Editorial standards and policies
Editorial standards
New Forest Dispatch is an independent, public-interest newsroom covering the New Forest, Hampshire, and surrounding areas.
We are committed to accurate, fair, and responsible journalism, and are guided by the principles of the Editors’ Code of Practice and established best practice in UK journalism.
Our reporting is guided by the following principles:
Accuracy: We aim to ensure all information is correct, verified, and clearly sourced where possible.
Independence: Our editorial decisions are made independently and are not influenced by political parties, commercial interests, advertisers, or lobby groups.
Public interest: We prioritise stories that inform residents, support democratic participation, and shed light on matters of local significance.
Fairness: We seek to represent issues honestly and proportionately, and to give relevant parties the opportunity to respond where appropriate.
Transparency: Where errors occur, we correct them promptly and clearly.
New Forest Dispatch does not publish material that is deliberately misleading, politically motivated, or purely entertaining in nature.
Editorial independence
New Forest Dispatch is not funded by any political party, union, government body, or advocacy group.
Any commercial activity linked to the publication does not influence editorial coverage.
Corrections and complaints
We take accuracy and accountability seriously.
If you believe something we have published is inaccurate, misleading, or unfair, please contact us at:
editor@newforestdispatch.co.uk
Please include:
the article title
the section you are concerned about
a brief explanation of the issue
We will review all complaints and, where appropriate, issue corrections or clarifications in a timely and transparent manner.
Privacy
We respect the privacy of individuals and aim to balance the public’s right to know with a person’s right to privacy.
Personal data is handled in accordance with applicable data-protection law.
For newsletter subscriptions and email communications, we rely on Substack’s privacy and data-handling systems.
Funding and transparency
New Forest Dispatch exists to provide public-interest journalism for the local community.
The publication also operates NFD Studio, a separate creative and communications service.
NFD Studio exists to help support the sustainability of independent local journalism.
Reader support, sponsorships, or donations do not guarantee coverage and do not influence editorial decisions.
Editorial decisions at New Forest Dispatch are made independently of NFD Studio. Commercial activity does not influence news coverage, story selection, or editorial outcomes.