Editorial Policy

Truth and accuracy

Heritage Key aims to provide informed, accurate and engaging editorial content relating to cultural travel, learning about history, heritage issues and discovering the ancient world.

We strive to be accurate and truthful in all our content. Our articles and news items will be researched and based on sound data from a number of sources, including the original source where possible. If we do make factual errors, we will rectify these as quickly as possible, and mark clearly that the change has been made. We welcome corrections from readers.

External sources

We will always try to credit and, where possible link to, the original source of any quotations or written comments.
External publication and social networking

All Heritage Key content is copyright © Rezzable Productions Ltd, unless otherwise agreed that copyright is owned by the creator, and in any case may NOT be published in part or in full on external publications, including social networks such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, unless agreed in advance by the Editors. In some cases content is licensed under Creative Commons CC-NC-SA 2.5, in which cases content will be marked accordingly. Fair use of Heritage Key content is limited to 150 words provided the user links back to the original page on our site.

Political statement

Heritage Key does not represent any political position or party. In our news items, where content has a political element, we will strive to offer a balanced report of the issues involved, and will not promote one particular view. Personal opinions on any issue, political or otherwise, will be expressed through blogposts, and differentiated from news items. Personal opinions are those of the author alone and do not represent or bind the position of Heritage Key, its staff, contributors, shareholders or audience. We will not provide a platform for views which may be misleading, incite hatred, or cause reasonable offence.

Community and user-generated content

We encourage feedback and debate on all our content, and encourage selected site participants to contribute to the site’s content. Our blogs and articles aim to inspire debate and discussion, and we offer a platform for users to state their personal opinions about heritage issues. We encourage feedback on all our content.

Comments and blogposts made by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Heritage Key or Rezzable Productions Ltd.

Any non-commissioned and unpaid contribution to the website remains the copyright of the contributor, and by posting that contribution on our website, they grant us the irrevocable right to publish that contribution on the website.

Moderation

Comments may be published without moderation. However, the editors occasionally check comments on the site, and will remove or edit any comments or other contributions that we, at our sole discretion, consider unworthy of continued publication for reasons including that the comments may be spam, malicious, could cause offence or incite hatred, or which falsely present personal opinion as fact. Any editing of comments by the Editors may be clearly indicated. All comment areas will offer the option for visitors to report abuse for staff action.

Heritage Key will protect data privacy under terms consistent with the Data Protection Act 1998 under UK directive. 

Commissioned content

Commissioned content will be agreed and discussed between the editor and creator before being created and published. Contributors are required to sign a Contributors’ Agreement, and adhere to the website’s Contributors’ Guidelines.

New writers may contact the website to discuss contributing to the site. Unsolicited articles or blogposts will not be accepted. Writers are requested to discuss terms and content with an editor, and sign the Contributors’ Agreement, before sending any written content.

Diversity

Heritage Key reports on, reflects, and discusses heritage issues and history from around the world, and is keen to portray all ancient cultures. We recognise that some artefacts and heritage sites attract more interest than others, and attempt to cater to the interests of site users. In no way do we infer that any culture, nationality or religion is more or less valuable or historically important than others.

Audience

Our website is accessible to users of any age, and we aim to publish content that is suitable for all audiences. Some sexual and violent imagery and/or description that we consider to be acceptable in an educational context, or which is already available in museums or schools, may be included.

Accessibility

Our aim is to make the website accessible to all, and we design to meet the appropriate accepted web standards such as the WAI Guidelines and RNIB Accessibility Guidelines.

Competitions

Heritage Key may run competitions offline, on the website and in the virtual experience. All competitions will adhere to our competition guidelines (see separate competition guidelines document), and all other conditions will be clearly stated in the competition announcement.

Functionality and technology

We use advanced and innovative technology to make Heritage Key an interactive and immersive experience. The virtual elements of this technology require a minimum specification of memory and graphics card. We realise that this means that some users will not be able to access the full range of interactive content on our site, and strive to clearly explain what computing equipment is needed for the virtual experience. We also endeavour to educate, guide and encourage new users of this technology, in order to help them participate fully.

The Virtual Experience

Heritage Key’s virtual experience is available to all users with suitable computing equipment, and follows the same editorial guidelines as the website. The virtual online areas are manned occasionally with Heritage Key staff, who aim to help and guide users. Staff will also, if needed, stop inappropriate behaviour in the virtual areas, such as abuse, bullying, or obstruction. Heritage Key staff will be identifiable through their avatar names and can be approached by other users at any time. Heritage Key reserves the right to suspend or cancel a user account without notice.

Partners

Heritage Key may work with third party suppliers or publishers of goods or services, and with sponsors and partners. Partnerships relating to of specific areas of content, or to prizes, will be clearly published on the website. Heritage Key will never cede editorial control of content to any partners.

Content created by Heritage Key may be published by our selected partners, with our permission under separate agreement.

Privacy

We will not pass on a user's contact details or other information without their permission unless instructed by authorities for criminal matters, or use that information for purposes other than those stated on the website. See our Privacy Policy for more details. Heritage Key will protect data privacy under terms consistent with the Data Protection Act 1998 under UK directive.

User services and general enquiries

We aim to respond to all queries in an efficient and timely manner and to the best of our ability. We are also committed to listening to and acting on user feedback in order to provide the best possible service to all users. Any complaints should be sent by email via our online contact form. We aim to respond to complaints and enquiries in writing within 7 working days.

Editorial Policy Terms

The Heritage Key Editorial Policy is a guideline only and is subject to change without notice. This Policy is further subject to UK laws and regulations. Heritage Key reserves all rights to adhere to or disregard Policies as needed to support operations.

Heritage Key Editorial Policy - V2 - Last updated: 22th of April 2010