Code of Conduct
Last updated: 10 June, 2026
The Archipelago Code of Conduct extends beyond legal compliance. It establishes the standards of ethical conduct, editorial excellence, transparency, fairness and accountability expected across Archipelago and of anyone working with or on behalf of the organisation.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Archipelago complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the United Kingdom and in any other jurisdiction in which it operates.
Contractors, contributors, suppliers and partners are expected to understand and comply with the legal requirements relevant to their work, including those relating to employment, publishing, copyright, privacy, competition, anti-bribery and data protection.
Archipelago maintains zero tolerance for deliberate or serious disregard of applicable law by the organisation or those working on its behalf.
Further information can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
Human Rights and Modern Slavery
Archipelago is committed to respecting and protecting human rights throughout its operations and supply chain.
There is zero tolerance for:
Forced labour
Human trafficking
Child labour
Debt bondage
Exploitative working conditions
Any form of modern slavery
Archipelago seeks to ensure that its operations, suppliers and business relationships reflect fair, ethical and lawful labour practices and the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Suppliers, contractors and partners are expected to uphold comparable standards and take reasonable steps to identify and address risks within their own operations and supply chains.
Fair Payment and Responsible Contracting
Archipelago is committed to paying freelancers, contractors, contributors and other partners fairly, lawfully and within agreed and reasonable timescales.
Exploitative working terms are not accepted. Unpaid work or additional services outside an agreed scope are never expected without prior agreement and appropriate compensation.
Editorial Excellence and Quality
Archipelago is committed to producing content that is accurate, well researched and fact-checked where appropriate. Writing is thoughtfully edited, clearly presented and responsible in its representation of people, places and cultures.
Editorial processes are designed to promote accuracy, clarity and trustworthiness while preserving the individual voice and perspective of contributors.
All published material is expected to meet high standards of craftsmanship, journalism and storytelling.
Information is presented accurately and fairly, with clear distinctions between fact, analysis and opinion.
Misleading claims, material omissions and sensationalism are avoided. Sponsored, paid-for or promotional content is clearly identified, and relevant conflicts of interest are disclosed transparently.
Complete neutrality may not always be achievable in travel writing and journalism. Nevertheless, subjects are approached fairly, differing perspectives are acknowledged where relevant, and personal, political or commercial interests are not permitted to distort the truth or improperly influence coverage.
Editorial decisions are made independently. Commercial relationships, advertising partnerships, sponsorships, affiliate arrangements and external pressures do not dictate the substance or conclusions of editorial content.
Contributors and editors are expected to disclose any personal, financial or professional relationships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing editorial judgement.
Readers should be able to trust that Archipelago content is guided by editorial merit rather than commercial influence.
Further information about Archipelago's approach to writing and coverage can be found in the Editorial Policy.
Respect for Communities, Cultures and Destinations
Travel journalism carries a responsibility to represent places and people thoughtfully.
Archipelago writing:
Avoids harmful stereotypes
Respects cultural differences
Represents communities accurately and fairly
Promotes responsible travel practices
Considers the potential impact of coverage on destinations and local populations
Avoids exploitative or extractive storytelling
Archipelago believes that travel media should foster understanding, curiosity and respect between people and cultures, rather than exist solely for the benefit of the person travelling.
Intellectual Property and Plagiarism
Originality is fundamental to the work produced by Archipelago.
Plagiarism is not tolerated. Published work should be original, sources should be attributed appropriately, copyright should be respected and relevant permissions should be obtained where required.
Allegations of plagiarism or copyright infringement are taken seriously and investigated appropriately. Content found to infringe copyright or substantially reproduce another person's work without appropriate attribution or permission will be corrected or removed as appropriate.
If you identify writing that appears to have been plagiarised, or which closely resembles material published elsewhere before Archipelago's publication date, please report it through the Corrections page. All reports will be reviewed personally.
Anti-Bribery and Corruption
Archipelago maintains a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption.
Archipelago complies with the UK Bribery Act 2010 and does not accept gifts, payments, hospitality or other benefits in exchange for favourable reporting, biased coverage or improper influence over editorial or business decisions.
Business decisions are based on merit, fairness and legitimate commercial considerations.
Products, hospitality or other material benefits offered in connection with journalistic activity are handled transparently. Where relevant, they are recorded and disclosed in accordance with Archipelago's transparency and compliance practices.
Conflicts of Interest
Actual or potential conflicts of interest are disclosed promptly so that they can be assessed and managed appropriately.
Editorial, commercial and personal interests are kept appropriately separate, and any relationship that could reasonably be perceived as influencing judgement should be declared.
Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity
Archipelago is committed to maintaining an inclusive environment in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Discrimination, harassment, bullying or victimisation are not tolerated on the basis of:
Age
Disability
Race
Ethnicity
Nationality
Religion or belief
Sex
Sexual orientation
Gender identity
Marital status
Pregnancy or maternity
Any other characteristic protected by applicable law
Diverse perspectives are valued, and inclusion is recognised as strengthening the journalism produced by Archipelago.
Archipelago seeks to broaden representation among contributors, sources and stories. Freelance and contracting decisions are based on relevant skills, experience, suitability and value rather than personal characteristics unrelated to the work.
Archipelago maintains a comprehensive Accessibility Policy and will make reasonable efforts to provide appropriate adjustments for contractors and partners with accessibility requirements, regardless of diagnosis or individual circumstances.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Archipelago is committed to providing a safe working environment for employees, contractors and contributors where applicable.
Anyone working with Archipelago is encouraged to raise concerns relating to health, safety or wellbeing without fear of stigma or retaliation.
Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility
Archipelago is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its operations and supporting responsible travel practices.
Sustainability is recognised as an ongoing responsibility requiring continuous learning, consideration and improvement.
Environmental impact is considered when making decisions relating to working practices, transport and travel undertaken for journalistic or business purposes.
Political Independence and Neutrality
Archipelago is not aligned with any political party, political movement or ideology.
Thoughtful discussion and diverse viewpoints are encouraged while maintaining editorial independence.
Editorial decisions are never driven by political pressure, partisan interests or ideological agendas. Further information about neutrality, independence and bias can be found in the Editorial Policy.
Community Impact and Social Responsibility
Archipelago recognises that writing can influence perceptions, behaviours and travel decisions.
The publication seeks to make a positive contribution by promoting understanding between cultures, supporting responsible tourism and highlighting underrepresented voices and perspectives where appropriate.
Readers, contributors and partners are encouraged to respect local communities and approach travel responsibly.
Archipelago aims to leave a positive impact through the stories it publishes and the relationships it builds.
Reporting Concerns and Whistleblowing
Everyone associated with Archipelago has a responsibility to raise concerns about conduct that may be unlawful, unethical or inconsistent with this Code.
Concerns may include:
Editorial misconduct
Plagiarism
Harassment or discrimination
Corruption or bribery
Fraud
Human rights abuses
Data breaches
Safety concerns
Environmental misconduct
Reports are treated seriously and considered appropriately.
No individual should suffer retaliation, intimidation or adverse treatment for raising a genuine concern in good faith. Archipelago is committed to maintaining an environment in which concerns can be raised openly and responsibly.
Use the Contact page to raise a concern or provide relevant information.
Supplier and Partner Expectations
Suppliers, contractors, contributors and business partners are expected to uphold standards consistent with this Code.
Where significant concerns arise regarding conduct, Archipelago reserves the right to review, suspend or terminate a business relationship where appropriate.
Continuous Learning and Improvement
Archipelago is committed to reviewing and improving its practices on an ongoing basis.
Constructive feedback from readers, contributors, partners and other stakeholders is welcomed, and continuous improvement is considered an essential part of maintaining trust, accountability and high standards.
To raise an issue or provide feedback, please get in touch.
Respect for Communities, Cultures and Destinations
Travel journalism carries a responsibility to represent places and people thoughtfully.
Archipelago writing:
Avoids harmful stereotypes
Respects cultural differences
Represents communities accurately and fairly
Promotes responsible travel practices
Considers the impact of coverage on destinations and local populations
Avoids exploitative or extractive storytelling
I believe travel media should foster understanding, curiosity and respect between people and cultures – not just serve the person doing the travelling.
Intellectual Property and Plagiarism
Originality is fundamental to the work produced by. I take a strict, zero-tolerance approach to plagiarism. I always create original work, attribute sources appropriately, respect copyright laws and obtain relevant permissions.
Any allegations of plagiarism or copyright infringement will be investigated seriously and will result in removal of content if found to be true. If you identify writing that looks like it has been plagiarised, or is very similar to content that existed before the date of publication, please share it via the corrections page and I will read out personally.
Anti-Bribery and Corruption
I maintain a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption.
Archipelago complies with the UK Bribery Act 2010 and prohibits the receipt of gifts in exchange for biased reporting, payments unrelated to services rendered, biased coverage or any decision-making influenced by third parties.
Business decisions must be based on merit, fairness and legitimate commercial considerations. Any products, hospitality or benefits received, whether accepted or declined, are logged, declared in annual compliance reporting and remain fully relevant to journalistic activity.
Conflicts of Interest
Although extremely rare, any conflicts of interest are disclosed promptly so they can be assessed and managed appropriately.
Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity
I am committed to creating an inclusive online environment in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Discrimination, harassment, bullying or victimisation are not tolerated on the basis of:
Age
Disability
Race
Ethnicity
Nationality
Religion or belief
Sex
Sexual orientation
Gender identity
Marital status
Pregnancy or maternity
Any other protected characteristic
Diverse perspectives are valued, and inclusion is recognised as strengthening the journalism produced for Archipelago. Representation among contributors, sources and stories is actively broadened, and any freelance hiring decisions are always based on skill and value rather than personal characteristics.
Archipelago maintains a comprehensive Accessibility Policy and will make every reasonable effort to provide additional arrangements for contractors and partners with accessibility requirements, regardless of diagnosis or individual circumstances.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Archipelago is committed to providing a safe working environment for employees and contractors where applicable. Individuals are encouraged to raise concerns regarding health, safety or wellbeing without fear of stigma or retaliation.
Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility
I am fully committed to reducing the environmental impact of operations and supporting responsible travel practices. Sustainability is recognised as an ongoing responsibility that requires continuous learning and action.
Environmental impact is mitigated through sustainable choices relating to working locations, transport options and travel undertaken for journalistic purposes.
Political Independence and Neutrality
I am not aligned with any political party, movement or ideology. Thoughtful discussion and diverse viewpoints are encouraged while maintaining editorial independence.
Editorial decisions are never be driven by political pressure, partisan interests or ideological agendas. See the Editorial Policy for further information on neutrality and bias avoidance.
Community Impact and Social Responsibility
I recognise that writing can influence perceptions, behaviours and travel decisions. Positive contributions are sought through promoting understanding across cultures, supporting responsible tourism and highlighting underrepresented voices and perspectives.
Readers and partners are encouraged to respect local communities and act as responsible stewards of the platform. I always aim to leave a positive impact through the stories published and the relationships built.
Reporting Concerns and Whistleblowing
Everyone associated with Archipelago, including myself, has a responsibility to raise concerns about conduct that may be unlawful, unethical or inconsistent with this Code.
Concerns may include:
Editorial misconduct
Plagiarism
Harassment or discrimination
Corruption or bribery
Fraud
Human rights abuses
Data breaches
Safety concerns
Environmental misconduct
Reports will be treated seriously and investigated appropriately. No individual will suffer retaliation, intimidation or adverse treatment for raising concerns made in good faith. I am committed to maintaining a culture where speaking up is encouraged and protected. Use the Contact page to raise any concerns or share details.
Supplier and Partner Expectations
Suppliers, contractors and business partners are expected to uphold standards consistent with this Code. Where significant concerns arise, the right is reserved to review or terminate business relationships.
Continuous Learning and Improvement
I am committed to reviewing and improving practices on an ongoing basis. Constructive feedback from readers, contributors, partners and stakeholders is welcomed, and continuous improvement is viewed as an essential part of maintaining trust.
To raise an issue or provide feedback, please get in touch.