Rules

Contributor Guidelines and Platform Rules

These guidelines ensure our platform remains open, accessible, and valuable for contributors and readers alike.

Our Openness Principles

OpenNews is built on accessibility and transparency. Contributors commit to:

• Writing for broad audiences, not specialists only
• Avoiding unnecessary jargon and gatekeeping
• Providing context that helps readers understand
• Respecting diverse perspectives and experiences
• Separating reporting from personal opinion

Journalistic Integrity

Open access requires trusted content. All contributors must:

• Verify claims before publication
• Maintain independence from conflicts of interest
• Accept accountability for published material
• Protect vulnerable sources and subjects
• Be transparent about limitations

We recommend familiarity with established ethical codes like SPJ standards.

Content Standards

Encouraged Content:

• ✅ Clear, accessible news reporting
• ✅ Explainer pieces that break down complexity
• ✅ Investigative work with documented findings
• ✅ Opinion pieces clearly labeled as such
• ✅ Multimedia stories that enhance understanding

Linking Guidelines:

To prevent link manipulation:

• Maximum 3 active links per article (beyond citations)
• Links should genuinely enhance the story
• No hidden affiliate or promotional links

Links serve readers, not SEO schemes

Multimedia Standards:

Video:

• ❌ No direct video uploads to our servers
• Our volunteer infrastructure cannot support video hosting costs
• ✅ Embed from:
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
  • Established video platforms
• Video must directly support your story

Images:

• ✅ Original or properly licensed images only
• Always include attribution
• Keep files under 5MB when possible

Not Permitted

• ❌ Plagiarism or copyright violation
• ❌ Deliberately misleading content
• ❌ Harassment or hate speech
• ❌ Promotional spam posing as news
• ❌ Malicious links or malware
• ❌ Breach of source confidentiality
• ❌ Non-consensual private information

Enforcement

We may:

• Restrict accounts violating guidelines
• Remove substandard content
• Act immediately on serious violations

Actions may result from:

• Repeated violations
• Publishing misinformation
• Community harassment
• Platform manipulation attempts
• Excessive server resource use

Enforcement targets conduct and standards, not the political content of work.

Appeals:

Believe we made a mistake? Contact us via our contact page.

Community Expectations

Interaction Standards:

• Engage respectfully in discussions
• Debate ideas, not personalities
• Welcome reader feedback
• Honor source protection

Corrections:

• Fix errors when discovered
• Note significant corrections clearly
• Update stories as they develop

Your Rights

You keep:

• Copyright to your work
• Republishing rights
• Profile control
• Content management

We deliver:

• Open platform access
• Technical infrastructure
• Privacy protection
• Global reach

Resource Awareness

OpenNews runs on volunteers. Please:

• Embed media instead of large uploads
• Compress images before uploading
• Be mindful of server resources
• Understand our operational limits

Questions?

We update guidelines as needed. Current version lives here.

Questions? Visit our contact page.

Last Updated: December 2025