Last updated: September 15, 2026
In short: money and relationships never decide what TechEngage® publishes. Writers disclose conflicts of interest, we do not take payment for coverage, review samples and sponsored trips are disclosed, affiliate and sponsored content is kept separate from editorial decisions, and we protect the people who give us information. How we source and verify stories is covered in our editorial standards.
Readers come to TechEngage for honest information about products and companies that often spend heavily to shape how they are covered. This policy explains the rules that keep our journalism independent of those interests. It applies to all staff, freelancers, and contributors. Our publication principles summarize the values behind it.
1. Editorial independence
Editors alone decide what TechEngage covers, how stories are framed, and what conclusions reviews reach.
- Advertisers, sponsors, and affiliate partners cannot review, edit, or approve editorial content before publication.
- We do not accept payment, or any other benefit, in exchange for coverage, a positive review, a higher rating, or a place in a buying guide.
- Pulling or threatening to pull advertising has no effect on our coverage of a company.
- Opinion pieces are clearly labeled; everywhere else, writers keep personal bias out of their work.
2. Conflicts of interest
A conflict of interest exists when a writer’s personal, financial, or professional ties could affect, or appear to affect, their coverage.
- Disclosure to editors: writers must tell an editor about any business, financial, family, or professional relationship with a company, product, or person they are asked to cover, including investments in that company or its direct competitors.
- Reassignment: if disclosure is not enough to manage the conflict, the story goes to another writer.
- Disclosure to readers: when a relevant relationship remains, the article says so.
- Outside work: staff may not do paid consulting, marketing, or PR work for companies they cover.
3. Gifts, review samples, and travel
- Gifts: staff do not accept gifts, cash, or personal benefits from companies they cover, beyond items of token value such as event refreshments or promotional materials.
- Review samples: companies sometimes lend or provide products for evaluation. When a sample shapes a review, the review discloses how we obtained the product. Receiving a product never guarantees coverage, and never guarantees favorable coverage.
- Travel and events: if a company pays for travel, accommodation, or event registration connected to a story, the article discloses it. The company gets no say over what we write.
4. Affiliate links
Some articles contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associates links. If a reader buys through one, TechEngage may earn a commission at no extra cost to the reader.
- Products are chosen and ranked on their merits, following our reviews methodology, not on commission rates or whether an affiliate program exists.
- Writers are not told commission rates and are not paid based on affiliate revenue from their articles.
- Articles with affiliate links carry a disclosure, consistent with the FTC’s Endorsement Guides. Full details are on our affiliate disclosure page.
5. Sponsored content and advertising
- Clear labels: content paid for by a third party is labeled “Sponsored” at the top so readers can tell it apart from editorial work.
- Separation: sponsored content is arranged through our advertising team and is not written or edited as independent journalism. Sponsors do not influence other coverage.
- No disguised ads: we do not publish paid placements, paid links, or promotional material presented as independent editorial content.
- Right to decline: we turn down advertising or sponsorships that are misleading or that conflict with our standards.
6. Protecting sources and privacy
- Confidential sources: when we agree to protect a source’s identity, we keep that promise. Only the editors who need to know are told who the source is.
- Tips: information sent through Tip Us is used only for reporting, and we do not reveal who sent it without permission.
- Private individuals: we avoid publishing personal information about private people unless it is essential to a story in the public interest, and we take particular care with minors and victims of data breaches or crimes.
- Honest dealings: we identify ourselves as journalists when gathering information and do not pay sources for information.
7. Fairness and respect
We treat the people and companies we cover fairly. We take responsibility for our words and do not publish content that is discriminatory or demeaning toward any person or group.
8. Accountability and contact
If you believe TechEngage has broken this policy, tell us. Factual errors are handled under our corrections policy. Ethics concerns go to the Editor-in-Chief at [email protected]; please include the article link and the details of your concern.