Editorial Guidelines

Effective date: August 26, 2025

These guidelines set the standards for everything we publish or distribute under Crown Narrative, including press releases, feature articles (our editorially produced narratives), thought-leadership essays, and newsroom copy syndicated to partner outlets. By submitting content to Crown Narrative—or commissioning our Feature Article service—you agree to follow these rules.

1) Scope: What we accept and how we label it

Formats we publish

  • Press Releases — News announcements provided by an organization or its authorized agency.
  • Feature Articles (Crown Narrative Studio) — Reported, research-driven articles developed by our in-house editors with your collaboration.
  • Expert Commentary / Op-eds — Opinion or analysis attributed to a named individual with relevant expertise.

Labels & disclosures

  • “Press Release” for organization-issued announcements.
  • “Feature Article — Partner Content” for Crown Narrative Studio pieces; we disclose the commissioning brand and the nature of the collaboration.
  • “Opinion” / “Analysis” for bylined views.
  • Sponsored elements, affiliate links, financial relationships, equity stakes, or other material connections must be disclosed plainly within the article.

2) Newsworthiness & originality

All submissions must present a clear, timely angle and be substantively new (product or funding milestones, partnerships, research outcomes, expansion plans, credible milestones, timely expert take). We do not accept thinly veiled ads.

  • Originality: A significant majority of every submission must be original. Reprints and templated/duplicate content are rejected.
  • Attribution: Quote opinions and attribute claims to a named person or an identified source document.
  • No hype flags: Avoid ALL-CAPS emphasis, excessive exclamation marks, over-claiming (“revolutionary,” “guaranteed,” etc.), or direct second-person sales language in body text.

3) Accuracy, sourcing, and fact-checking

We expect verifiable facts and named sources:

  • Provide evidence for quantitative claims (market sizes, clinical results, emissions impacts) with citations to public sources (e.g., filings, peer-reviewed papers, audited reports, reputable news, or primary documents).
  • Legal and financial assertions require supporting documentation (e.g., case numbers, transaction filings, regulatory IDs).
  • Contact info: Include a real-name media contact (name, email, phone) for verification.
  • Third-party quotes: Must be authorized and attributed.
  • Corrections: See Section 13.

For Feature Articles, our editors conduct independent verification, request documentation where warranted, and may interview additional sources for balance.

4) Style & formatting standards

Length

  • Press releases: 300–800 words (concise, factual).
  • Feature Articles: 1,000–2,000 words (deeper analysis, narrative structure, charts or data visuals where appropriate).

Structure

  • Headline: state the news or thesis plainly.
  • Subhead/Deck: add key context or data.
  • Body: front-load the news; use short paragraphs, subheads, and bullet points for readability.
  • Boilerplate: short, non-promotional description of the company (1 paragraph).
  • Links: keep anchor text natural; no more than ~2 external links per 800 words (avoid keyword-stuffing, doorway pages, or link schemes).
  • Media: provide images (JPG/PNG) you have rights to use; include descriptive alt text and basic captions/credits.

Language & tone

  • Professional, precise, and accessible to an informed general audience.
  • Use consistent English (U.S. or U.K.) within each piece.
  • Avoid jargon; define acronyms on first use.

5) AI-assisted content policy

We embrace careful use of AI for drafting and research support, with editorial accountability:

  • Disclose if significant drafting relied on AI.
  • You remain responsible for factual accuracy and rights clearance.
  • We screen for hallucinations, plagiarism, and policy violations; editors may request sources for verification.
  • Purely AI-generated quotes, fabricated sources, or synthetic endorsements are prohibited.

6) Legal, medical, and financial content

Securities / investing:

  • No stock tips, trading bots, “signals,” or promotional “picks.”
  • Public-company news must be factual; include tickers only where authorized and contextually necessary.
  • Disclose any conflicts (holdings, compensated relationships).

Health / medical:

  • No unsubstantiated cure claims or misleading efficacy statements.
  • Medical claims require credible citations (e.g., peer-reviewed studies, trial registries) and appropriate disclaimers.

Legal matters:

  • Avoid shaping public opinion about ongoing cases.
  • Include case numbers and court of record when referencing legal actions; attribute allegations to filings.

7) Prohibited or restricted content

We do not publish or distribute:

  • Hate speech, harassment, or incitement; threats or content intended to harm or exact revenge.
  • Adult/sexually explicit material, escorting, or simulated sexual services.
  • Illegal products/services, malware, or instructions that facilitate wrongdoing.
  • Payday/short-term lending promotions, multi-level marketing recruitment pitches, “get-rich-quick” schemes.
  • Tobacco/vape promotions, recreational drug sales.
  • Online pharmacies unless clearly operating within applicable law and requiring valid prescriptions.
  • Gambling and pay-to-play fantasy platforms (unless purely news and compliant with jurisdictional law).
  • Unverified crypto token/ICO promotions, cloud mining, or opaque investment vehicles.
  • Black-hat SEO services (paid links, fake followers, link stuffing).
  • Firearms sales or parts content (except bona fide policy or safety news).

Editors may decline borderline submissions at their discretion.

8) Rights, licenses, and usage

  • You keep your IP for content you submit, except where a separate contract states otherwise.
  • License to distribute: You grant Crown Narrative a non-exclusive, worldwide license to edit, format, publish, and syndicate your submission across our network and partners, with standard archiving and promotional use.
  • Feature Articles (Studio): Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Crown Narrative holds copyright in the final editorial work product; clients receive a broad license for brand channels, IR/PR use, and sales enablement. Rights terms can be customized in your SOW/MSA.

9) Feature Articles (Crown Narrative Studio)

Our Feature Articles create editorially credible, data-driven narratives that meet the standards of leading business/tech publications.

Approval criteria

  • Clear thesis of public interest; evidence-based analysis; independent verification.
  • Balanced presentation of benefits, limitations, and context (regulatory, competitive, or scientific).
  • Appropriate disclosures for funding, partnerships, or material connections.

Process

  1. Story discovery: intake + angle workshop; define audience and publication targets.
  2. Research & reporting: document review, interviews, data validation.
  3. Outline & alignment: structure, sourcing plan, disclosure placements.
  4. Drafting & edits: two editorial rounds standard; legal/Compliance review where applicable.
  5. Finalization & syndication: readiness check (SEO, accessibility, alt text), labeling, and distribution.

Client collaboration

  • Provide timely access to subject-matter experts and supporting documentation.
  • Approve quotes and sensitive disclosures; refrain from introducing new claims late in production.
  • Respect editorial independence—we will not present marketing copy as reported facts.

10) Review & moderation workflow

  • Submission screening: identity and authorization checks may be required.
  • Editorial review: format, accuracy, sources, disclosures, policy compliance.
  • Edits & clarifications: we may request revisions or documentation.
  • Rejection: submissions can be declined without detailed rationale if standards are not met.
  • Timelines: review times vary by complexity and volume. Time-sensitive content should be flagged on submission.

11) SEO, accessibility & performance

  • Use descriptive headings (H1/H2/H3), concise titles (~60 characters), and meta descriptions (~155 characters).
  • Provide alt text for images; avoid text embedded in images.
  • Keep pages lightweight; avoid unnecessary scripts or tracking pixels in submitted content.
  • No link cloaking, doorway pages, or manipulative anchors.

12) Privacy and minors

  • Do not include sensitive personal data without consent.
  • Extra care with minors: avoid identifying details unless indispensable to a public-interest story and with appropriate consent.

13) Corrections, updates, and takedowns

  • Corrections: If we materially err in our own editorial work—or introduce an error during editing—we will correct it promptly and note the change where appropriate.
  • Updates: Substantive post-publication changes are timestamped. As a general rule, updates may only be feasible for Feature Articles published on our partner sites and are not guaranteed, as each partner has its own editorial and technical policies.
    We cannot typically update or revise press releases once they have been accepted and published, especially after they have entered wider syndication.
    If our editorial team determines that a proposed change amounts to a significant factual or data update, it may be treated as a new Feature Article or follow-up piece and billed accordingly under a new engagement.
  • Takedowns: We consider takedown requests where content is unlawful, violates privacy, infringes rights, or no longer meets our editorial standards. In most cases, we can only address corrections or takedowns directly on:
    • the primary Feature Article published on our own and/or partner sites (subject to each partner’s policies), and
    • limited mirrored versions under our direct control.
  • However, press releases are usually not editable or removable once accepted and published, particularly when they have been picked up by multiple third-party publishers worldwide over whom we have no technical or contractual control. For this reason, you are strongly advised to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all facts, data, and statements provided to us before approval and submission.
  • Contact: See Section 16.

14) Compliance & precedence

These guidelines sit alongside our Terms of Service, Acceptable Use Policy, and Privacy Policy. If a conflict occurs, the governing contract or Terms take precedence. We may modify these guidelines at any time; continued use signifies acceptance of updates.

15) How to submit

  • Press releases: submit in standard format with headline, dateline, body, boilerplate, media contact, and working links.
  • Feature Articles: contact our Studio team with a brief, objectives, target audience, and any background materials; we will propose an angle and outline.
  • Provide all assets (logos, images) with usage rights clearly stated.

16) Contact

Questions about submissions, disclosures, or corrections:
Editorial Desk — Crown Narrative
Email: info [at] crownnarrative . com
(If urgent/time-sensitive, include “TIME-CRITICAL” in the subject.)

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