FEMEST Contributors & Columnists Policy
Last Updated: September 2026
1. Purpose
FEMEST is a global women’s magazine headquartered in London, working with writers, journalists, columnists, experts, creatives and contributors from around the world.
This policy sets out the editorial and professional standards expected from individuals who contribute content to FEMEST, including contributors to FEMEST Voices.
Our contributors are an important part of the publication, and we aim to provide a platform for distinctive perspectives, expertise, experiences and ideas while maintaining consistent editorial standards across FEMEST.
2. Who This Policy Applies To
This policy may apply to:
- FEMEST columnists;
- FEMEST Voices contributors;
- freelance writers and journalists;
- expert contributors;
- commissioned contributors;
- occasional contributors; and
- other individuals submitting original editorial content for publication by FEMEST.
Specific contractual terms agreed separately with an individual contributor will apply alongside this policy.
3. FEMEST Voices
FEMEST Voices provides a space for columnists and contributors to share perspectives, commentary, experiences and expertise with FEMEST readers.
A FEMEST Voices contributor may write regularly or occasionally depending on their individual arrangement with FEMEST.
Where someone has been appointed as a regular monthly columnist, FEMEST may permit the designation:
Monthly Columnist, FEMEST Voices
or another title approved by FEMEST.
Contributor and columnist titles should only be used while the relevant relationship with FEMEST remains active.
4. Editorial Independence
Contributors are encouraged to develop an individual voice and perspective.
However, all material published by FEMEST remains subject to FEMEST’s editorial standards and editorial discretion.
Acceptance of a contributor, column idea, pitch or draft does not create an automatic right to publication.
FEMEST may edit, postpone, decline or withdraw content where reasonably necessary.
5. Originality
Content submitted to FEMEST should be original and should not knowingly infringe another person’s copyright or intellectual property rights.
Contributors must not submit plagiarised material.
Unless agreed with FEMEST beforehand, contributors should disclose if substantially the same article has previously been published elsewhere or has simultaneously been submitted to another publication.
Quotations, research, statistics and material originating from third parties should be appropriately attributed where necessary.
6. Accuracy and Responsibility
Contributors are responsible for taking reasonable care over the accuracy of material they submit.
Names, dates, organisations, professional titles, statistics, quotations and other material factual claims should be checked where reasonably possible.
Contributors must distinguish appropriately between established facts, personal experiences and their own opinions.
FEMEST may undertake additional editorial checks but does not assume responsibility for independently verifying every statement supplied by a contributor.
7. Personal Opinions
Columns and contributor articles may contain personal opinions and perspectives.
Opinions expressed by individual contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of FEMEST, its editorial team, employees or associated organisations.
FEMEST may decline material that it reasonably considers defamatory, discriminatory, deliberately misleading, unlawful or significantly inconsistent with its editorial standards.
8. Artificial Intelligence
AI tools may be used responsibly to assist with activities such as idea development, research assistance, transcription, grammar, editing or structuring content.
However, contributors remain responsible for the material they submit.
AI-generated information should not be assumed to be accurate. Contributors should verify factual claims and must not knowingly submit fabricated quotations, sources, statistics, interviews, individuals or events.
FEMEST may ask contributors about their use of AI where this is relevant to the integrity or originality of submitted material.
9. Interviews and Third-Party Contributions
Where a contributor interviews another individual for an article, quotations should fairly reflect what that individual communicated.
Contributors should not intentionally alter quotations in a manner that materially changes their meaning.
Where consent or permission is reasonably required to conduct or publish an interview, contributors are expected to obtain it.
10. Conflicts of Interest
Contributors should disclose relationships that could materially influence, or reasonably appear to influence, their coverage.
This may include financial relationships, employment, consultancy arrangements, significant gifts, paid partnerships or close commercial relationships with a person or organisation being covered.
Disclosure does not automatically prevent publication. FEMEST will determine whether additional disclosure, editing or another editorial measure is appropriate.
11. Gifts, Travel and Hospitality
Contributors may occasionally receive products, invitations, travel, accommodation, meals or other hospitality in connection with potential editorial coverage.
Receiving such benefits does not guarantee coverage through FEMEST.
Contributors should inform FEMEST where a significant benefit has been provided in connection with content intended for publication.
Where appropriate, FEMEST may disclose the arrangement to readers.
12. Commercial Activity
A contributor’s relationship with FEMEST must not be used to independently sell FEMEST coverage, paid features, advertising, partnerships or other commercial opportunities unless FEMEST has expressly authorised the individual to do so.
Contributors must not promise publication, pricing, editorial coverage or commercial arrangements on behalf of FEMEST without appropriate authority.
Any commercial enquiry received through a contributor should be referred to the appropriate FEMEST team.
13. Editorial Changes
FEMEST reserves the right to edit submitted material.
Editing may include changes to:
- headlines and subheadings;
- grammar and spelling;
- length;
- structure;
- tone and readability;
- formatting;
- SEO;
- links;
- imagery;
- captions;
- metadata; and
- other elements required to meet FEMEST’s editorial or publishing standards.
Where substantial changes could materially alter a contributor’s argument or intended meaning, FEMEST may seek clarification where reasonably practical.
Final headlines, imagery, formatting and publication presentation remain at FEMEST’s discretion unless otherwise agreed.
14. Deadlines and Regular Columns
Contributors who have agreed to provide content according to a regular schedule should make reasonable efforts to meet agreed deadlines.
If a contributor expects to miss a deadline, they should inform their FEMEST editorial contact as early as reasonably possible.
For regular contributors and monthly columnists, repeated missed submissions may result in the column being paused or the contributor arrangement being reviewed.
FEMEST does not guarantee publication on a particular date unless specifically agreed.
15. Images and Supporting Materials
Where contributors provide photographs, graphics, illustrations or other materials, they must ensure they have appropriate permission to provide those materials for publication.
Photographer and creator credits should be supplied where required.
FEMEST may decline images where ownership or permission cannot reasonably be established.
16. Copyright and Publication Rights
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, contributors retain copyright in their original written work while granting FEMEST permission to publish, reproduce, edit, format, archive and promote the commissioned or accepted content across FEMEST’s websites, social media channels, newsletters, digital publications and other FEMEST-owned or operated platforms.
FEMEST may use excerpts, headlines, imagery and quotations from published articles to promote the content and the publication.
Any exclusive rights, commissioned ownership arrangements, syndication rights or additional licensing requirements should be agreed separately where applicable.
17. Contributor Profiles and Biographies
FEMEST may publish a contributor’s name, approved professional biography, photograph, social links and other relevant profile information alongside their work.
Contributors are responsible for providing accurate biographical information.
FEMEST may edit biographies for consistency, length and house style.
18. Use of the FEMEST Name
Active contributors may accurately describe their relationship with FEMEST using a designation approved by the publication.
Contributors must not represent themselves as an employee, director, spokesperson or authorised representative of FEMEST unless that is genuinely their role.
Being published by FEMEST does not provide authority to enter into agreements, make commitments, issue official statements or conduct business on FEMEST’s behalf.
The FEMEST name, logo and other brand assets must not be used for unrelated commercial activities without permission.
19. Professional Conduct
FEMEST expects contributors to communicate professionally when interacting with interviewees, sources, PR representatives, brands, other contributors and members of the FEMEST team in connection with their work.
Harassment, discrimination, intimidation or serious professional misconduct may result in the contributor relationship being reviewed or ended.
20. Corrections
If a contributor becomes aware of a material error in their published work, they should inform FEMEST as soon as reasonably possible.
Corrections and amendments will be handled in accordance with FEMEST’s editorial standards and Corrections & Complaints Policy.
21. Ending a Contributor Relationship
Either FEMEST or a contributor may end an ongoing contributor relationship, subject to any separate contractual arrangements.
FEMEST may immediately suspend or terminate a contributor relationship in circumstances involving serious plagiarism, fabricated information, misrepresentation, misconduct, unauthorised commercial activity or significant breaches of FEMEST’s editorial standards.
Ending a contributor relationship does not normally require FEMEST to remove previously published work.
22. Relationship With Other FEMEST Policies
Contributors should also familiarise themselves with relevant FEMEST policies, particularly the:
FEMEST Editorial Policy
FEMEST Commercial Content, Partnerships & Paid Features Policy
FEMEST Corrections & Complaints Policy
FEMEST Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy
Where a specific contributor agreement contains additional terms, those terms will apply alongside the relevant FEMEST policies.
23. Our Contributor Community
FEMEST aims to build an international contributor community that reflects the breadth of women’s voices, experiences, industries and cultures.
We value originality, curiosity, thoughtful storytelling and individual perspective.
Whether someone contributes a single story or writes regularly as part of FEMEST Voices, our goal is to give writers the freedom to develop their voice while maintaining the standards expected of FEMEST as a global publication.
