Editorial Policy

Formulation and functioning

All publications, in any media, produced by The Messenger are bound by this editorial policy. The management committee of The Burngreave Messenger has responsibility for maintaining this policy and reviewing all items prior to publication to ensure they adhere to it, and that it is consistent with the ‘Statement of Values’.

All items published by the Messenger will be produced under the supervision of a named subgroup, who have responsibility to ensure the publication adheres to this policy during its production.
The management committee may make any necessary and appropriate changes to this policy. All feedback and comment regarding editorial policy will be made welcome, including guidelines from any partnership organisations.

Material originating from the broader community
To facilitate communications the Messenger will publish items from a wide range of sources. Any items originating from outside the Messenger will have clearly identified contributors. In presenting this kind of material efforts will be made to provide balanced coverage of any issues raised, with other independent material or with material generated by the subgroup if necessary. When dealing with areas of potentially conflicting opinion, any publication will aim to contribute to resolution.

Material originating from within the Messenger
Wherever possible all items originating from within a subgroup should be identified by contributor, but it is acknowledged that this it is not always appropriate. If an item is not to be identified by contributor, it should be clear that it originates from within the subgroup.

Encouraging engagement and participation
Wherever appropriate all material should include clear mechanisms for readers to engage further with any issues raised within the material.

Respecting Individuals
Respect for individuals, particularly those active and living within the community must be maintained. The difficulties facing those striving to improve the community are enormous and, when covering controversial issues, the Messenger will make every practicable effort to seek out balancing views and seek to give equal right of reply, while avoiding the personalisation of wider issues.

Website
The editorial team reserves the right to embargo any articles from the website before the distribution.

Proof reading
After final proof reading no changes should be made to the text included in the Messenger, if this is unavoidable every effort should be made to contact all those present at the final proof read.

Editing
The editorial team should maintain commitment to readability and not be afraid to offend people by editing articles. The suggested word limit for contributions is 250, the editorial team can commission longer articles

Advertising
There is no limit to the space given to advertising local businesses overall. Individual adverts over ¼ page should be considered by the editorial team. If we agree to sell space then that space is guaranteed, the editorial team can give free advertising space to organisations without publicity budgets at its discretion, this space is not guaranteed.

Letters
We do not print anonymous letters. Names and addresses should be supplied. We will not print addresses and we can withhold names on request. We will not give names and addresses out to anyone without the permission of the writer, under any circumstances.

Child protection
The Messenger will only publicise activities for children and young people if the groups and organisations organising these demonstrate that they have undertaken Criminal Record Bureau checks for their staff, that they have an appropriate Child Protection Policy and that they have undertaken appropriate Child Protection Training.