professional standards on personal social media accounts
  • Engagement: We engage respectfully with readers and critics on social media
  • Breaking news: Social media posts must meet the same verification standards as published articles
  • Personal opinions: Staff must be mindful that personal opinions on social media may reflect on the publication

Use of AI and Technology

  • AI assistance: Artificial intelligence tools may be used to assist with research, editing, and content generation, but all content must be reviewed and verified by human editors
  • Disclosure: Significant use of AI in content creation or newsgathering must be disclosed to readers
  • Critical examination: We critically examine AI tools we use and their limitations
  • Human oversight: Final editorial decisions and fact-checking remain the responsibility of human journalists
  • Transparency: We are transparent about our use of technology in the newsgathering and publishing process

Accountability

To Our Readers

  • Transparency: We explain our processes and decisions when readers have questions
  • Reader feedback: We welcome and respond to reader feedback and concerns
  • Complaints: Formal complaints are reviewed by senior editors and addressed promptly
  • Public editor: Readers may contact our editorial leadership with concerns about coverage

To Our Sources

  • Clarity: We are clear with sources about how their information will be used
  • Respect: We treat sources with respect, even when covering them critically
  • Promises: We honor commitments made to sources about attribution and timing
  • Follow-up: We follow up with sources when stories develop or change

To Our Profession

  • Ethical standards: We adhere to the highest standards of journalistic ethics
  • Continuous improvement: We regularly review and update our practices
  • Training: Staff receive ongoing training in journalistic standards and ethics
  • Industry leadership: We contribute to advancing journalism standards in Canada and technology coverage

These guidelines are living principles that evolve with our journalism. Questions about these guidelines should be directed to our editorial leadership.