Content Integrity Promise
Better Homes & Gardens is committed to the quality and trustworthiness of our content and editorial processes. Our team of writers, editors, fact checkers, illustrators, photographers, and nutrition 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 Nutrition, 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.
Fact Checking
As part of our commitment to content integrity and accuracy, Better Homes & Gardens writers and editors investigate claims and verify all information and data gathered for all articles. 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. We confirm all statements of fact, statistics, and other data with reputable sources to ensure that the information in our articles is accurate and up to date. If you have noticed an issue you would like to bring to our attention, please let us know by emailing bhgeditor@meredith.com. You can also mail us a letter at: Better Homes & Gardens, 1716 Locust St, Des Moines IA 50309.
Accuracy and Corrections
Better Homes & Gardens is committed to accuracy and transparency about corrections. Our rich library of content is routinely updated, reviewed by our professional review boards, and fact-checked to ensure accurate, complete, relevant, and up-to-date 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. The Better Homes & Gardens editorial team is committed to telling readers when an error has appeared, and to correcting it. When we discover a significant error, we correct the article as quickly as possible and append a correction note with the date and information about what was changed. When an article is factually correct, but the language is not as clear or detailed as necessary, the story may be updated without an editor’s note. 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 measures. You can report a possible error by emailing bhgeditor@meredith.com. You can also mail us a letter at: Better Homes & Gardens, 1716 Locust St, Des Moines IA 50309.
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 the 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 the 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
Better Homes & Gardens believes that everyone deserves respect, representation, and opportunity. In order to represent, serve, and help all people, we’ve 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, we have articulated an Anti-Racism Pledge. Anti-Bias Review Board members review content and images, using research and their expertise to advise Better Homes & Gardens on language, images, themes, and tone. The Anti-Bias Review Board supports Better Homes & Gardens in the creation of inclusive content for readers of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, abilities, religions, and socioeconomic circumstances. If you have noticed an issue that you would like to bring to the Anti-Bias Review Board’s attention, contact us at antibias@dotdashmdp.com.
Independence and Impartiality
Better Homes & Gardens is committed to independent, impartial, fair journalism. Our editorial content is not influenced by our advertisers. Every 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, Better Homes & Gardens is 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, Better Homes & Gardens may receive commissions from purchases, but we never receive any compensation or consideration for the content of our recommendations. Out 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 Better Homes & Gardens 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 Better Homes & Gardens 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
