Load mobile navigation

About Us

Letter from the Editor

The EssexLive website has grown out of a newsroom that has served the county for more than 250 years.

The Essex Chronicle newspaper launched in 1764 and has remained the paper of record from its headquarters in Chelmsford.

In 2016 the Essex Chronicle website became EssexLive and it has grown to become the leading news source for the county and the wider area.

The print edition has a sister title, the Brentwood Gazette. As part of the Reach PLC group, we can draw on resources from around the country to deliver unrivalled coverage from across Essex.

We are committed to reporting the stories that matter to Essex’s residents, as well as the stories that simply interest them, both quickly and accurately.

The world of social media has meant that misinformation has been able to spread as rapidly as information, and our mission is to provide a trusted source to help readers find a path through the gossip.

Live blogs and live video have transformed the way we report breaking news but they have not meant a lowering of standards.

We will not stand at a police cordon and report rumour or hearsay, rather we will aim to paint the clearest possible picture of the situation using only what we know to be fact.

Although the Conservative Party enjoys a safe Essex majority, those politics are far from universal and EssexLive aspires to objectivity.

Housing, infrastructure and homelessness are major issues and while the local authorities wrestle with these and other policies, our journalists will investigate and cover the stories, holding our elected officials to account.

The team at EssexLive understands the love/hate relationship with The Only Way is Essex and the way it has stereotyped our county.

For those who love all things TOWIE, we will bring you the very latest news, opinions and on-set shots of the cast shooting the series.

But we will also step in and defend our wonderful county when needed, shouting from the rooftops about all of the other great things we have to offer.

How our journalists work

Ethics policy

The maintenance of high editorial standards is at the core of EssexLive's business philosophy.

Reach PLC, EssexLive's parent company, is a member of and is regulated by IPSO, the Independent Press Standards Organisation.

Our journalists work according to The Editors’ Code of Practice, which sets the benchmark for ethical standards in journalism and is enforced by IPSO. On joining EssexLive, all editorial staff complete a training course in the Code and legal refresher training.

At EssexLive, we recognise that protecting the rights of the individual consistently comes into conflict with the public’s right to know. This means we have to make difficult judgements, sometimes quickly, which are impossible to get right all of the time. Regular bulletins and seminars give staff the best opportunity to learn from mistakes, whether our own or those of other parts of the media industry.

We are a launch partner of The Trust Project, an international initiative to make it easier for readers to find out more about the organisations and the people providing them with news, and to support quality journalism.

Verification and fact checking

We expect our staff to use their best endeavours to verify the stories being put forward for publication.

Unnamed sources

Journalists have an obligation under IPSO’s Editors’ Code of Practice to protect their sources, but we also have a duty to establish that the sources we use are reliable and that material has been appropriately obtained. Story provenance is ultimately the responsibility of the Editor.

When using unnamed sources, the company relies on the integrity, experience and professionalism of its staff.

Corrections Policy

If you believe a story we have published is inaccurate, please contact the editorial team. You can:

Once verified, we will correct the story on the website as soon as possible. Where appropriate, the fact a correction has been made will be noted on the story and/or on the corrections and clarifications page.

If you have an issue about how EssexLive has written about you personally or has treated you and wish to make a formal complaint over a potential breach of the Editor's Code of Practice, please see Reach PLC's Complaints Policy and Procedure. You can also contact IPSO for advice.

Tell us what you think

There are many ways for you to get in touch with us to have your say.

Our Senior Team

Editor: Katrina Chilver

Content Editor: Freddie Lynne

Content Editor: Mel King


Our Business

EssexLive and its associated print titles are part of the Reach PLC Group. Reach PLC is Britain’s largest newspaper, magazine and digital publisher, with a print and online portfolio reaching 38.6million people every month. The award-winning Reach PLC publications stretch across England, Scotland and Wales, with more than 150 newspaper titles and more than 80 websites. These iconic brands sit at the heart of their communities, forming part of the fabric of everyday life for thousands of people across the UK. Find out which of our regional titles is nearest you, whether online or in print.

Reach PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is part of the FTSE SmallCap Index.

EssexLive does not have a paywall and is available free to readers both on the web and as an app. As such, you are kindly asked to whitelist EssexLive if you are running an ad-blocker.

In addition to the newspaper sale price, our titles are funded by advertising, partnerships, sponsorships and affiliate commission, which are regulated by the ASA.

Diversity Policy

The Company is committed to increasing the service quality, profitability and efficiency of the Company by attracting and recruiting the people who are best suited to meet the standards for the role and the Company without regard to race, creed, colour, nationality (subject to legal eligibility), ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, sex change, sexual orientation, marital status, connections with a national minority, membership or non-membership of a trade union or, unless justifiable, disability.

We pursue a policy of equal opportunities for all employees and potential employees.

Equal Opportunities

The Reach PLC Group continued its commitment to equality of opportunity in all its employment practices to ensure we attract and retain the best people. In 2016, both the number of women within the Group and the number of women occupying senior managerial roles increased to 42% of staff (2015: 37%) and 31% (2015: 24%) respectively. Senior managers have responsibility for key businesses or functions within the Group.