UnTouchableHow we write stories
Every story here is about a real person, and it is about their health. That is private unless they decide otherwise. These are the rules we follow so that we only ever repeat what someone chose to say.
Whose stories we tell
People telling their own story. Most stories come from a person talking publicly about their own health — in an interview, on their own social media, in a book, on a podcast or in a statement.
Families, after a death. A family or estate can share someone’s story publicly after they have died.
Families, when someone can no longer speak. Some conditions take away the ability to tell your own story — advanced dementia, aphasia, a severe brain injury. We will tell that story only if the family made a deliberate public statement in their own words, meant to be public. We write from that statement, not from news coverage of it, and we add nothing about how the person is now.
Someone close, after a death. A friend who was there may tell their own story of it, once considerable time has passed. We use only the name they use, add nothing to what they said, and say nothing about anyone living. We are stricter still when the condition is one that has been used against people.
Never a child’s health. We do not publish anything about the health of a living child, from anyone. An adult looking back on their own childhood is different: that is their story, and theirs to tell.
Where a story comes from
- At least one source. Every story links to where the person said it, with the title, the publisher and the date. A story without a source cannot be published. The system will not allow it.
- In our own words. We write a summary rather than copying. A quote, if there is one, is short — 25 words at most — and says who said it and where.
- Two editors. One editor writes the story. A second, different editor checks it against the sources before it goes live. We record who did each step, and when.
- Looked at again. Each story is flagged for another check a year after it was published.
What we leave out
- Rumours, guesses and anything a person has not said themselves.
- Doses and how much of something someone took. A story can say a person was prescribed a medicine, or came off it. It will never read as instructions.
- Details of how someone harmed themselves. Stories about suicide, self-harm or eating disorders follow the Samaritans’ guidelines for writing about them. They have a note at the top so you can choose whether to read on, and places to get support at the bottom.
- Photographs we are not allowed to use. We show a photograph only when it has a licence that lets us. Otherwise you will see the person’s initials.
- Any suggestion that the person supports UnTouchable. They have not been asked to.
If we get something wrong
Anyone can ask us to correct a story or take it down — the person it is about, someone who represents them, or a reader. You do not need an account.
When we take a story down, it goes from every page on the site at once: the story itself, the condition pages, search, and the lists of related stories.