Editorial policy
This page describes how we work editorially - how we pick topics, how we fact-check, how we disclose partnerships, and what we promise the reader. We keep it up to date.
Who writes and reviews
Every piece in Slow Made City is written by an editorial team author or an invited expert contributor, and reviewed by at least one editor before publishing. Author and editor names are visible in the piece itself (when the author is a real person, not "SMC Editorial").
When a technical topic (brewing methods, fermentation, roast processes) requires expert review, we consult at least one practitioner from the industry before publishing.
How we pick topics
Editorial topic decisions are made by the editorial team, not by brand partners. Topics come from:
- observations of the Sofia and Bulgaria scene (new cafés, new producers, new practices);
- reader questions and pitches;
- seasonal cycles (winter syrups, autumn ferments, summer cold drinks);
- interest from current brand residencies - BUT only when the topic already fits the SMC editorial axis.
Brand Residencies - how we work with brands
Slow Made City operates with a model we call Brand Residency: a thematic editorial season where a brand enters the media as a co-author, not an advertiser. Full breakdown at /en/what-is-brand-residency.
To the reader we guarantee:
- Visible disclosure. Every piece that is part of a brand residency carries a visible brand tag in the article card and in the piece itself.
- Editorial control of angle and tone. The brand agrees on the season's thematic focus; it does not edit individual pieces. Contracted with every resident.
- Transparency to the reader. A brand-tagged piece will never claim a brand's product is "the best" if the facts do not support it.
- No hidden advertising. No brand-residency piece is presented as purely editorial. Labeling is always visible.
Corrections and updates
We make mistakes. When we do, we add a visible correction note at the end of the piece - with the date and what was changed. Minor typo fixes are not annotated.
When a piece is significantly updated (new data, new scene, new
equipment), the dateModified field is updated, and
for a major change we add an "Update" note at the top.
If you think we got it wrong, write to [email protected] with subject "Correction" and the link to the piece.
Sources and attribution
When a piece references specific data (SCA papers, industry reports, interviews), we cite the source at the end of the piece (Sources section).
Photographs are credited to the photographer - in caption or at the end. When we use a partner-brand photo for a brand residency piece, we mark it as such.
AI tools and automation
Slow Made City is written by humans, not AI. Specifically:
- We do not publish AI-generated articles. No piece in the editorial feed is generated end-to-end by an LLM.
- AI as a research tool - yes. Authors may use AI tools to find sources, quickly summarize other articles, or draft translations. The final text is theirs.
- AI for headlines - no. Headlines are written by editors. They carry editorial responsibility.
- AI for translations - drafted by AI, finalized by humans. English mirrors of Bulgarian articles sometimes start from machine translation but are always reviewed by a native speaker before publishing.
Conflicts of interest
If an author has a financial interest in a product or business mentioned in a piece (e.g. owns a café being profiled), this is disclosed in the piece itself, or the author does not write that topic.
Policy changes
This page is updated as needed. Last revision: .