Editorial Standards
WikiWalls applies four editorial tests to every piece before publish. Named bylines, tested data, disclosed sponsor relationships, and methodology pages are non-negotiable. Sponsors do not see drafts, do not influence methodology, and never substitute for editorial coverage.
- Voice: warm, knowing, precise, never saccharine. Plain language without dumbing down. No corporate filler
- Author requirement: every byline is a real human with a populated author archive. Person schema with sameAs to LinkedIn / ORCID where relevant
- Sponsor discipline: no draft access, no methodology influence, branded content structurally separated and visually labeled
- Four editorial tests: byline, reputation, reader, pay-to-read. Every piece must pass all four
The four editorial tests
Every piece passes all four tests before publish. A piece that fails any test gets revised or killed.
The four tests, in order
- Byline test. Would the writer put their name on this in any other publication?
- Reputation test. If a sponsor cancels because of this piece, is the integrity worth more than the deal?
- Reader test. Does this earn the reader’s time at minute three of reading?
- Pay-to-read test. Would the editor pay to read this if they did not work here?
Voice and house style
Warm, knowing, precise, never saccharine. Plain language without dumbing down. Confident without arrogance. No corporate filler.
The reader has a working bullshit detector and uses it. We address them as a peer.
We use: the institutional plural “we”, named bylines for opinion, plain language, tested data with sources cited. We do not use: em-dashes, year tokens in titles or headings, “leverage”, “unlock”, “robust”, “seamless”, “best-in-class”, “moreover”, “furthermore”, “diving into”, “look no further”, “in today’s fast-paced world”, LinkedIn-post advice phrasing.
Author requirement
Every byline is a real human with a populated author archive page at /author/[name]/. The page carries the author’s photo, bio, credentialed background, byline list, and external sameAs links (LinkedIn mandatory; ORCID for academic-credentialed contributors; professional site where relevant). No anonymous “team” bylines, no freelancer farming.
Sponsor discipline (non-negotiable)
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| No draft access | Sponsors never see editorial drafts. Branded content drafts the sponsor pays for are the only exception, and those are sponsor-bylined |
| No methodology influence | Sponsors cannot specify what we test, how we test, or what verdict thresholds we use. Methodology page is editor-controlled |
| No verdict steering | Comparison rankings are sponsor-blind. The reviewer does not know which products in a comparison set are sponsored until after the verdict is locked |
| No category exclusivity beyond year 1 | Founding Sponsors get year-one exclusivity in their category. From year 2 onward, no exclusivity sold |
| No removal of negative reviews | A negative review stays up. Corrections happen through the correction policy, not commercial pressure |
| No “we will not write about your competitor” deals | The publication cannot be paid to omit coverage |
| Branded content visually separated | Sponsored editorial profiles use a distinct visual label, sponsor byline, and “/sponsored/” URL prefix. Never substituted for editorial coverage |
Fact-check and verification
Every comparison is checked by a second editor for data accuracy. Research-paper-as-story pieces are checked by a credentialed external reviewer when budget permits. Sensitive-content categories (AI in regulated industries, founder finance, security claims) require a named credentialed reviewer on the byline.
Sensitive content protocol
When extra discipline applies
- AI in regulated industries (legal, medical, finance). Named credentialed reviewer hired or contracted. We do not publish until reviewer is in place. Clinical medicine deferred until MD on masthead. Legal practice until JD on staff. Accounting until CPA on retainer
- Founder finance. Coverage spans patterns and product comparisons only, not specific tax or investment advice. “This is not financial advice. Consult a licensed professional.” footer when topic edges close
- Security claims. Defensible threat model + verifiable test required. No absolutes (“most secure,” “uncrackable”). Threat-model commentary from a security professional included
- AI safety and policy. Take desk covers with named columnist signing. We translate; we do not advocate for or against specific regulations
- Sponsor-relationship comparisons. Explicit disclosure block at top. Methodology blind to sponsor. Second-editor verification on verdict
Evergreen content rule
Titles, headings, verdict labels, and freshness anchors do not carry year tokens. Posts read as evergreen and stay relevant for 24+ months. The freshness signal lives in the visible “Last reviewed by [Name], [Month Year]” line on every piece, not in the title or copy.
Last reviewed by WikiWalls editorial.