Our House Rules

About the SCA Editorial Guidelines

The SCA Editorial Guidelines apply to all of our content regardless of whoever creates or makes it and whenever and however it is received. They set out the standards expected of everyone in making or presenting the SCA’s output. They will help anyone, in-house or independent, public service or commercial, to deal with difficult editorial issues, meet the expectations of the audience, and to produce content to the highest standards.

As Time Inc. says in their Editorial Guidelines, “Be right. Be fair. Be transparent. Obey the law.” When in doubt as to whether or not you are meeting these basic standards, ask.

Any proposal to step outside of the Editorial Guidelines must be editorially justified. It must be discussed and agreed in advance with the SCA’s Editor or Director of Content, who may consult with additional senior figures at the SCA.

Editorial Justification

The concept of “editorial justification” recurs throughout this document and is central to the application of our values and standards. It is a judgement on the particular circumstances of each case, balancing the editorial purposes of our output actions with their impact on our audiences and people in our output (or, where relevant, those closest to them).

Contributors

We do not distinguish between staff contributors and non-staff contributors (contractors, subject matter experts, freelancers, etc.). All contributors are held to the same standards when they are contributing to and representing the SCA.

Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Rights

Materials contributors provide to the SCA are original, except for the materials of others for which they have obtained permission to use the materials in the public domain. Materials should not violate anyone else’s intellectual property rights, including: copyright; moral rights; performers’ rights; trademarks; patents and designs; rights to prevent “passing off” and breach of confidence. The SCA is not liable for any infringing use of materials supplied by third parties.

Conflicts of Interest

We take particular care to avoid conflicts of interest, real or apparent. A conflict of interest may arise when the external activities of anyone involved in the making of SCA content affects the SCA’s reputation for integrity, independence, and high standards, or may be reasonably perceived to do so.

There must never be any impression that commercial, financial, or other interests have influenced our editorial judgements. The onus is on the contributor to let the SCA know if they (or, in certain circumstances, their family or close personal contacts) have any outside interests which could be perceived as a conflict of interest.

If the contributor has a material connection with products, businesses, or other organizations featured in a piece of SCA-published non-sponsored content, we must always disclose the connection clearly and succinctly. Where possible, referencing two or three competitors working in the same or a related space will help to balance your conflict of interest.

Correcting Mistakes

When a story receives a challenge, take it seriously and deal with it promptly. To bring an error to our attention, please email editor@sca.coffee. The Editorial Team will review any potential errors surfaced and will lead in efforts to correct the error.

When an error has been brought to our attention and confirmed, it is our goal to address it as soon as possible. Where possible, a correction should appear in whatever medium the error has occurred (print, online, or both). Not all mediums offer clear options for corrections (i.e., single print publications or live events), but we strive for clarity and transparency given the options each medium makes available.

Online content can be corrected by changing the text online. However, whenever this has been done, a note must be appended to the story indicating that the text has been corrected.

Gathering Material

Contributors should endeavor to check and verify information, facts, and documents used in the creation of SCA content. If unable to verify material sufficiently, they should say so and attribute the information.

We do not automatically assume that supplied materials are accurate and should take reasonable steps to seek verification, where possible. We endeavor to take special care in how we use any material that we suspect has been supplied by someone with a vested interest in a work, rather than a disinterested bystander.

Particular care should also be used when conducting internet research. Contributors should only use materials supplied by third parties if it is credible and reliable.

Defamation

Because the SCA’s publications are distributed worldwide, online and in print, we are subject to a wide variety of legal standards as to what constitutes actionable damage to an individual or company’s reputation. Such damage is commonly known as “libel” (for printed defamation) or “slander” (for spoken defamation).

In many countries, defamation is a criminal act. In others it can only give rise to a civil suit for damages. The geographic reach of the SCA’s publications means that we must take special care to avoid printing or recording anything that could be viewed as defamatory.

For this reason, contributors must avoid using any language that expressly or implicitly identifies any individuals, companies, or other organizations as objects of criticism. Critical reviews of the content or style of books, articles and films are permitted, but personal criticism must be avoided. When in doubt, always consult with the Editorial or Content Teams.

Impartiality

We must be inclusive, considering the broad perspective and ensuring the existence of a range of views is appropriately reflected.

Integrity (Independence from External Interests)

Our audiences must be able to trust the SCA and be confident that our editorial decisions are not influenced by outside interest, political or commercial pressures, or any personal interests.

We do not give undue prominence to commercial products or services outside of clearly defined sponsorship agreements. We do not include links within editorial content in return for cash, services, or any other consideration in kind.

We do not run unmarked advertorials. Any paid or sponsored editorial content must be clearly marked as such in whatever medium it is published.

Libel

See Defamation.

Photography

The standards of fairness, accuracy, and overall integrity apply to the obtaining and use of photographs as well as words. Obtain written permission from the original photographer (or other copyright holder of the image) when using photos that you didn’t personally take and copies of written releases from any identifiable persons in the photo, unless the photo was taken in a public place. All such permissions and releases must be reviewed by our Editorial Team before publication. Standard practices about rights, permissions, and “fair use” apply to images found on social media.

If taking or using your own photos for your feature, please consult our Style Guide. It is our strong preference to name anyone featuring in the photo, so please ensure you note this where possible.

Plagiarism

Passing off another person’s work (or part of a work) as your own is plagiarism. With the proliferation of online sources, the potential for plagiarism has risen; so, too, has the ability to do a search and make sure you have not inadvertently plagiarized.

Privacy

The laws of many nations include a right to privacy, and individuals can take action to enforce this right. Publishing personal information, such as home and email addresses, should be avoided without the written consent of the subject.

Promotional Materials

Contributors are chosen to contribute as individuals based on their expertise and experience, so we ask that all contributors, whether writing or presenting, to limit any possible self-promotion in accordance with the above rules of Conflicts of Interest, Impartiality, and Integrity (Independence of External Interests). In doing so, contributors agree to not use their contribution as a forum to promote their company’s product or services. Presenters are expected to limit any logo usage to the last slide of their presentation and/or the last page of their handout.

The SCA may use a contributor’s name, photograph, biography, and (if applicable) the company and/or employer’s name, on its website(s) and in promotional materials. For presenters, the SCA may publish handouts, PowerPoints, and/or other written or digital materials to which the presenter agrees.

Providing Materials

Contributors should submit their materials in the manner identified by the Editor or Director of Content at the time of commission. Presentation materials should confirm to the audio-visual equipment provided by the SCA.

Right of Reply

When checking facts or quotations with primary sources, make every effort to give the person or institution an adequate time to respond.

Recording and Translation

Contributors will be notified of any recording of their presentation prior to the event. In some cases, a contribution may be interpreted (simultaneously) or translated from beginning to end.