AECORD

Legal

Editorial policy

The corporate-affiliated version of our editorial standards, written for partners and lawyers. The practical version for our reading audience lives at /editorial-standards.

  1. 1. Editorial independence

    AECORD's editorial team operates independently of the marketplace, sourcing and commercial teams. No member of the commercial team may approve, veto, or amend an editorial piece. Editorial decisions are made by the editor-in-chief.

  2. 2. Source verification

    Every cost figure published on AECORD Magazine must be traceable to a published BOQ, an audited quotation, or a primary government data series. "Industry estimates" without a source are not published.

  3. 3. Second-reader rule

    No article is published without review by a second editor, who reads for accuracy and is named in the byline footer.

  4. 4. Corrections

    Material errors are corrected within 24 hours of confirmation and annotated at the foot of the article with the date and nature of the change. Non-material changes (typos, light copyediting) are corrected silently within 7 days; after that they are annotated.

  5. 5. Anonymity

    Anonymity is granted only when (a) the source faces credible professional, legal, or safety risk by being named and (b) at least one corroborating source is on the record.

  6. 6. Sponsored content

    Sponsored articles carry the "Sponsored" eyebrow above the headline, a coloured border, and a sponsor disclosure paragraph. Sponsors have no editorial input. Sponsored content is excluded from the magazine's "best of" round-ups.

  7. 7. Conflicts of interest

    Editors and writers disclose, on assignment, any equity interest, paid engagement, or close personal relationship with subjects of the article. Recusals are required for conflicts of any value within 36 months. Disclosures are published in the byline footer.

  8. 8. AI use

    AI is permitted for transcription, copy-editing suggestions, and translation. AI may not generate article body, quotes, illustrations, or photos. AI-assisted visuals carry an explicit label.

  9. 9. Complaints

    Editorial complaints should be addressed to corrections@aecord.com. We respond within 5 working days. Unresolved complaints can be escalated to the editor-in-chief at editor@aecord.com.

  10. 10. Right of reply

    When we publish a piece critical of an individual or organisation, we offer a right of reply before publication and a comment in the article. Replies received after publication are appended to the article.