Last reviewed: May 2026.
The Telos Journal is a small, slow magazine attached to the shop. It publishes essays, interviews and reference pieces about saunas, cold exposure, craft, materials and the way we live with these objects. This Editorial Policy explains how we make those pieces and the standards we hold ourselves to. It applies to every article we publish under the Telos name, whether written in-house or by a guest contributor.
1. Editorial independence
Decisions about what we publish, and how we treat a subject, are made by the Editor with the Founders. Sales, marketing and business teams do not have a veto over editorial decisions. Articles in the Journal are not advertisements for our products and we do not accept payment to feature a specific product, person or brand. Where an article does discuss our own products — for example a longread on how we build a cabin — we say so plainly at the top of the piece.
2. Accuracy
We aim to be accurate and to admit mistakes quickly. Every factual claim that is not common knowledge is attributed in the body of the article or in an end-note. Health and physiology claims are sourced to peer-reviewed studies, named experts (with their qualifications stated), or recognised public-health bodies (NHS, BHF, NICE, WHO). Where the evidence is mixed or weak we say so.
3. Sources
We prefer named, expert sources to anonymous ones. When we use an anonymous source it is because the person is at risk of harm or loss if named. Anonymous sources are agreed in advance with the Editor and are countered with at least one further source where possible. We do not pay sources for interviews.
4. Fact-checking
Every Journal article is read by a second pair of eyes before publication. For longreads, the Editor or an external fact-checker independently verifies each factual claim against the original source. The author is responsible for keeping notes and references that the fact-checker can rely on.
5. Conflicts of interest
Authors and the Editor declare conflicts of interest at the start of any project. A conflict is not necessarily a barrier to publishing, but it must be disclosed in the article. We will not commission an author to review a product they own a financial interest in, or to write about a person they are in a personal relationship with, without disclosure.
6. Sponsored content and partnerships
From time to time we partner with another business on a piece of content — for example a joint essay with a Cotswolds spa or a public-health charity. Where money or in-kind support has changed hands we label the article “In partnership with [name]” in the same typeface as the headline. Sponsored content is held to the same accuracy standards as everything else and the Editor retains final say over what is published.
7. Affiliate links
We do not use affiliate links in Journal articles. Links to our own products are clearly internal and do not earn the writer a commission.
8. Imagery
Every photograph in the Journal is either taken by us, licensed from a photographer we have worked with, or used under a licence we hold. Stock imagery is used sparingly and is captioned. We do not pass off staged or stock imagery as real customer photography. We do not use AI-generated imagery to depict real people, real places or real events; where we do use AI in illustration we say so in the caption.
9. Use of AI in writing
Articles in the Journal are written by named authors. We may use AI tools to help with research, transcription or copy-editing. We do not publish articles that have been wholly written by AI without human authorship and judgement. AI tools are not used to generate quotes or to invent supporting evidence.
10. Right of reply
If we name a person or business in a critical context, we will share the relevant claims with them before publication and give them a reasonable period (usually three working days) to respond. Their response will be reflected in the article.
11. Privacy
We respect the privacy of people who appear in our articles. We seek the informed consent of anyone who is identifiable in a photograph or interview. Children appear only with the consent of a parent or guardian.
12. Corrections
If a published article contains a material error of fact, we correct it as soon as we are able and within 48 hours of accepting the correction. The article carries a dated correction note at the bottom describing what was wrong and what we changed. Minor typographical fixes do not need a correction note. We do not silently rewrite articles after publication.
13. Complaints about editorial content
Editorial complaints are handled separately from product or service complaints. Email editorial@teloswellness.co.uk with the subject line “Editorial complaint”. The Editor will respond within five working days and will acknowledge a final outcome within 21 days. If you remain unhappy you may escalate to the Operations Director. Complaints about news content involving named individuals may also be raised with IMPRESS or another relevant regulator.
14. Review
This policy is owned by the Editor and reviewed annually.