Asian Value Investor
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Editorial policy

Effective 5 October 2026. Last updated 5 October 2026.

Mission Statement

Asian Value Investor provides rigorous, independent analysis of Asian equity markets through the lens of value investing principles. Our mission is to educate investors by delivering fact-based, thoroughly researched content that serves reader interests above all else.

We are committed to accuracy, transparency, fairness, and editorial independence in all our work.

1. Editorial Standards and Principles

1.1 Accuracy

Accuracy is the foundation of our credibility. All content must be:

  • Based on verifiable facts
  • Thoroughly fact-checked before publication
  • Free from speculation presented as fact
  • Clearly labeled when containing analysis, opinion, or forward-looking statements

1.2 Independence

Editorial decisions are made solely on journalistic merit and reader value, free from:

  • Commercial pressures or business relationships
  • Political influence or ideological bias
  • External parties seeking to influence coverage
  • Internal business interests of Icarus Asia Limited

1.3 Fairness

We strive to present balanced coverage by:

  • Seeking multiple perspectives on controversial issues
  • Providing subjects of critical coverage opportunity to respond
  • Acknowledging uncertainty and alternative viewpoints
  • Distinguishing clearly between news reporting and opinion

1.4 Transparency

We maintain reader trust through:

  • Clear disclosure of conflicts of interest
  • Prompt correction of errors
  • Transparency about our methods and sources
  • Openness about limitations in our knowledge or reporting

2. Sourcing and Verification

2.1 Source Requirements

All factual claims must be supported by:

  • Primary sources: Company filings, financial statements, regulatory disclosures, official announcements, court documents, government reports
  • Credible secondary sources: Established news organizations, academic research, industry reports from reputable firms
  • Expert sources: Named individuals with relevant expertise and no undisclosed conflicts

2.2 Attribution Standards

  • All significant facts, figures, and claims must be attributed to their sources
  • Direct quotes must be reproduced accurately with proper attribution
  • Confidential or anonymous sources may only be used when the information is newsworthy, the source has direct knowledge, the Executive Editor approves, and key claims can be independently verified

2.3 Publicly Verifiable Information

Consistent with high journalistic standards:

  • Readers should be able to verify our reporting through cited sources
  • Claims that cannot be independently verified must be clearly labeled as such
  • We prioritize transparency by linking to source documents where possible

2.4 Prohibited Sources

We do not cite or rely upon:

  • Unverified social media posts or anonymous online forums (except as subjects of coverage)
  • Promotional materials without independent verification
  • Sources with undisclosed financial interests in the subject
  • Information obtained through deceptive means

3. Fact-Checking Process

3.1 Pre-Publication Review

All articles undergo review for:

  • Factual accuracy: Every factual claim is verified against source documents
  • Mathematical accuracy: All calculations, percentages, and financial metrics are independently checked
  • Completeness: Key context and relevant counterpoints are included
  • Fairness: Subjects of critical coverage have been given opportunity to respond

3.2 Fact-Checking Responsibilities

  • Writers: Maintain detailed notes with source citations for all factual claims
  • Editors: Verify sourcing and challenge unsupported assertions
  • Executive Editor: Final review of complex or sensitive stories

3.3 Financial Data

All financial data must be:

  • Sourced from official company filings, exchange announcements, or reputable financial data providers
  • Clearly dated to indicate the reporting period
  • Presented in consistent currency (with conversions noted)
  • Verified for mathematical accuracy in all calculations

4. Corrections and Transparency

4.1 Correction Policy

When errors are identified:

  • Corrections are made promptly and transparently
  • Corrections are clearly labeled and dated
  • Corrections appear at the top of corrected articles
  • Significant errors warrant editor's notes explaining what was corrected
  • The original error is acknowledged, not silently removed

4.2 Types of Corrections

Immediate corrections

  • Factual errors
  • Mathematical errors
  • Misattributions
  • Incorrect financial data

Clarifications:

  • When original text was accurate but potentially misleading
  • When additional context improves reader understanding

Updates:

  • New developments on ongoing stories
  • Company responses received after publication

4.3 Correction Format

Corrections appear as follows:

Example: Factual Error Correction

Correction (November 14, 2025): An earlier version of this article stated that ABC Corporation reported revenue of HKD 500 million in Q3 2025. In fact, the company reported revenue of HKD 450 million. The article has been updated to reflect the correct figure.

Example: Clarification

Clarification (November 14, 2025): An earlier version of this article described the company's debt-to-equity ratio as "high" without providing industry context. The ratio of 1.8x is actually in line with the industry average of 1.7x for technology companies in the region. The article has been updated to include this context.

Example: Update with New Information

Update (November 14, 2025): Following publication of this article, XYZ Limited issued a statement clarifying that the reported transaction has not yet received final regulatory approval. The company expects approval by Q1 2026. This article has been updated to include the company's response.

Example: Mathematical Error Correction

Correction (November 14, 2025): An earlier version of this article incorrectly calculated the year-over-year revenue growth as 25%. The correct growth rate is 15% (from USD 400 million to USD 460 million). All related analysis has been updated accordingly.

4.4 Reader Feedback

Readers can report errors or request clarifications via:

All error reports are reviewed with the utmost urgency.

5. Editorial Process and Oversight

5.1 Editorial Structure

Executive Editor:

  • Final authority on editorial decisions
  • Approves all story assignments and published content
  • Serves as Ethics Officer
  • Manages relationships with Contributors

Senior Editors:

  • Assign stories and manage freelance contributors
  • Edit for accuracy, clarity, and adherence to style
  • Conduct fact-checking review

Contributors:

  • Pitch story ideas and conduct research
  • Submit work that meets editorial standards
  • Respond to editorial feedback

5.2 Story Development Process

  • Pitch: Writer proposes story with preliminary research
  • Assignment: Editor approves with scope and deadline
  • Reporting: Writer conducts research and interviews
  • First draft: Writer submits with source documentation
  • Editing: Editor reviews for accuracy, structure, and clarity
  • Fact-check: Independent verification of all factual claims
  • Legal review: When necessary for sensitive content
  • Final approval: Executive Editor approves publication
  • Publication: Article published with appropriate disclosures

5.3 Pre-Publication Confidentiality

To maintain editorial independence and prevent external influence:

  • We do not provide story drafts, advance copies, or pre-publication reviews to subjects of our coverage
  • We do not allow sources, companies, or external parties to review articles before publication
  • Subjects may only review direct quotes attributed to them for accuracy verification
  • This policy ensures our reporting remains independent and free from external pressure

5.4 Sensitive Content Review

Stories involving potential legal, ethical, or reputational risks receive additional review:

  • Executive Editor approval required
  • Legal consultation when appropriate
  • Verification of all sources and documentation
  • Confirmation that subjects have been given opportunity to respond

6. Content Standards

6.1 Writing Quality

All content must demonstrate:

  • Clear, concise prose free from jargon (unless necessary and defined)
  • Logical structure with thesis statements and supporting evidence
  • Professional tone appropriate for sophisticated investors
  • Proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation

6.2 Analysis vs. Reporting

News reporting presents facts objectively:

  • Written in neutral voice
  • Multiple perspectives included
  • Personal opinions excluded
  • Labeled as "News" or "Market Update"

Analysis and opinion offers interpretation:

  • Clearly distinguished from straight news
  • Author's reasoning explicitly stated
  • Alternative viewpoints acknowledged
  • Labeled as "Analysis," "Opinion," or "Commentary"

6.3 Headlines and Presentation

Headlines must:

  • Accurately reflect article content
  • Avoid sensationalism or clickbait
  • Not overstate findings or certainty
  • Match the tone of the article (news vs. opinion)

6.4 Charts, Data Visualizations, and Graphics

All visual elements must:

  • Include clear source attribution
  • Use appropriate scales (not misleading)
  • Be accessible and clearly labeled
  • Undergo same fact-checking as text

7. Attribution and Plagiarism

7.1 Original Work Requirement

All content must be original work created for Asian Value Investor. Contributors may not:

  • Republish work previously published elsewhere without disclosure (see section 10 for work AVI itself republishes)
  • Copy text from other sources without proper quotation and attribution
  • Substantially paraphrase others' work without attribution
  • Recycle their own previously published work without disclosure

7.2 Proper Attribution

When referencing others' work:

  • Direct quotes must use quotation marks with attribution
  • Paraphrasing requires attribution to the original source
  • Ideas or analysis from other sources must be credited
  • Mere rearrangement of source material is insufficient

7.3 Violations

Plagiarism violations result in:

  • Immediate removal of the content
  • Termination of relationship with the Contributor
  • Public correction noting the plagiarism
  • Potential legal action if appropriate

8. Conflicts of Interest in Coverage

8.1 Company Coverage Restrictions

We do not provide favorable or unfavorable coverage in exchange for:

  • Advertising or sponsorship
  • Access to company executives
  • Financial relationships with Icarus Asia Limited
  • Personal relationships

8.2 Independence from Icarus Asia

Asian Value Investor operates independently from Icarus Asia's advisory and risk consulting businesses:

  • Icarus Asia clients receive no preferential coverage
  • Icarus Asia business relationships do not influence editorial decisions
  • Writers disclose any Icarus Asia conflicts before accepting assignments
  • Clear separation between editorial and business functions

8.3 Editorial Decision-Making

Coverage decisions are based solely on:

  • Reader interest and educational value
  • Newsworthiness and market significance
  • Availability of reliable information
  • Alignment with our value investing focus

9. Use of Artificial Intelligence

AVI treats generative AI as a tool that people supervise. A named human editor is accountable for everything we publish, whatever tools were used.

  • Permitted uses. AI tools may be used to support research, summarise documents, check drafts, suggest edits, help build charts and tables, produce page layouts and produce machine translations. As of 5 October 2026, AVI uses commercial generative AI tools for these tasks. We update this line if the tools change.
  • Human responsibility. No AI output is published without a person reading and checking it. Every figure, quotation, name, date and citation in AI-assisted text is verified against the source before publication, because AI tools can state false things with confidence and can invent sources.
  • No invented material. We do not publish fabricated quotes, sources, data or documents.
  • Disclosure. We tell readers when AI played a material part in a piece beyond routine editing support, and we label all machine-translated content. Chinese-language editions are machine translations published without human review, and each page says so. The English version prevails.
  • Images. We do not present AI-generated or AI-altered images as photographs of real events. A synthetic image used as illustration is labelled as such.
  • Confidentiality. We do not enter confidential source material, unpublished documents obtained from a source, personal data of readers or subscribers, or anything that could identify a confidential source into an AI tool whose terms let the provider keep or train on it.
  • Review. We review this section when our tools change or at least once a year.

10. Republished and Migrated Work

Many pieces on AVI were first published by Icarus Asia or on LinkedIn. They keep their original publication dates and are bylined Icarus Asia Research, and each says where it was first published. Apart from fixing formatting and replacing bracketed evidence tags with plain prose, we do not change the wording of a republished piece. If we correct or update one, we say so on the page and give the date.

11. Funding and Independence

AVI is not affiliated with any state or state-affiliated organisation. Funders do not see or approve articles before publication, and no funder, advertiser, subscriber or other outside party can commission, change, delay or stop an article. AVI expects to be funded by reader contributions, membership and non-partisan support, and carries no advertising or sponsored content at launch. We will publish our funding sources on the About page and update it when they change. AVI is editorial only: we do not publish advertorial or sponsored articles disguised as editorial.

12. Relationship with Icarus Asia Limited

AVI is operated by Icarus Asia Limited. AVI's founder and executive editor, Kenan Machado, is also Executive Director at Icarus Asia. Readers should weigh that relationship when they read pieces that concern Icarus Asia, its clients or its affiliates; we say on the page when a piece does. Section 8.2 sets out how editorial decisions are kept separate from Icarus Asia's business.

Contact and Complaints

Readers may contact us regarding editorial matters:

General inquiries: contact@asianvalueinvestor.com

Error reports: contact@asianvalueinvestor.com

Ethics concerns: Contact Executive Editor at contact@asianvalueinvestor.com

Complaints receive acknowledgment within 48 hours and substantive response within 5 business days.

Next review: April 12, 2027.