This Regional Reporting Policy sets out the editorial standards and principles that guide our coverage of local and regional developments across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The policy is overseen by Margaret Ellison, Editor-in-Chief, and is implemented by the full editorial team at Regional Report Media Ltd., a private limited company registered in England and Wales (company number 17143892) with its registered office at 3 New Bailey Street, 5th Floor, Manchester M3 5FS, United Kingdom. Our reporting is intended to serve the public interest by providing accurate, independent and timely information on matters that affect communities, councils, businesses and public services in every part of the UK.
Scope of our regional reporting
We cover a wide range of topics that directly affect people’s daily lives and the long-term development of the regions. Our journalists report on council decisions, planning applications, housing policy, transport infrastructure, public services (including health, education and policing), local business and economic developments, community affairs, cultural events, sport, and crime. We also monitor the work of devolved institutions (the Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru, the Northern Ireland Assembly), combined authorities, and other regional bodies. Our aim is to provide clear, context-rich journalism that helps readers understand how decisions made at local and regional levels affect their communities.
Within this scope, we publish regional news briefs, explainers, public-interest investigations, council coverage, transport updates, business and property reports, cultural features, opinion pieces, and analysis. All content is selected for its relevance to regional audiences and its contribution to informed public discourse. We do not publish material that is purely promotional or lacking in demonstrable public interest.
Sourcing and verification
We rely on primary sources wherever possible: official documents, public records, council meetings, government announcements, court proceedings, and interviews with named individuals. Rumours, unsubstantiated claims or anonymous social media posts are never presented as confirmed facts. Where information comes from a single source or a confidential source, we apply additional scrutiny and, where appropriate, seek corroboration. Our Sources & Standards page details the methods we use to evaluate information, and our Fact-Checking Policy explains how we verify claims before publication. All editorial decisions are guided by the principles set out in our broader Editorial Policy.
When covering sensitive topics such as crime, safeguarding, or contested planning decisions, we take particular care to ensure that the language used is precise and that any allegations are supported by evidence. We correct errors promptly and transparently; details of our correction process are outlined in the Corrections Policy.
Our team and editorial independence
The editorial team at RegionalReport.co.uk includes dedicated specialists in local government, business, culture and community affairs, as well as a standards and fact-checking lead. Full details of each team member’s role and responsibilities can be found on our Our Team page. All editorial content is produced independently of commercial influence. Our funding comes from display advertising, affiliate links, commercial partnerships, sponsored content, newsletter sponsorships, content licensing and event partnerships. Sponsored or commercially influenced material is always clearly labelled. No commercial relationship determines editorial conclusions. For a full breakdown of our ownership and funding, please see our Ownership & Funding page.
Our journalists operate under a strict code of conduct that prohibits accepting payment, gifts or favours from sources or subjects of coverage. Any potential conflicts of interest are disclosed to the Editor-in-Chief and managed in accordance with our editorial standards.
Transparency and accountability
We are committed to transparency in our reporting processes. Readers who believe we have made a factual error, omitted important context, or failed to meet editorial standards are encouraged to contact us via the Complaints Procedure. We also maintain a public record of significant corrections and clarifications.
Our commitments
- We will prioritise public-interest journalism that informs regional audiences about decisions affecting their lives, communities and environments.
- We will verify all information before publication and never present rumour or speculation as established fact.
- We will maintain full editorial independence from commercial, political or personal interests, and clearly label any content that is sponsored or paid for.
- We will correct errors promptly, transparently and with equal prominence to the original material, as set out in our Corrections Policy.
- We will engage openly with feedback and complaints, and regularly review our policies to ensure they reflect best practice in regional journalism.