Editorial Ethics

The reputation of GizTimes rests on the integrity of our journalists and researchers. Our first loyalty is to the public and the technical truth. This Code of Ethics outlines the professional conduct expected of every staff member, freelancer, and contributor who produces content for GizTimes.​

1. Integrity and Financial Independence

To maintain the trust of our readers, we must remain free from the influence of the tech giants and manufacturers we cover.​

  • Gifts and Gratuities: Staff members are strictly prohibited from accepting cash, expensive hardware, or valuable items from sources, manufacturers, or advertisers. Review units must be returned to the manufacturer or donated to charity after testing unless otherwise disclosed.​

  • Travel and Logistics: We do not accept free travel or luxury accommodations from companies for “junkets” or product launches. GizTimes pays for its own travel to ensure our reporting remains objective and unbought.​

  • Financial Interests: Journalists may not report on a tech company or startup in which they or their immediate family hold a significant financial interest or stock options.​

2. Conflicts of Interest

Real or perceived conflicts of interest must be disclosed to our readers or avoided entirely.​

  • External Consulting: Editorial staff may not work as consultants or advisors for the tech companies they cover.​

  • Personal Relationships: If a journalist has a close personal relationship with a founder, developer, or PR representative of a company they are assigned to cover, they must recuse themselves from that story.​

3. Social Media Conduct

We encourage our journalists to be active on platforms like X and LinkedIn, but they must remember they represent the GizTimes brand at all times.​

  • Civility: We do not engage in online harassment, “flame wars,” or hate speech. We maintain professional decorum even in heated technical debates.​

  • Verification: Breaking news and “leaks” must be verified and published on the GizTimes website first. We do not use personal accounts to spread unverified rumors that could damage industry reputations.​

4. Treatment of Sources and Subjects

Drawing on our roots, we treat the people and communities we cover with fairness and empathy.​

  • Privacy and Data: We respect the privacy of individuals in the tech space, especially regarding personal data and family life, unless there is a compelling public interest involved.​

  • Fair Opportunity: If we publish an investigative piece criticizing a company’s software, security, or labor practices, we make a genuine effort to provide them an opportunity to respond before the article goes live.​

5. Separation of Church and State

The division between our newsroom and our business operations is absolute.​

  • Editorial Autonomy: Our sales and SEO teams have no influence over editorial decisions. We do not “kill” stories to protect advertisers, nor do we write favorable reviews to attract them.​

  • Sponsored Content: Any content paid for by a third party will be clearly and prominently labeled as “Sponsored,” “Partner Content,” or “Advertorial” to ensure readers can distinguish it from independent journalism.​

6. Accountability

We hold ourselves to these standards. Violations of this code are taken seriously and may result in disciplinary action. If you suspect a breach of our ethical standards, please report it immediately.​

GizTimes Newsroom
Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India​
Email: contact@giztimes.com
Subject: Ethics Violation Report