About Aviation International News

Accuracy and fairness. Our articles will provide all relevant facts, explain the basis for them and give all parties concerned an opportunity to offer opinions or explanations.

We will not rely on facts reported in other publications unless we have verified them and made clear where and when they first appeared.

Headlines will not misrepresent the point of an article.

We will not change photos in a way that gives a false impression of what they show. We may make minor changes to improve the quality of reproduction. We may remove the registration number (i.e., “N number” or tail number) or other identifying markings on an aircraft in a photo upon request and we will always remove such markings if their presence could give a wrong impression (e.g., if an aircraft that had nothing to do with illegal activity is used to illustrate a story about such activity).

In some situations, such as reporting characteristics of an aircraft, the only viable information source will be the manufacturer. When it is not practical to independently verify facts, we will make the source of the information clear.

In seeking information, our staff and freelance writers will be honest about the purpose of their inquiries. When individuals or representatives of companies are unwilling or unable to comment on a situation, the resulting article will make clear that we gave them an opportunity to do so. When seeking a comment, reporters will give a deadline for responding.

When we publish allegations against or criticisms of individuals or companies, their responses will appear as closely as possible to each point made. In addition, the story will clearly describe who is making these points and what vested interest he or she may have.

Objectivity. We maintain strict separation between advertising and all editorial content. Whether or not a company is an advertiser will have no effect on whether or how we cover it in our editorial pages. Editorial considerations and readers’ needs will dictate all coverage decisions.

Content and supplements produced for and funded by advertisers will be clearly identified as such so that there will be no doubt in the mind of a typical reader that the advertising content is not pure editorial.

Articles will not be a platform for reporters’ viewpoints. The obvious exception: opinion pieces, such as editorial commentaries, blogs, and reviews of aircraft, autos, etc.

Staff writers and editors should not work for individuals or companies in the aviation industry or for other aviation magazines. (Freelance writers who work for AIN Publications may work for other publications, unless stipulated otherwise in their retainer agreement with AIN.) Moreover, AIN editors and staff and freelance writers should not directly own stock in companies they write about. However, it is acceptable for stock in these companies to be held by mutual funds in which our writers and editors invest, as shareholders in funds do not control trading of their stocks.

Prepublication drafts. We generally do not provide manuscripts to sources or article subjects in advance of publication, though we may occasionally make exceptions to this rule (e.g. if an article contains complex technical information that would benefit from external review). In these situations, however, we will typically allow someone to review only portions of an article and we will retain the right to veto any suggested changes.

Travel assistance. Accepting company hospitality or assistance with travel plans could compromise our independence. On the other hand, this is sometimes the only practical way to participate in a company briefing or other event. We may accept such assistance if it involves a group media visit or an event in which other publications and reporters are participating. We will not accept invitations to travel at the expense of a company if no other media are participating. However, there may sometimes be circumstances (such as BJT’s Getaways series and demonstrations of aircraft for pilot reports in which journalists are individually invited to fly the aircraft on different dates) where this policy is not viable. In these situations, the editors will decide whether accepting hospitality or assistance would compromise our independence.

Accountability. When we receive a complaint about an article, we will quickly review it. If we’ve erred, we will apologize to the parties concerned and, where appropriate, publish a correction or clarification.

If a company or individual writes to make a noteworthy point that contradicts an article we’ve published, we will make every effort to publish the letter. In this case, the article writer will be offered the chance to make a counter-response.

Unnamed sources. If a source asks to tell a reporter something off the record before saying it, we will treat the statement only as background information that cannot be published.

While we seek to avoid unnamed sources, there may be circumstances when a credible source does not want to be or cannot be named. In such cases, we will consider the source’s motives in making the comments and seeking anonymity. The appropriate publication editor and AIN Publications editor-in-chief, in consultation with legal counsel and others, if needed, will be the judge as to whether use of the unnamed source is in the public interest.

When we do use unnamed sources, we will make every effort to corroborate information independently. Moreover, we will give as much information as possible about their background and any vested interest they may have. Especially where sources are being critical of a third party, they must provide strong supporting evidence for such comments.

Quotes. As a general rule, direct quotations will not be edited. Especially in Q&A-formatted interviews, however, we may do minor rephrasing and tightening up of grammar to improve readability. Editing should never change the point of what someone is saying.

Reader feedback. Without contacting the writer, we may publish letters and emails that have been submitted for publication and comments that have been posted on our websites. However, whenever possible, we will contact the writer of the letter or email, to confirm that the person did, in fact, write it. If the possibility exists that a letter or email was not intended for publication, we will obtain the writer’s permission before using it. Requests by letter and email writers that their identities not be published will be subject to the same scrutiny as unnamed sources.