# Editorial standards Last updated: April 15, 2026 **The short version (a plain summary, not a replacement for the full standards below).** tecMAMBO exists to make technology genuinely understandable, and that promise only works if you can trust us. So here is how we work: our journalism is independent, and no advertiser, sponsor, or affiliate partner gets to decide what we say. We test products ourselves and write honest verdicts. We label anything sponsored, plainly. People, not machines, write and check our work, and we tell you when we use AI tools. When we get something wrong, we fix it openly. The full standards below explain all of this in detail. ## Complete before publishing This trust document must reflect how tecMAMBO actually works. Complete these CMS fields and review every clause before launch. - [Effective date] - [editorial contact email] - [Legal Entity Name] - [registered address] ## 1. Our editorial promise tecMAMBO is a technology publication built on a single idea: that technology can be made genuinely clear without being dumbed down. We write plain English first, and we keep the deeper technical detail available for those who want it. Everything we publish is meant to help a real person understand or decide something, whether they are buying their first smartphone or following the industry closely. These standards explain the principles and practices behind that promise, and they apply to everyone who writes, edits, tests, or produces content for tecMAMBO. ## 2. Editorial independence Our editorial decisions are ours alone. What we cover, how we cover it, and the conclusions we reach are determined by our editorial team in the interest of our readers, and never by advertisers, sponsors, affiliate partners, or any other commercial relationship. Commercial teams and partners do not see, approve, or influence our independent editorial coverage before it is published. If a commercial relationship is ever relevant to a story, we disclose it. Our independence is the most valuable thing we have, and we protect it. ## 3. How we make money, and how we keep it separate from coverage tecMAMBO is funded by advertising, affiliate links, and clearly labelled sponsored or partner content. We keep a firm line between that funding and our journalism. Three rules hold that line: we label anything sponsored, plainly and visibly; affiliate commissions never change a verdict or a recommendation; and our independent reviews are written before, and independently of, any commercial conversation. If we recommend something, it earned the place on merit. You can read more about our advertising and affiliate terms in our [Terms of Use](/terms). ## 4. Sponsored and partner content, and labelling Some content on tecMAMBO is sponsored by, or produced in partnership with, a third party. We treat this differently from our independent journalism, and we label it clearly so you always know what you are reading. Sponsored and partner content is marked with a visible label such as "Partner" or "Sponsored", and any partner involvement is disclosed. Even where a partner funds a piece, we aim to keep it useful and honest, and our editorial team retains the final say on whether it meets our standards at all. We do not disguise advertising as independent editorial. ## 5. Affiliate links and recommendations Some of our articles, especially in Wallet Watch and our buying guides, contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This never decides which products we recommend or how we rate them. We choose and rank products on the basis of our own research and testing, and we would make the same recommendation whether or not a retailer ran an affiliate programme. Where a piece contains affiliate links, we disclose it. ## 6. How we research, report, and write We aim to be accurate, clear, and fair. We research before we write, we explain our reasoning, and we write in plain English so that our work is understood by as many readers as possible. Clarity is not the same as oversimplifying: where detail matters, we include it, and we separate the deeper technical material so it is available without getting in the way. We distinguish clearly between news, explanation, review, and opinion, and we label opinion as opinion. ## 7. Sourcing, attribution, and originality We base our reporting on credible, verifiable sources, and we attribute information to its source so you can judge it for yourself. Where we rely on another publication's reporting, we say so and link to it. We prefer primary sources, such as official announcements, documentation, data, and people with direct knowledge, over second-hand accounts. We use unnamed sources only where there is a clear public-interest reason and the information cannot be obtained on the record, and such use is approved by an editor. We do not plagiarise, and we do not pass off others' work as our own. ## 8. How we test and review products Our reviews are based on genuine, hands-on experience with the product, not on press releases or spec sheets alone. We test in real conditions, including the everyday conditions our readers actually use technology in. Our verdicts and any scores reflect the independent judgement of the reviewer and our editorial team. We do not accept payment in exchange for a review or a particular verdict. Where a manufacturer lends us a product to review, it is a loan, we disclose it where relevant, and we are not obliged to review it favourably or at all. We say clearly when a review is based on limited time with a product, on pre-release hardware or software, or on a unit provided by the maker. ## 9. Deals and pricing accuracy In Wallet Watch and other deal coverage, we work to show accurate prices and offers as at the time of writing. Prices, stock, and discounts change quickly and vary by retailer and region, so we cannot guarantee that any price shown is current when you read it, and we encourage you to confirm details with the retailer before buying. We aim to recommend deals that are genuinely good value, not simply ones that earn us a commission, and we apply the same independence and labelling rules described above. ## 10. How we use artificial intelligence We are a publication about technology, and we use technology thoughtfully, including artificial intelligence, but always under human control. People research, write, edit, and stand behind our journalism. We may use AI tools to assist with tasks such as research, transcription, summarising our own notes, suggesting headlines, or checking spelling and grammar, but a human is responsible for everything we publish, and our reviews and testing are carried out by people. We do not publish AI-generated articles passed off as human work, and we do not let AI invent facts, sources, or quotes. Where we publish an image that was generated or substantially altered by AI, we label it. We treat AI as a tool that serves our standards, never as a substitute for them. ## 11. Accuracy, verification, and fact-checking We take accuracy seriously. We check facts, figures, names, and claims before publication, and we verify information against reliable sources. Where a claim is significant or contested, we seek to confirm it with more than one source or with a primary source. If we are uncertain about something, we say so rather than state it as settled fact. Despite our care, mistakes can happen, and when they do we deal with them openly, as described next. ## 12. Corrections and updates When we get something wrong, we fix it. If you spot an error, please tell us using the [contact details](/contact) below, and we will review it promptly. We correct significant errors transparently rather than quietly, noting that a correction has been made where the change is material. We also update articles over time as technology, prices, and circumstances change, and we indicate when a piece has been updated. Our goal is for the version you read to be as accurate as we can make it, and for our corrections to be honest about what changed. ## 13. Authors, bylines, and expertise Our articles carry the name of the person who wrote them, and our authors have profile pages describing their role and areas of expertise. We believe you have a right to know who is telling you something and why their view is worth your time. Contributions from outside writers are identified as such, and any relevant background or interest is disclosed. ## 14. Fairness, balance, and even-handedness We treat the companies, products, and people we write about fairly, whether or not they advertise with us or partner with us. We represent brands even-handedly, we give credit where it is due and criticism where it is warranted, and we do not let commercial relationships soften or sharpen our coverage. Where a story concerns a person or company, and fairness calls for it, we seek their response and give them a reasonable opportunity to reply. ## 15. Conflicts of interest and gifts We avoid conflicts of interest, and we disclose them where they cannot be avoided. The people who make our editorial decisions do not let personal financial interests, relationships, or gifts influence our coverage. We do not accept payment, gifts, or hospitality in exchange for favourable coverage, and we return or decline anything that could reasonably be seen to compromise our independence, in line with our internal policy. ## 16. Images, media, and visual integrity We use real, properly credited images, and we do not alter photographs in ways that mislead about what they show. Illustrations and diagrams are used to clarify, not to deceive. As noted above, images that are generated or substantially changed by AI are labelled. We respect the intellectual property of photographers and other creators, and we use their work only with permission or where the law allows. ## 17. Reader contributions, comments, and community We welcome questions, tips, suggestions, and feedback, including through features such as "Ask MAMBO" and suggestions for our Glossary. Contributions and comments are subject to our [Terms of Use](/terms), and we may moderate or remove content that is unlawful, abusive, or otherwise breaches our terms. Views expressed by readers are their own and do not represent tecMAMBO. We value good-faith engagement and aim to treat our readers with the same respect we ask for. ## 18. Feedback, complaints, and right of reply We want to hear from you, including when you think we have got something wrong. If you have a concern, a correction, a complaint, or a request for a right of reply, please contact us at [editorial contact email]. We will consider it seriously and respond fairly. Where a complaint identifies a genuine error, we will correct it. Where it concerns a matter of judgement, we will explain our reasoning. ## 19. Changes to these standards We may update these standards from time to time as our publication and the wider landscape evolve. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to revisit it, and we welcome suggestions for how we can do better. ## 20. Contact us You can reach our editorial team at [editorial contact email], or by writing to [Legal Entity Name], [registered address]. We are based in Nairobi, Kenya. To learn more about who we are, please see our [About page](/about).