Editorial Policies

Last updated: April 26, 2026.

This page describes how The Techbull operates as a newsroom: who we are, how we report, how we use AI, what we won’t do, and how to get in touch when we get something wrong.

Mission

To report fairly and accurately on the technology, money and infrastructure shaping Africa, with the same analytical rigor applied to any other market — and to make that reporting useful to operators on and off the continent.

Independence

We are reader-funded and ad-funded. No political party, government agency or corporation has editorial control. Our advertisers do not see editorial coverage in advance and have no veto. Sponsored content, when it runs, is clearly labeled “Paid Partnership” and lives outside the editorial pipeline. Our reporters are not paid bonuses tied to advertiser outcomes, click numbers, or specific subjects.

Sourcing

• We prefer named, on-the-record sources. We use anonymous sources only when (a) the public interest in the story is clear, (b) the source has direct knowledge, (c) we can corroborate independently, and (d) naming them would expose them to professional, legal or physical harm.
• We tell readers as much as we can about why a source is anonymous (e.g. “a senior engineer at a fintech subject to a non-disparagement clause”).
• We do not pay for information.
• Press releases are not “sources”. They are starting points.

Verification

• Numbers in our stories are verified against at least one independent source — a regulator filing, an audited statement, or a second person with first-hand knowledge.
• Documents are reviewed before publication; we redact only what’s necessary to protect a source.
• Quotes are checked back with sources for accuracy where appropriate, but we do not give sources copy approval over the surrounding article.
• Translations from local languages are verified by a second fluent speaker.

Use of AI tools

We use AI carefully:

• Allowed: transcribing interviews, translating quotes (then human-verified), summarising public reports we then read in full, and assisting with headline brainstorming and search-engine snippets.
• Allowed with disclosure: drafts that the editor builds on. The published byline is a human, who is responsible.
• Not allowed: publishing AI-generated reporting unedited, fabricating quotes, generating photorealistic images of real people without explicit labeling, or using AI for “investigative” leaps beyond verified sources.
• If a story relied substantially on AI-generated analysis, we say so in an editor’s note.

Corrections and retractions

When we get something wrong, we correct it. The original sentence is updated, with a “Correction” or “Update” note appended at the bottom of the article noting what changed and when. For material errors, the correction is sent to subscribers in the next newsletter and posted to our social channels.

For retractions (when an entire story can no longer stand), the article is replaced with an editor’s note explaining the decision; we do not “memory-hole” content.

To request a correction, use our contact page with the subject “Correction”.

Right of reply

If a story names you or your organisation in a way that could harm your reputation, we contact you for comment before publication and give you a fair window to respond. Where it’s safe to wait, we wait. If you reply after publication with a substantive rebuttal, we update the article to reflect it.

Conflicts of interest

• Reporters disclose any holdings, prior employment, family connection, or personal relationship that could shape their coverage. The disclosures live in each contributor’s bio page and are surfaced on stories where they apply.
• Reporters may not trade in companies they cover for the duration of the coverage and 30 days afterwards.
• We do not accept paid speaking gigs from companies we cover. Travel and accommodation reimbursed by a source is disclosed inside the article.
• Gifts above a nominal value (≈ $50) are returned or donated to charity; we publish a register annually.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

Our coverage is stronger when the people doing it look like the markets they cover. We track our newsroom’s gender and geographic representation; we mentor early-career reporters from under-represented backgrounds; and we monitor source diversity in our published stories. We are not perfect; we publish progress reports.

Sponsored content & affiliate links

• Sponsored content is labeled “Paid Partnership” at the top of the article and excluded from our search index.
• Affiliate links (when used) are disclosed in the article and excluded from category landing rails.
• Awards or “best of” lists, where they exist, are decided by editorial criteria; advertisers cannot buy placement.

Ownership and funding

The Techbull is owned and operated by [registered owner — to be displayed when set in Customizer]. Our funding sources are: direct advertising, newsletter sponsorships, and (in future) reader memberships. We are not VC-backed. We do not receive grants from governments. If our ownership or funding mix changes materially, we’ll update this section and explain why.

Newsroom standards we adopt

Where these Editorial Policies are silent, we follow the Trust Project’s eight indicators of trust, the SPJ Code of Ethics, and the IFCN’s Principles for fact-checking organisations.

Accessibility

We design our site to be readable with screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and at high zoom. Audio content has transcripts. Images carry meaningful alt text. To report an accessibility issue, use our contact page.

Contact

Tips, pitches, corrections, takedown requests, accessibility issues — they all start at our contact page. For sensitive or anonymous tips, see the secure-contact section there.