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Editorial Policy

Last Updated: [14 May 2025]

1. Mission Statement

HubHealthyLife exists to bridge the gap between academic health research and practical daily application. We prioritize:

  • Accuracy over speed

  • Nuance over sensationalism

  • Accessibility over jargon

Founding Principle: “When in doubt, leave it out.”

2. Editorial Process

2.1 Research Phase

Source Requirements:

Source Type Minimum Studies Max Age
Clinical Trials 1 RCT 5 years
Meta-Analyses N/A 3 years
Animal Studies 3+ 2 years

Red Flags That Kill a Story:

  • Predatory journal citations

  • Conflicts of interest exceeding 50% of study funding

  • Sample sizes <30 for human trials

2.2 Writing Phase

Mandatory Elements:

  1. “Who This Helps” Box: Explicitly states ideal reader profile

  2. “Limitations” Section: Details research gaps

  3. Actionable Takeaways: Maximum 5 bullet points

Tone Guidelines:

  • Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 8-10

  • Passive Voice: <15% of sentences

  • Absolute Claims: Zero tolerance (“always/never” replaced with “often/rarely”)

3. Medical Review Protocol

3.1 Reviewer Qualifications

Tier 1 Content (Treatment Advice):

  • Active MD/DO license

  • Board certification in relevant specialty

  • Minimum 2 years clinical practice

Tier 2 Content (General Wellness):

  • RDNs with CDCES certification

  • PhD researchers with published papers

  • Licensed acupuncturists (for TCM content)

3.2 Review Process

  1. Fact-Check: Verifies all study citations

  2. Risk Assessment: Flags potentially dangerous advice

  3. Update Schedule:

    • Treatment protocols: 6 months

    • Supplement guides: 12 months

    • Basic wellness: 24 months

4. AI & Automation Policy

4.1 Permitted Uses

  • Grammar checking (Grammarly Premium)

  • Research assistance (Scholarcy for summaries)

  • Data visualization (Tableau)

4.2 Prohibited Uses

  • Generating entire articles

  • Creating medical imagery

  • Producing “personalized” health plans

Disclosure Requirement:
“AI-Assisted Research” label appears when:

  • 20% of citations sourced via AI tools

  • Any text initially drafted by AI

5. Conflict Management

5.1 Staff Disclosures

All contributors must declare:

  • Financial ties to health brands

  • Family relationships with practitioners

  • Personal health conditions influencing content

Public Filing: Viewable at /team-disclosures

5.2 Advertising Separation

  • Sales team operates on separate CMS with no editorial access

  • Sponsored content must pass medical review

6. Corrections Protocol

6.1 Error Classification

Severity Response Time Notification Method
Factual Error 24 hours Bold red correction notice
Outdated Data 7 days Yellow update box
Typographical 30 days Silent edit

6.2 Reader Reporting

Submit errors via:

7. Diversity Standards

7.1 Representation Goals

  • 40% of cited studies include female participants

  • 25% of expert interviews feature BIPOC voices

  • 15% of content addresses low-income accessibility

7.2 Inclusive Language

  • “Patients” → “People with [condition]”

  • “Suffer from” → “Experience”

  • Avoid “obese” as descriptor

8. Policy Enforcement

Violation Penalties:

  • 1st Offense: Mandatory retraining

  • 2nd Offense: 30-day publishing suspension

  • 3rd Offense: Termination + public notice

Audit Process:
Quarterly reviews by:

  • External medical ethicist

  • Patient advocacy representative