Write for SFcrowsnest

SFCROWSNEST'S GUIDELINES FOR ONLINE JOURNALISTS

What does a SFcrowsnest journalist do?

You log on to SFcrowsnest and post news, reviews and other content into the daily updates part of the online magazine.

Is it technically difficult?

Not at all. Logging into the ‘Nest and posting content is no more difficult than logging on to Hotmail.com and sending an e-mail. You don’t need to understand HTML code or anything nasty like that.

How do I become a SFcrowsnest journalist?

First, you need to e-mail a sample in of an actual news story or review you would propose posting into the daily updates part of the magazine. Send your sample in the body an e-mail (not as a file attachment) to sfcrowsnest@hotmail.com for review by an editor. Make sure it adheres as much as possible to the guidelines below.

We view your sample article as an indication of how you will write. A thoughtful, well-written article that is free of hype has a far greater chance of getting accepted than one that is sloppy, poorly written, and full of promotional or subjective language.

In your e-mail, please also let us know about your relationship - if any - with any other web sites or SFF genre organisations and/or activities. Webmasters, site owners, and friends and relatives of webmasters and genre-related organisations are free to become contributors to SFcrowsnest. However, you should be up-front and honest about your affiliations.

Are there any requirements for being an SFcrowsnest journalist?

Everyone is welcome to become a content or news contributor. All you need is a passion for the science fiction & fantasy genre and a computer with an internet connection. While there are no specific pre-requisites, we seek fans that have a real interest in building a genre magazine that is free of commercial interest, fan vendettas and favouritism. We want fairness, fun and objectivity! Those who still believe science fiction and fantasy sites should be free and accessible to all, without bias and the white noise of hot air; pomposity and large egos will enjoy contributing to the Nest.

Potential contributors should ideally demonstrate a good eye for news spotting or penning original quality content, attention to detail, and possess an excess of imagination as well as good grammar, decent spelling and well-honed writing skills (in English, please).

Is there a time commitment for SFcrowsnest journalists?

There is no time requirement. Frankly, we appreciate any time you can commit to contributing content and improving & developing the site. We have no deadlines and you may contribute - or stop contributing to us - at any time.

Can I have more than one SFcrowsnest journalist account?

No. All contributors have only a single login and password. Creating multiple logins using different aliases is considered abuse, and when discovered, all such accounts will be deleted.

What kind of compensation is available to SFcrowsnest journalist?

The Nest hasn’t never made more money than it costs to host the zine (the shortfall sadly still being made up by the day-job income of its owner). So why do we keep on doing it? Well, the site was established in the spirit of the original Internet, which has developed a long list of successful web magazines created by uncompensated volunteers. The Nest offers the opportunity for the net-citizens around the world to come together to build the best online resource for other net-citizens to freely read. Therefore, editors are not financially compensated.

One of the nice things about SFcrowsnest is it’s now become a community of volunteers who altruistically devote their time and subject expertise just to give back to the rest of the genre. Writers contribute for the love and fun of it in the spirit of fostering a free and accessible web for the SFF genre.

Who owns the copyright of contributed material?

You retain full copyright of any material your submit – we also claim joint online copyright so far as we need this is be able to legally post your material on the Nest in the first place.

In practical terms, this means in addition to SFcrowsnest you can resell or give free your material to as many other parties as you please and will have you. You should bear in mind that if any of the other publishers require sole copyright and the surrender of all your rights, parallel publication of such material on SFcrowsnest is probably going to be a problem for them ... and therefore you.

SFCROWSNEST'S GUIDELINES FOR ONLINE JOURNALISTS

1. Acceptable & Unacceptable content

- Acceptable

• Your own reviews & commentary on science fiction and fantasy films, books, e-books, web sites, TV episodes, computer games, RPGs, wargames, anime & manga, comics, conferences and events.

• Commentary on, and highlighting the existence of, news and content on 3^rd party web sites, as per the guidelines below. Subjects are as above (science fiction and fantasy films, books, e-books, web sites, TV episodes, computer games, RPGs, wargames, anime & manga, comics, conferences and events).

- Unacceptable

Off-topic contributions
Links to sites with weapons, adult material, race hate, gambling and other less ethical material.

2. Be Honest and Fair

Journalists should be honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. You should bear in mind:

• Under no circumstances plagiarise anyone else’s content.

• Under no circumstances re-post content you were not the author of. Making it clear you have reposted 3^rd party content in the body of your article does not magically make you exempt you from being sued for copyright theft. Always give credit to others when appropriate.

• Identify and link to sources – online of offline - whenever feasible. Your readers are entitled to as much information as possible on your source’s reliability. Provide a succinct summary, while also including a link to more in-depth material

• Make certain that your online articles, quotations, headlines, pictures and other content do not misrepresent; they should never oversimplify or highlight material out of context.

• Under no circumstances distort the content of images without disclosing what has been changed. Image enhancement is only acceptable for technical clarity.

• Never publish information you know is inaccurate - and if publishing questionable information, make it clear it is in doubt.

• Distinguish fully between advocacy, commentary and factual content. Advocacy and commentary pieces should not be taken as a licence to misrepresent fact or context.

• Distinguish factual information from advertising and shun press releases that blur the lines between the two.

3. Minimize Mischief

Journalists must treat sources and subjects as human beings deserving of reverence. You should bear in mind:

• Writing online doesn't magically make you - or us for that matter - immune from the laws of libel and slander. When in doubt on this point, please don’t be rude about anyone.

• Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by your content. Use tact when dealing with young adults and inexperienced sources or subjects.

• Be sensitive when seeking or using content about those affected by tragedy or grief.

• Recognize that writing and reporting may cause hurt or distress. Pursuit of news is not a license for arrogance.

• Recognize that private citizens have a greater right to control information about them than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy.

• Show good taste and avoid pandering to lurid curiosity. Always be cautious about identifying victims of crimes and criminal suspects.

4. Be Accountable

Journalists should bear in mind:

• Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.

• Invite dialogue with readers over your post’s content and the writer’s conduct.

• Disclose conflicts of interest, affiliations, activities and personal agendas.

• Deny favoured treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence content. When exceptions are made, disclose them fully to readers.

• Be wary of sources offering information for favours. When accepting such information, disclose the favours.

5. Corrections Policy

SFcrowsnest authors and editors should strive to post accurate information, including correct spelling and punctuation. However, we recognize that errors may occasionally slip through.

To correct these errors, the following procedures will be used:

Obvious Typos: Authors and editors may make minor corrections (obvious typos, punctuation, broken hyperlinks, paragraph formatting) in original posts without noting that changes have been made, provided that they do not alter the meaning of any portion of the post in any way.

Non-Obvious Typos: Proper name misspellings or changes that affect word meanings will always be corrected in the original post. But in these cases the word "Corrected" also will be inserted just below the title to the post followed by an explanation to the readers noting the nature and date of the correction. The corrected text then will appear below the explanation.

Clarifications and Factual Corrections: Sometimes clarifications to posts that are unclear or create misimpressions may be necessary, as well as corrections to posts that contain factual errors. In these cases the word "Clarified" or "Corrected" will be inserted just below the title to the post, followed by an explanation to the readers noting the nature and date of the clarification or correction and including a description of the specific changes that are being made to the original posting.

More details

Guidelines for would-be daily newsfeed journalists

Guidelines for flash fiction submissions

Guidelines for short and long fiction submissions

Guidelines for book and movie review submissions

The problems Geoff sees most when looking at samples

Summary: contributor guidelines

SciFi on Facebook

Magazine Articles

Charts

Stephen Hunt, author

Search

Reader Tools

Webmaster Tools