These are the standards every article on Ferox Times must meet before it reaches our readers. If you are applying as an Independent Writer, please read this document in full before submitting your first piece. Agreeing to these guidelines is a condition of publication.
Ferox Times is an independent digital news platform committed to factual, responsible, and ethical journalism. These Editorial Guidelines exist to:
Important: By clicking "Submit for Editorial Review", you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to every point in these Editorial Guidelines. This agreement is legally binding.
Article submission is restricted to verified members of our Independent Writer Programme.
Community voices, policy experts, academics, and journalists approved by the editorial team. All submissions are subject to a strict editorial review and must be accompanied by evidence before publishing.
If you are not currently an approved writer, you can apply to join our Independent Writer programme via our Careers & Applications page. Submit your application with your cover letter and links to previous work, and our editorial team will review it.
This is Mandatory — No Exceptions. Every article submission must be accompanied by at least one supporting document or piece of evidence. Articles submitted without evidence will be automatically rejected.
Your uploaded document must directly support the claims made in your article. Accepted forms of evidence include:
Legal Protection Notice: In the event of a legal dispute, defamation claim, or government inquiry regarding your article, the evidence you submit becomes the primary basis of our defence — and yours. Without it, neither Ferox Times nor you can legally protect the article's claims.
If your evidence involves a confidential source, you must still upload a document. You may redact personally identifying information from the document, but must include enough context to verify the claim. Write a brief note in the article submission form explaining the source's nature and why full disclosure is not possible.
All factual claims must be verifiable. If you are not 100% certain of a fact, do not state it as fact. Use qualifying language such as "reportedly," "according to sources," or "alleged."
When a story involves criticism or allegations against a person or organization, you must make a reasonable attempt to seek their response before submission. Note this attempt — and the response (or lack thereof) — in your article or submission notes.
All submitted content must be original. Plagiarism — including copying from other publications without attribution, or self-plagiarism from previously published work — is a serious violation. Our editorial team runs plagiarism checks on all submissions.
Articles must be a minimum of 300 words for standard news pieces and 600 words for investigative or opinion pieces. Very short submissions will be returned for expansion.
Ferox Times supports responsible investigative journalism. We believe the public has a right to know — but that right must be exercised responsibly. If your article falls into any of the following categories, stricter evidence and review standards apply:
Articles about politicians, political parties, elections, or government policy. Must be factual and non-partisan.
Ongoing court cases require careful framing. Do not report an accused as guilty before conviction.
Allegations against companies or executives require financial records, official filings, or corroborated witness accounts.
Leaked documents must be verified for authenticity. The public interest value must clearly outweigh any harm caused by publication.
Must not incite communal tension, hatred, or target any group based on religion, caste, or ethnicity.
Names, faces, and identifying details of minors must be concealed unless they or their guardians have explicitly consented.
WikiLeaks Principle — Understanding the Balance: Ferox Times supports the principle that information of genuine public interest should be reported, even when powerful entities prefer it not be. However, publication does not come without limits. We will report on leaked or sensitive information only when: (a) authenticity is verified, (b) the public benefit clearly outweighs the risk of harm, (c) names of individuals whose safety may be endangered are protected, and (d) we have legal review for high-risk stories.
Writer's Legal Responsibility: By submitting an article, you accept full legal responsibility for the accuracy and legality of its content. If a legal action (defamation, copyright infringement, sedition, contempt of court, etc.) arises from your article, you agree to cooperate fully with Ferox Times' legal team and, if required, bear the costs of any legal defence related to your content.
Ferox Times operates as an intermediary platform under applicable Information Technology laws. Our liability is limited when:
However, Ferox Times may share the liability if we knowingly published false or harmful content, or failed to conduct basic editorial due diligence.
Our editorial team performs SEO optimization, formatting, and a basic accuracy check — but is not a full legal or investigative review. The editorial review does not transfer the writer's legal responsibility to Ferox Times.
Ferox Times reserves the right to:
After you submit your article, it goes through the following stages:
Timeline: Standard articles are usually reviewed within 24–72 hours. Investigative or sensitive articles may take longer due to additional verification steps.
The following types of content will never be published on Ferox Times, regardless of the evidence provided:
| Violation | Severity | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Minor inaccuracy (correctable) | Low | Article returned for revision with feedback |
| Missing or weak evidence document | Medium | Article rejected; resubmission allowed with proper evidence |
| Plagiarism | Medium | Immediate rejection; 30-day submission ban |
| Fabricated content / fake quotes | High | Permanent account ban; legal action if harm caused |
| Hate speech / incitement | High | Immediate permanent ban; reported to authorities if required |
| Publishing confidential data unlawfully | High | Account suspended; legal proceedings initiated |
| Repeated minor violations (3+) | Medium | Writer status downgraded or revoked |
If you have questions about these guidelines before submitting, or if you want to discuss a sensitive story with our editors before you start writing, please get in touch. We encourage contributors to speak to us early — especially for investigative pieces.
If you are working on a sensitive investigative story, we strongly encourage you to contact us before you even start writing. Our editors can advise you on legal considerations, safer evidence handling, and how to frame the story responsibly.
You have read and agreed to these Editorial Guidelines. Return to your Writer Portal dashboard to begin writing.
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