Our approach to local news
Overton Radio is committed to providing accurate, fair and relevant local news for the Overton community and surrounding areas.
Our aim is to keep our listeners and website visitors informed about the issues, events, people and organisations that matter locally, while treating everyone involved in a story with fairness and respect.
We believe local news should be useful, accessible and responsible. We will always aim to verify information before publishing it and will make corrections when we get something wrong.
What we report
Our news coverage may include:
- Local community news and announcements
- Events and activities taking place in and around Overton
- Local organisations, clubs, charities and community groups
- Council and public service information
- Road, travel and transport information
- Weather-related information and local impacts
- Local business news
- Education and school-related news
- Planning and development matters
- Local sport
- Appeals for information or assistance
- Emergency situations and significant incidents
- Human-interest stories that are relevant to the local community
We may also report important Hampshire, Test Valley and wider stories where they have a direct impact on people in our listening area.
Accuracy and verification
We take accuracy seriously.
Where possible, information will be checked against reliable sources before publication. Depending on the story, this may include official organisations, councils, emergency services, schools, community organisations, businesses or people directly involved.
Information submitted to Overton Radio by members of the public will not automatically be treated as confirmed fact. We may contact the person submitting the information to establish further details or seek confirmation from another source.
Where information cannot immediately be independently verified, we may make this clear in our reporting or delay publication until we are satisfied that the information is sufficiently reliable.
We will not knowingly publish information that is false or misleading.
Breaking news
During a developing story, information can change quickly.
When reporting breaking news, we will aim to provide the information that is available at the time while making it clear when a situation is still developing.
We will update stories when significant new information becomes available rather than allowing outdated information to remain uncorrected.
Speed is important during breaking news, but accuracy comes first.
Social media
Overton Radio uses social media to share news, alerts and updates with the local community.
Social media posts may contain links to fuller stories on the Overton Radio website. In developing situations, we may publish short updates before a full article is available.
We will take the same approach to accuracy and verification on social media as we do on our website.
We will not deliberately sensationalise a story simply to generate clicks, shares, comments or engagement.
Comments and replies on social media may be moderated where necessary. We may remove comments that are abusive, threatening, defamatory, discriminatory, excessively offensive, deliberately misleading or unrelated to the discussion.
Images and photographs
We will use photographs and other images responsibly and, where appropriate, seek permission from the copyright holder.
Images supplied to Overton Radio may be used only where we have the appropriate permission or rights to do so.
We will take particular care when publishing photographs involving children, vulnerable people or people involved in sensitive situations.
We will avoid publishing images that are unnecessarily distressing, intrusive or graphic.
Personal information and privacy
We will respect people’s privacy and will avoid publishing personal information unless there is a clear and legitimate reason for doing so.
We will take particular care with information such as private addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and other personal details.
Information supplied to Overton Radio for the purpose of contacting us does not automatically mean that we will publish that information.
Allegations and complaints
Where a story involves an allegation against an individual, organisation or business, we will take reasonable steps to establish the facts and, where appropriate, give the subject of the allegation a fair opportunity to respond.
We will not present allegations as established facts.
Where a matter is subject to an ongoing investigation, legal proceedings or other formal process, our reporting will reflect the information that can responsibly be reported at that time.
Crime and emergency incidents
We may report local crime, police activity and emergency incidents where there is a clear public-interest reason to do so.
We will avoid unnecessary speculation about individuals who have not been charged or convicted of an offence.
Where appropriate, we will identify people only when their identity can legitimately and responsibly be reported.
We will avoid publishing details that could interfere with an investigation, put someone at risk or cause unnecessary distress.
Political and controversial issues
Overton Radio aims to provide information about matters affecting the local community without becoming a platform for party-political campaigning.
We may report on decisions and activities involving local councils, public bodies and political representatives when they are relevant to our audience.
Our reporting will focus on the facts and the local impact of an issue rather than promoting a particular political position.
Commercial organisations
We may report legitimate local business news where it has genuine news value for our audience.
News coverage should not be confused with paid advertising or promotional content.
Where content has been paid for, sponsored or supplied specifically as advertising, it will be treated appropriately rather than presented as independent news.
Community submissions
We welcome news, information and story ideas from local residents, organisations, clubs, charities and businesses.
If you have a local story, you can contact Overton Radio via WhatsApp on 07865 078194.
Submitting information does not guarantee publication. We may edit information for clarity, length, accuracy or suitability and may contact the contributor for additional information.
We reserve the right not to publish material that does not meet our editorial standards.
Corrections and complaints
If we make a factual mistake, we will aim to correct it as soon as reasonably possible.
Where an error is significant, we may clearly acknowledge the correction rather than quietly changing the original information.
If you believe an Overton Radio news story contains an error or you have a concern about our reporting, please contact us with details of the issue.
We will consider legitimate complaints fairly and will review relevant information before deciding whether an amendment or correction is appropriate.
Editorial independence
Overton Radio’s news coverage is produced independently and editorial decisions are made based on news value, accuracy, relevance and public interest.
No individual, organisation, advertiser or sponsor is guaranteed favourable news coverage because of their relationship with Overton Radio.
Our responsibility is to our audience and the local community.
Our commitment
We understand that local news can have a real impact on the people and organisations we report on.
Our commitment is therefore simple:
Be accurate. Be fair. Be responsible. Be useful to the community.
We will continue to review our approach as Overton Radio grows and as the way people receive local news changes.
Overton Radio
Local radio. Local news. Local community.