Editorial Policy and Standards
Dotdash is committed to creating newsworthy, accurate, helpful content that represents and serves all people. Our editorial teams strive for accuracy and integrity in our reporting and researching processes, and we are committed to working with a diverse group of writers and editors representing a wide range of ages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and abilities, all which reflects in our content.
Founded in 1996 and now an operating business of IAC, the Dotdash family of brands includes Brides, Byrdie, Investopedia, Lifewire, Liquor.com, MyDomaine, Serious Eats, Simply Recipes, The Balance, The Spruce, The Spruce Crafts, The Spruce Eats, The Spruce Pets, ThoughtCo, Treehugger, TripSavvy, Verywell Family, Verywell Fit, Verywell Health, and Verywell Mind. Each brand is led by an individual editorial and business team, but united by our Content Integrity Promise.
Learn about the Dotdash leadership team.
The Dotdash Content Integrity Promise
We are committed to the quality and trustworthiness of our content and editorial processes. Our team of writers, editors, fact checkers, illustrators, photographers, and medical and financial professionals rigorously researches and reviews all content on an ongoing basis to ensure it is up to date, accurate, and puts the needs of our readers first.
Each article features a byline that includes the name, a brief description, and a link to more information about those who contributed to that piece. The date indicates when the piece was most recently updated with new information. Some articles also have a tagline at the end to provide additional information on research or authorship.
Original illustrations, graphics, images, and videos are created by internal teams, who collaborate with experts in their fields to produce assets that represent diverse voices, perspectives, and context. Periodic review by editors as well as by Medical, Financial, Anti-Bias or other Review Board members as appropriate, ensure the quality, accuracy and integrity of these assets. Photos and videos are not edited in any way that may cause them to be false or misleading.
We correct any factual errors in a transparent manner and strive to make it easy for our readers to bring errors to our attention.
All of our writers, editors, and contributors are responsible for disclosing any potential conflicts of interest.
Our editorial content is not influenced by our advertisers. We maintain a strict separation between advertising and editorial content and clearly differentiate editorial content from advertising content.
The Content Integrity team is led by Kathy English, VP Content Integrity & Editorial Standards.
Kathy English joined Dotdash in 2021. She leads the programs and strategies that ensure editorial content is accurate, up-to-date, and high quality, in line with the transparency and accountability standards of trustworthy information.Fact Checking
Our writers and editors investigate claims and verify all information and data gathered for all articles, including news. We consult relevant, diverse, qualified sources to ensure we’re providing proper context and background to the reader.
All of our news and information is thoroughly reviewed by a staff editor and fact checked by staff or a member of our experienced fact checking team. Articles are rigorously evaluated for accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.
If you have noticed an issue you would like to bring to our attention, please let us know by emailing corrections@dotdash.com.
Accuracy and Corrections
The accuracy of our verified information and news articles is core to every Dotdash brand. So too is our commitment to accountability to our readers and transparency about our accuracy and corrections practices.
Our rich library of “evergreen” educational service content is routinely updated, reviewed by our professional review boards, and fact-checked to ensure ongoing publication of accurate, complete, relevant, and up-to-date useful information. Following our rigorous and systematic updating and verification process, articles in our content library are date-stamped to indicate to readers that the information is complete and accurate. News articles often cover a distinct event in time and are not part of our routine update process.
At Dotdash, we are committed to telling readers when an error has appeared, and to correcting it. When we discover a significant error of fact, we will correct the article as quickly as possible and append a correction note. All corrections will be clearly labeled, dated, and include information about what was corrected.
We welcome our readers’ participation in our ongoing commitment to accuracy and fact-checking. If you believe we have published a factual error in any of our content, please let us know and we will investigate and take appropriate corrective and/or updating measures. You can report a possible error by emailing us at corrections@dotdash.com.
Sourcing
Our writers and editors adhere to strict journalistic standards for article sourcing. We rely on current and reputable primary sources, such as expert interviews, government organizations, and professional and academic institutions and studies. All data points, facts, and claims are backed up by at least one credible source.
We strongly discourage use of anonymous or unnamed sourcing, as this can erode transparency and reader trust. In the rare instance where an unnamed source is used, we will disclose to readers the reason behind the anonymity and provide necessary context.
A cornerstone of our reporting and sourcing is to consider often overlooked perspectives from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women. Our content strives to serve all communities and reflect diverse voices and perspectives.
Diversity and Anti Bias
Dotdash believes that every human being deserves respect, representation, and opportunity. In service of Dotdash’s mission to represent, serve, and help all people, Dotdash has established an Anti-Bias Review Board made up of educators, advocates, public health specialists, journalists, researchers, financial experts, and other professionals, each with a background in supporting diversity, inclusion, and racial justice initiatives. Additionally, each Dotdash brand has articulated an Anti-Racism Pledge.
Anti-Bias Review Board members review content and images across Dotdash, using research and their expertise and judgment to advise Dotdash brands on language, images, themes, and tone. The Anti-Bias Review Board supports each brand in the creation of inclusive content for readers of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, abilities, religions, and socioeconomic circumstances.
The Anti-Bias Review Board is led by Mackenzie Price, PhD.
To learn more, please review each brand’s Anti-Racism Pledge: Byrdie, Brides, Investopedia, Liquor.com, Lifewire, MyDomaine, The Balance, The Spruce, The Spruce Eats, ThoughtCo, Treehugger, TripSavvy, and Verywell.
If you have noticed an issue that you would like to bring to the Anti-Bias Review Board’s attention, you may contact us at antibias@dotdash.com.
Independence and Impartiality
Dotdash is committed to independent, impartial, fair journalism. Our editorial content is not influenced by our advertisers. Every Dotdash staff member and contributor is held accountable to a high standard of honesty and transparency.
We maintain a strict separation between advertising and editorial content. Our “Sponsored Content” is labeled to make clear that such content is provided by or on behalf of an advertiser or sponsor.
In line with our mission to provide useful information that helps people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired, we are dedicated to publishing unbiased, comprehensive reviews of products and services. Our product and service reviews are wholly independent and based on robust research and product testing. When readers visit “affiliate links” within our content, Dotdash may receive commissions from purchases, but we never receive any compensation or consideration for the content of our recommendations.
Dotdash writers and editors are prohibited from giving preferential treatment to any outside resource (company, publication, video, affiliate, website) based on their relationship with the person or company who authors or owns that resource.
All of our writers and editors are responsible for disclosing any potential conflicts of interest—any relationship, financial, or personal, with any source or resource that may compromise their ability to provide fair and impartial information. As with many publishers, our writers and editors are sometimes provided with complimentary products or services for review purposes. We are transparent and disclose when any valuable products or services are provided to our editorial teams. Our editorial staff and editorial contributors must not solicit gifts or services for personal purposes.
Originality
Our goal at Dotdash is to provide original, useful, and unbiased content. All information must be verified, properly attributed, and may not infringe the copyright or anyone’s intellectual property rights. Any suggestion of plagiarism is investigated fully and is grounds for dismissal. We expect all contributors on the network to abide by all applicable laws, standards, and accepted journalistic practices including:
- Society of Professional Journalists Ethics Code
- Copyright Law of the United States
- FTC Guidelines on Disclosures
- Fair Use
Mackenzie Price, PhD
She/Her/Hers
Mackenzie Price Ph.D. is a language strategist, qualitative researcher, and strategic communications consultant. She uses an intersectional lens to support clients in creating, refining, and executing their messaging strategy across campaigns, products, and other projects.
Dr. Price's consulting practice also guides organizations through defusing racism and other roadblocks to true inclusion and justice in their external and internal communications. Her research explores the relationship between language and power, how leaders communicate for effect, and how the way we use language impacts interpersonal relationships.
Areas of Expertise: Sociolinguistics, language strategy, strategic communications, qualitative research, cross cultural communication, narrative change
Educational Background: Ph.D., Linguistics, Georgetown University, B.A., Linguistics, Stanford University
Dorcas Adedoja
They/Them/Theirs
Dorcas Adedoja M.P.H. is a 2020 Human Rights Campaign ACTIVATE Fellow, who studied health policy and management with a concentration in the social determinants of health, at Columbia University.
Dorcas’s skills acquired through their public health coursework, lived experience, and internship in the New York City Department of Health's Epidemiology Administration during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, uniquely position them to develop equitable solutions.
Areas of Expertise: Public health, anthropology, gender studies, history, Black Diasporic studies, sexuality studies, social determinants of health, interdisciplinary studies
Educational Background: M.P.H, Health Policy and Management, Columbia University, Certificate, Social Determinants of Health, Columbia University, B.S., Anthropology and Human Biology, Emory University, B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies: Race and Difference Concentration, Emory University
“Establishing health equity involves fundamentally shifting language used to discuss wellness. I want to do all I can to ensure the millions who access Dotdash verticals each month consume content of quality.”
Indira Ranganathan
She/Her/Hers
Indira Ranganathan J.D. is an attorney and journalist who is committed to ensuring that media portrayal of BIPOC and historically marginalized communities is both accurate and inclusive. She also advocates for transparency and equitable educational resources on behalf of BIPOC students in her community.
Areas of Expertise: Effective communication, particularly around language to interpret both conscious and unconscious speaker intent.
Educational Background: J.D., Tulane Law School, B.S., Journalism University of Maryland, College Park
“As a member of the Anti-Bias Review Board, I work to ensure DotDash is inclusive of all who identify as a member of a historically marginalized community including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people. My goal is to ensure that our content both reflects their perspectives and is relevant to their lives.”
Lea Uradu
She/Her/Hers
Lea Uradu J.D. has served as a tax law researcher, tax change analyst, and expatriate tax advisor, and is currently a Fellow with the World Trade Center Institute. Through her work, Lea has firsthand experience of the interaction between taxes, personal finances, and the law. She has also contributed to Baltimore Magazine and has been recognized as a 2020 Face of Baltimore. Most recently, Lea has received a Citation from the Senate of Maryland for contributions to the development of sustainable strategies to address issues surrounding race, equity, and inclusion.
Lea’s life pursuit is to develop policies that will enable Americans to have a sufficient economic foundation upon which each person can have a dignified, productive, and creative life.
Areas of Expertise: Tax and financial content
Educational Background: J.D., University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, B.S. and B.A., Morgan State University
“In my role on the Anti-Bias Review Board, I hope to increase financial literacy and confidence by working on financial content that makes all readers feel empowered when making a financial decision.”
Oluwatobi Maeyen Odugunwa
They/Them/Theirs
Oluwatobi Maeyen Odugunwa is majoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Medicine, Health, and Society at Vanderbilt University. They have a history advocating for the multiple marginalized communities they are a part of, as well as building and maintaining coalitions across groups.
Areas of Expertise: Anti-racist theory, disability justice, LGBTQ+ sociopolitics
Educational Background: B.A. College of Arts and Science at Vanderbilt University, expected graduation May 2021
“As a member of the Anti-Bias Review Board, I hope to shed some light on the lived experiences of Black people within and without the diaspora, disabled and neurodivergent individuals, as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community. I explicitly believe that centering the most marginalized is the only way to enact equity.”
Priscilla Blossom
She/Her/Hers - Ella (en Español)
Priscilla Blossom is an award-winning journalist and content writer specializing in the intersections of health, culture, travel, parenting, news, and Latinx and LGBTQ+ identity. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Glamour, Yahoo, Parents, and Salon.
Areas of Expertise: Arts and culture, health (especially mental health and maternal health), travel, family and parenting, anthropology, archaeology, gender studies, photography, Latinx studies, entertainment, accessibility
Educational Background: B.A., Anthropology, University of Miami
Ryann Price
She/Her/Hers
Ryann Price is an Assistant Project Manager at Dotdash where she works closely with several lifestyle brands as well as with the Anti-Bias Review Board. Prior to joining Dotdash, she worked in communications and marketing in the nonprofit and automotive industries. Ryann has always had a passion for digital media and has a background in researching online relationships and their portrayal in television media.
Educational Background: M.A., Communication, Culture, and Technology, Georgetown University, B.A., Anthropology and Psychology, University of Rochester
“In the time I’ve been involved with the Anti-Bias Review Board, I’ve learned so much about how and where biases are deeply ingrained in our language and social customs, and the different kinds of biases that exist—ableist, mental health, etc. The reviewers have taught me how to restructure my thinking as I’m out in the world and see things from another lens. Each of the reviewers has such a unique background and perspective to share. I’m grateful to be able to learn while I support their work.”
Shamard Charles
He/Him/His
Shamard Charles, M.D., M.P.H., is a public health doctor and assistant professor of Public Health and Health Promotion at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. He also hosts a weekly health podcast, Heart Over Hype. Previously, he served as a senior health journalist for NBC News, leading the network’s health and medical coverage including groundbreaking reporting during Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Harvey.
Dr. Charles has also been featured on NPR for his reporting on the death of Black men in medicine. More recently, he expanded his coverage internationally, writing and producing stories in Nigeria covering a variety of public health topics including vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases. His work can be found on the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, NBC News Now, TODAY, NBCNews.com, and The Grio.
Areas of Expertise: Public health, medicine
Educational Background: M.D. Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University, M.P.H. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, B.A. New York University.
“My motivation is to weave equity and inclusion into Dotdash’s fabric. I think the best way to do this is to root the best values and actions from within ourselves into everyday culture through conversation, collaboration, and review. We do these three things for ourselves and others by ensuring that the content we consume is fair and inclusive. And by doing this together, we show that we are committed to the obligation of fostering an inclusive community by making it a priority, each and every day.”
Timon Kaple
He/Him/His
Timon Kaple Ph.D. is a writer and researcher with a history of work in gender studies, sociolinguistics, nostalgia, the anthropology of sound, higher education, and student support. He has extensive experience as an ethnographer and enjoys conducting fieldwork, interviews, and archival research.
Areas of Expertise: Cultural studies, history, digital folklore, foodways, vernacular art, and music.
Educational Background: Ph.D., Ethnomusicology and American Studies, Indiana University, M.A., Ethnomusicology and Folklore, Indiana University, B.M., Songwriting and Music Performance, Berklee College of Music
“Producing content that uses inclusive language and images, strives for historical accuracy, and explicitly celebrates the lives and work of BIPOC helps encourage readers to be more sensitive and engaged participants in our diverse society. I am a cultural studies expert and see this role as an opportunity to help our brands generate thoughtful, valuable content while challenging prejudice and reaching a large audience. Working on Dotdash’s Anti-Bias Review Board also allows me to put my knowledge of cultural expression, traditions, and folkways to use as an agent for positive change.”
Vanessa Taylor
She/Her/They/Them
Vanessa Taylor is a writer based in Philadelphia focusing on Black Muslim womanhood and technology. She is a politics reporter at Mic, and as a freelancer, has published articles in Teen Vogue, The Intercept, The New Republic, and elsewhere. Her essays and fiction have appeared in Catapult, as an Editor’s Pick in Barren Magazine, and in numerous anthologies. She is an Echoing Ida Cohort member, Bitch Media's 2020 Writing Fellow in Technology, and the founding Editor-in-Chief of The Drinking Gourd, a Black Muslim literary magazine. She is also the founder and curator of NAZAR newsletter, an independent journalism project on surveillance.
“I got my start as a community organizer in Minneapolis, where I co-founded the Black Liberation Project, a grassroots collective of Black youth. My work in Minneapolis made me hyper aware of the media industry and its faults. I saw firsthand how the myth of objectivity allowed white supremacy to flourish in media spaces and the price that those in my community paid. When I became a journalist, I did so with the intention of moving against the industry’s dominant notions around how to cover stories, who is “trustworthy” and who is an “expert.” I intended to report on my communities with the care and attention they deserved. With Dotdash’s Anti-Bias Review Board, I saw an opportunity to start creating change at a level that went beyond my own individual coverage.”