Trade Treasury Payments

Editorial Policy

Updated 13 Nov 20269 min read

Editorial and Marketing Charter v3.0

Effective January 2026

1. Purpose and Scope

1.1 This Charter governs all editorial, marketing, and commercial activity undertaken by Trade Treasury Payments (TTP), operated by Trade and Transaction Finance Media Services Ltd (the Company).

1.2 It applies to all employees, contributors, editors, contractors, members of the Editorial Board, members of the Global Advisory Panel (GAP), and all agency or partnership entities producing or distributing content on behalf of TTP.

1.3 Adherence to this Charter is a condition of engagement or collaboration with TTP.

1.4 The purpose of this Charter is to set clear standards of conduct, integrity, transparency, and professionalism across all TTP operations.

2. Mission and Principles

2.1 TTP exists to inform, connect, and strengthen the global community working across trade, treasury, transaction banking, liquidity, risk management, insurance, cash management, and payments.

2.2 The purpose of TTP is to promote understanding, innovation, progress in these fields, and to highlight the collective contribution of the industry to global economic resilience and development.

2.3 TTP aims to advance high standards of communication, research, and collaboration across the ecosystem, supporting a transparent and responsible marketplace that benefits institutions, businesses, and end recipients.

2.4 TTP’s guiding principles are integrity, independence, transparency, accuracy, and accountability.

2.5 TTP endeavours to align its terminology, definitions, and classification of industry concepts with internationally recognised standards, taxonomies, and best practices. These include frameworks developed by multilateral institutions, international standard-setting bodies, and respected professional associations.

2.6 TTP reviews and updates its content standards regularly to reflect evolving market practices and regulatory developments.

3. Ethical and Regulatory Frameworks

3.1 TTP aligns with and upholds the following:

  1. a) IPSO Editors’ Code of Practice for accuracy, fairness, privacy, and right of reply.
  2. b) ICC Marketing and Communications Code 2024 for truthful, transparent, and socially responsible marketing and advertising.
  3. c) SPJ Code of Ethics and IFCN principles for transparency, verification, and editorial accountability.
  4. d) The UK Bribery Act 2010, the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, and the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for standards on integrity and corporate conduct.
  5. e) The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and equivalent data protection frameworks.

3.2 Where multiple codes apply, the stricter rule prevails.

3.3 The ICC Marketing and Communications Code is incorporated into this Charter, and its principles guide commercial, promotional, and sponsorship activities of TTP.

4. Editorial Independence

4.1 Editorial control and decision-making rest solely with the Editor in Chief and the Editorial Team.

4.2 Sponsors, advertisers, commercial clients, and partners do not have approval rights over editorial content, tone, or timing.

4.3 The Editorial and Commercial Teams maintain a clear functional separation. Limited coordination may occur for scheduling, production, or logistical reasons, but editorial judgement remains entirely with the Editor in Chief.

4.4 TTP does not accept payment or benefits in exchange for favourable coverage or for the suppression of legitimate information.

5. Governance Structure

5.1 The Editorial Board

  1. a) Provides strategic guidance and ensures that editorial policies remain relevant, accurate, and in the public interest.
  2. b) Reviews complex or sensitive matters referred by the Editor in Chief relating to ethics, law, or reputation.
  3. c) Advises on the long-term direction of TTP’s editorial strategy, tone, and alignment with industry standards.
  4. d) Board members may also represent organisations with commercial relationships with TTP, but in such cases they serve purely in an advisory capacity without editorial authority or influence.

5.2 The Global Advisory Panel (GAP)

  1. a) The GAP is a network of senior industry practitioners providing expert insight and peer review to strengthen the quality, depth, and diversity of TTP coverage.
  2. b) GAP members may be featured in content such as commentary, interviews, or roundtables and are identified as members of the Global Advisory Panel.
  3. c) GAP members do not have approval rights over editorial material.
  4. d) Where a GAP member has a commercial relationship with TTP, this is disclosed, and the member is excluded from editorial decision-making relating to that organisation or topic.

5.3 GAP Appointment and Review Process

  1. Candidates may be nominated by TTP editors, the Editor in Chief, or existing GAP or Editorial Board members.
  2. The Editor in Chief conducts an interview to assess expertise, independence, and potential conflicts of interest.
  3. Each member signs an acceptance of this Charter.
  4. GAP membership is reviewed annually to ensure continued contribution and suitability.

6. The TTP House Style Guide

6.1 All content must conform to the TTP House Style Guide, which sets standards for tone, grammar, language, terminology, structure, referencing, and design.

6.2 The Style Guide follows British English conventions and includes definitions for industry-specific terms to ensure consistency and alignment with professional and multilateral standards.

6.3 The Style Guide is maintained by the Editorial Board and reviewed annually.

6.4 A copy of the Style Guide can be found here.

7. Commercial Conduct and Integrity

7.1 Separation of Functions

  1. a) Editorial staff do not solicit or negotiate sponsorships or advertising.
  2. b) Commercial staff do not edit or approve editorial material.
  3. c) The Editor in Chief has final authority for all publication decisions.

7.2 Collaboration Categories

TTP operates several types of collaboration, each with defined boundaries, attribution, and controls.

Category Description Disclosure on Publication Editorial Control
Independent Editorial Content produced and financed entirely by TTP for its readers. No disclosure required. Full control held by TTP.
Sponsored Content Content supported financially by an external organisation to explore a theme or issue. Labelled “Sponsored by [Organisation]” with logo displayed in a separate block. Sponsor may review factual accuracy only. Editorial tone, framing, and conclusions remain TTP’s.
Partnered Content Non-financial or mutual-value collaboration, such as content sharing, research exchange, event cooperation, or TTP Awards. Labelled “In partnership with [Organisation]”. Partner may review factual details only.
Agency Content Commissioned work produced by TTP’s agency arm for a client. May be published on TTP channels where appropriate. Labelled “Produced for [Organisation] by TTP” and, if relevant, “Sponsored by / In partnership with [Organisation]”. Client may check factual details and brand use only. TTP retains narrative control.
By-lined External Contribution Op-eds or authored articles by external individuals or institutions. Attributed to the author and organisation. If paid, marked “Sponsored content”. Subject to TTP’s editorial and legal review.

7.3 Logos and Attribution

  1. a) Logos are used strictly for identification and are not endorsements.
  2. b) Logos appear in designated areas such as headers, footers, or sidebars and are accompanied by clear text identifying sponsorship or partnership.
  3. c) Where logos appear incidentally in photographs or graphics, captions clarify the context.

7.4 Definition of Sponsored and Partnered

  1. a) Sponsored refers to arrangements involving direct monetary payment to TTP.
  2. b) Partnered refers to non-financial collaboration, mutual benefit, or exchange of access, distribution, or research.
  3. c) If both apply, the wording “Sponsored and in partnership with [Organisation]” is used.

7.5 Editorial Control

  1. a) Sponsors, partners, and clients may review factual data or quotations for accuracy but have no right to influence editorial tone, emphasis, or conclusions.
  2. b) The Editor in Chief retains ultimate editorial responsibility for all content published by TTP.

7.6 Anti-Bribery, Gifts, and Hospitality

  1. a) Gifts, hospitality, or travel exceeding one hundred pounds must be declared to and approved by the Editor in Chief.
  2. b) Sponsored travel is accepted only when necessary for coverage and must be transparently disclosed.
  3. c) TTP adheres to the standards of the UK Bribery Act, the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, and the FCPA.
  4. d) Any offer or suspicion of improper inducement must be reported immediately.

7.7 Commissions, Broking, and Financial Conduct

  1. a) TTP and its representatives do not accept commissions, referral fees, or remuneration for introducing software, arranging finance, or facilitating transactions.
  2. b) TTP does not operate as a broker or intermediary and will not profit from commercial introductions outside contracted agency work.
  3. c) Breach of this clause constitutes grounds for termination of engagement.

Our Editorial Standards

8. Accuracy, Verification, and Legal Safeguards

8.1 All factual material must be verified using at least one independent or primary source.

8.2 Anonymous or off-record sources are used sparingly and only when their reliability and motivation are verified.

8.3 TTP evaluates material for accuracy, fairness, and public interest and subjects high-risk content to pre-publication legal review when necessary.

8.4 Individuals or organisations subject to criticism are offered a timely opportunity to respond or clarify.

8.5 Errors are corrected promptly, with a clearly dated correction notice. Major retractions are logged for accountability.

9. TTP Anonymous

9.1 Anonymous publication is allowed only when the information serves the public interest and when revealing a source’s identity would cause significant professional or personal risk.

9.2 Each anonymous submission must be verified and approved by one senior TTP editor. Supporting documentation or corroboration must be retained.

9.3 Anonymous articles carry the disclaimer: “Published under TTP Anonymous. Facts independently verified by the TTP editorial team.”

10. Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence

10.1 TTP may use artificial intelligence tools to assist with research, transcription, summarisation, translation, data analysis, and image creation or enhancement.

10.2 AI use is always supervised by a human editor, and the final output is reviewed and approved manually.

10.3 Any material AI involvement is disclosed when relevant.

10.4 TTP rejects undisclosed AI-generated submissions from external contributors.

10.5 TTP maintains an internal AI use log and provides ongoing training to staff and contributors on responsible, unbiased, and ethical use of AI.

10.6 AI tools are used in accordance with privacy, copyright, and intellectual property law.

11. Consulting, Moderation, and External Engagement

11.1 TTP editors and contributors may moderate, advise, or consult for external organisations.

11.2 When such work is commercial, any resulting content published on TTP channels will include appropriate disclosure.

11.3 Editorial content linked to such engagements is reviewed by an independent editor to ensure fairness, neutrality, and compliance with this Charter.

12. Awards Integrity

12.1 TTP Awards are administered independently and judged through a blind process by a GAP Awards Panel appointed each year.

12.2 Each judge declares any conflict of interest and recuses themselves when required.

12.3 Sponsors have no influence on judging criteria, shortlists, or results.

12.4 The judging process, scoring, and outcomes are recorded and auditable.

12.5 Award coverage produced by TTP’s editorial team follows the same standards of accuracy and impartiality as all other editorial work.

13. Privacy and Data Protection

13.1 TTP complies with the General Data Protection Regulation and all relevant national privacy laws.

13.2 Data collected from readers, contributors, or partners is limited to that necessary for operations, stored securely, and never sold or transferred without consent.

13.3 Access to personal data is restricted to authorised personnel.

14. Complaints and Corrections

14.1 Stage One – Internal Review

  1. a) Complaints should be submitted by email to [email protected], specifying the publication in question and providing supporting information.
  2. b) An acknowledgement will be issued within five working days.
  3. c) A senior editor or the Editor in Chief will review the complaint independently and provide a response.
  4. d) Where appropriate, TTP may issue a correction, clarification, apology, or right of reply.

14.2 Stage Two – External Review

  1. a) If the complainant remains dissatisfied, the complaint may be referred to IPSO under its formal procedure.
  2. b) TTP cooperates fully with IPSO in any external review.

14.3 Record Keeping

  1. a) All complaints and their resolutions are logged internally and reviewed quarterly.
  2. b) Lessons from complaints are incorporated into editorial and production procedures.

15. Continuous Improvement

15.1 This Charter and the TTP House Style Guide are reviewed annually by the Editorial Board.

15.2 Updated versions are published at www.tradetreasurypayments.com/editorial-policy.

15.3 Major revisions are communicated to contributors, partners, and GAP members.

15.4 TTP continually seeks to align its editorial, marketing, and governance practices with evolving international standards, industry terminology, and best practice in trade, treasury, transaction banking, liquidity, risk management, insurance, and payments.

15.5 TTP maintains a culture of learning and quality improvement, ensuring that content remains accurate, responsible, and constructive.

16. Declaration and Acceptance

All persons working with or representing TTP confirm that they have read and understood this Charter, agree to abide by its terms, and accept that non-compliance may result in removal from TTP projects or termination of engagement.