Editorial Policy

This Editorial Policy sets out the standards and publishing principles that govern everything ShaneTheGamer (STG) publishes. It covers how we research, verify, write, edit, disclose and correct our coverage, and it applies to every article, review and research page on this site. We publish it in the interest of transparency, in line with The Trust Project‘s standards.

Editorial Independence

Our editorial decisions are made independently of any commercial, political or personal interest. STG is funded through advertising, affiliate links and clearly-labelled sponsored content (see Ethics & Ownership), but no advertiser, partner or sponsor has any say over our editorial content, verdicts or which stories we cover. Sponsored or paid content is always clearly labelled as such and kept separate from independent editorial.

Sourcing & Verification (Fact-Checking)

We aim to get it right the first time. Our reporting is built on primary sources wherever possible — official announcements, developer and publisher statements, patch notes, financial filings, first-hand testing and named expert comment. We link to our sources so readers can verify claims themselves, and our data and statistics pages cite the organisations behind every figure. Rumours, leaks and unconfirmed reports are clearly labelled as such, and we do not present speculation as fact. When a claim cannot be verified, we either attribute it clearly or leave it out.

Anonymous & Unnamed Sources

We prefer named, on-the-record sources. We use anonymous or unnamed sources only when the information is in the public interest, cannot reasonably be obtained another way, and the source has a legitimate reason for confidentiality (for example, risk to their employment). In those cases an editor verifies the source’s credibility, and we never grant anonymity to allow unfair personal attacks.

Accuracy & Corrections

When we make a factual error, we fix it promptly and, where the correction is material, note on the article that it has been updated and what changed. We do not quietly delete stories to avoid accountability. Readers can report errors at any time — see our full Corrections & Complaints policy for how the process works and how to contact us.

Use of AI

We use AI tools to assist with research, drafting and formatting for some fast-moving news coverage. Every published article is reviewed and edited by a named human member of the STG team, who is responsible for its accuracy and for the byline it carries. We do not publish unreviewed machine-generated content, and AI is never used to fabricate quotes, sources, images of real people or events.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Gaming is played by people of every age, gender and background — close to half of all players are women — and our coverage aims to reflect that. We are committed to fair, respectful representation of the communities we write about, to seeking a range of voices and perspectives in our reporting, and to building a team that reflects the diversity of our audience. We do not tolerate content that demeans people on the basis of who they are.

Mission & Coverage Priorities

STG exists to cover gaming, esports and gaming technology honestly and usefully for real players. Our priorities are: accurate, timely news; hands-on reviews from people who actually finish the games; and evergreen guides and research we keep current all year. We are an independent, Aotearoa New Zealand-based publication with a global audience, and we give particular attention to the New Zealand and Australian gaming scene where mainstream outlets do not.

Authorship & Expertise

Every article carries a named byline linking to that writer’s author page, which sets out their background and areas of expertise. Our contributors are real gamers — players, builders and lifelong enthusiasts — who cover the platforms and genres they know best. Meet them on The STG Team page.

Advertising, Affiliates & Sponsored Content

Affiliate links may earn us a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you, and they never influence our editorial verdicts. Advertising is kept visually distinct from editorial. Any sponsored or paid post is clearly labelled. Full detail is in Ethics & Ownership.

Actionable Feedback

We welcome corrections, questions, complaints and story tips. The fastest way to reach the editorial team is via our Contact page, and we act on legitimate corrections promptly.

This policy is reviewed periodically and updated as our standards and tools evolve.