Her Sport is committed to accurate, fair and responsible journalism across HerSport.ie and our official digital and social media channels.
Her Sport Media Limited accepts responsibility for the editorial content it publishes.
Editorial Responsibility
Our Head of Content has principal responsibility for editorial oversight at Her Sport, with senior management providing senior editorial oversight where required.
Day-to-day publishing is carried out by Her Sport’s content team in accordance with our editorial standards.
Sensitive, contentious, opinion-led or higher-risk material is escalated for senior editorial review where appropriate.
Our Editorial Standards
Our journalism is guided by the principles of:
- accuracy;
- fairness;
- reliable sourcing;
- appropriate verification;
- editorial independence;
- clear distinction between fact and opinion;
- avoidance of sensationalism;
- responsible representation;
- accountability; and
- appropriate respect for privacy and individual rights.
We aim to ensure that factual information is checked against reliable sources before publication.
The level of verification required will depend on the nature of the story. Straightforward results or competition reporting may rely on official sources, while more sensitive or potentially damaging claims require greater scrutiny and editorial oversight.
Fairness and Right of Reply
Where Her Sport proposes to publish a serious allegation or significant criticism concerning an identifiable person or organisation, we will ordinarily seek to give them a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication.
Any response received will be considered fairly and reflected appropriately in the resulting journalism.
Fact, Analysis and Opinion
Her Sport publishes factual reporting, analysis and opinion.
We aim to distinguish clearly between established facts and commentary or opinion.
Opinion should have an appropriate factual basis and should not be presented as verified fact.
Sources
Her Sport uses sources including:
- original interviews and reporting;
- official sporting bodies and competition sources;
- athletes, clubs and teams;
- public records and official publications;
- recognised news and sports organisations; and
- other credible primary and secondary sources.
Information obtained from social media is subject to appropriate verification before being treated as established fact.
Copyright, Images and Attribution
Her Sport respects copyright and intellectual property rights.
We use licensed image services including Sportsfile and Getty Images, as well as material produced by our own team or supplied by athletes, clubs, governing bodies, agencies and other authorised sources.
Where appropriate, permission is sought before third-party images, video or other material are republished.
Material sourced from social media is not treated as automatically free to use. Permission is sought where appropriate and the original source is credited or tagged.
Sources, quotes, statistics, photographs and third-party reporting are appropriately attributed where required.
Where there is uncertainty regarding copyright, permissions or another legal issue, publication is escalated for senior review.
Defamation and Legal Risk
Particular care is taken where journalism involves allegations or claims that could seriously affect the reputation of an identifiable person or organisation.
Higher-risk material is escalated to senior management before publication.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
- further verification;
- corroboration;
- reviewing supporting evidence;
- seeking a response from the person or organisation concerned;
- distinguishing clearly between fact, allegation and opinion; and
- obtaining external legal advice where appropriate.
Her Sport has engaged external legal expertise in relation to media-law and defamation considerations where required.
Editorial Independence
Her Sport’s independent editorial decisions are made separately from our commercial relationships.
Sponsors, advertisers and commercial partners cannot require Her Sport to publish, suppress or alter independent editorial journalism.
Paid partnerships and sponsored content are clearly identified.
Corrections
Her Sport aims to correct factual errors promptly and proportionately when they are identified.
Depending on the nature of the error, this may involve:
- updating or amending content;
- clarifying wording;
- adding a correction or clarification;
- removing material;
- deleting and republishing corrected social content; or
- issuing a separate correction where appropriate.
Minor errors may be corrected directly.
Where an error materially changes the meaning or substance of a piece of journalism, Her Sport will consider whether the correction or clarification should be identified to readers.
Editorial Complaints
Anyone who wishes to raise a concern about editorial content published by Her Sport can contact:
Please include, where possible:
- your name and contact details;
- the article, post, video or other content concerned;
- the date and platform on which it was published;
- a link or screenshot where available;
- an explanation of your concern; and
- any relevant supporting information.
Editorial complaints are overseen by our Head of Content
We aim to:
- acknowledge complaints within five working days;
- investigate the matter and review relevant material;
- seek further information where required; and
- provide a substantive response within 10 working days where reasonably possible.
More complex complaints may require additional time. Where this happens, we will inform the complainant.
Outcomes
Following review of a complaint, Her Sport may:
- determine that no change is required;
- clarify content;
- correct an error;
- amend or update content;
- add a correction or clarification;
- remove content;
- offer a right of reply;
- issue an apology; or
- take another appropriate and proportionate action.
Review and Escalation
If a complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome, they may request that the matter be reviewed by another appropriate member of Her Sport’s senior management.
Where possible, that review will be carried out by someone who was not responsible for the original editorial decision.
Her Sport will cooperate with any applicable independent press or regulatory complaints process.
Commercial Independence of Complaints
Editorial complaints are handled independently of Her Sport’s commercial relationships.
Sponsors and commercial partners do not determine the outcome of editorial complaints or independent editorial decisions.
For editorial complaints or queries, please contact hello@hersport.ie.