Southampton Wire is an independent digital news publisher delivering clear, practical local journalism for Southampton, Hampshire and the wider South Coast. Every article is written by a named journalist, reviewed by an editor and fact-checked before publication. The site is owned and operated by Sliema Media Limited (Malta Business Registry C 84217).
What is Southampton Wire?
Southampton Wire (southamptonwire.co.uk) is an independent digital news publisher committed to trustworthy local journalism for Southampton, Hampshire and the South Coast. We are owned by Sliema Media Limited and based in Malta, with a dedicated UK editorial team led by Editor-in-Chief William Ashby.
Our editorial mission is straightforward: deliver local news that helps readers understand what matters in their community without spin or agenda. We cover councils, business, community affairs, crime, transport and culture with clarity and practical relevance. Every piece of content is produced by human journalists who know the region and answer to the community they serve.
What areas and topics do we cover?
Our coverage spans Southampton, Hampshire and the wider South Coast, with dedicated reporting on councils, business, community affairs, crime, transport and culture. We focus on stories that have a direct impact on daily life in the region.
From Southampton City Council decisions to Hampshire County Council developments, from local business openings to community safety concerns, we aim to provide a comprehensive picture of what is happening across the South Coast. Our correspondents include Kieran Doherty covering local politics and council affairs, Lucy Palmer reporting on community and crime, and Oscar Brooks focusing on business and property. We also cover cultural events, transport updates and community initiatives that matter to residents, with all content reviewed against our regional reporting policy.
How does our editorial process work?
Every article published by Southampton Wire is written by a named journalist, reviewed by an editor and fact-checked before publication. Our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead Diane Forbes oversees accuracy and ensures every piece meets our editorial standards.
We maintain detailed editorial policies and a fact-checking policy that govern all content. AI-assisted tools may support research, editing, formatting or summaries, but they never replace human editorial judgement. AI must never fabricate quotes, sources, interviews or bylines. Corrections are handled promptly and transparently — readers can review our corrections policy for full details. Our complaints procedure sets out how we address concerns about our work.
Who leads the editorial team?
William Ashby serves as Editor-in-Chief, responsible for editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections. Sarah Mills is Managing Editor, overseeing daily operations and the editorial calendar. They lead a team of experienced journalists covering the full range of local news.
The full team includes Kieran Doherty (Local Politics & Council Editor), Lucy Palmer (Community & Crime Correspondent), Oscar Brooks (Business & Property Correspondent) and Diane Forbes (Standards & Fact-Checking Lead). Each journalist brings specialist knowledge of their beat and a commitment to accuracy. You can read more about the team on our Our Team page.
Who owns and operates Southampton Wire?
Southampton Wire is owned and operated by Sliema Media Limited (Malta Business Registry C 84217), with its registered office at Level 3, Tower Business Centre, Tower Street, Swatar, Birkirkara BKR 4013, Malta. The company is registered in Malta and operates the site as an independent digital news publisher.
Full details of our ownership and funding structure are available on our ownership and funding page. We believe in transparency about who we are and how we are financed, so readers can assess our journalism with full context.
What you can expect from us
You can expect honest, transparent local journalism that clearly labels any sponsored content, affiliate links or commercial partnerships. Our funding comes from display advertising, affiliate links, commercial partnerships, sponsored content and newsletter sponsorships — but commercial relationships never determine editorial conclusions.
All sponsored material is clearly labelled so you always know what you are reading. We maintain a strict separation between editorial and commercial decisions, and our advertising and affiliate disclosure explains exactly how we operate. AI-assisted tools may support research or formatting, but every piece of content is reviewed by a human editor before publication — see our AI and automation policy for more detail. We also maintain an accessibility statement to ensure our content is available to all readers.
Questions or concerns?
We welcome feedback, questions and story tips from our readers. For general enquiries, contact us at info@southamptonwire.co.uk. For editorial matters, you can reach Editor-in-Chief William Ashby on +44 20 4587 9486 or william.ashby@southamptonwire.co.uk.
You can also use our dedicated function emails: editorial, newsdesk, tips, press, corrections, complaints, factcheck, legal, privacy, advertising, partnerships and publisher — all at @southamptonwire.co.uk. Our UK editorial line is +44 20 4587 9485. We aim to respond to all enquiries promptly. For more contact details, visit our contact page.