Chebucto Community Net:
Editorial Policy
CCN Editorial Policy covers three areas:
- CCN Pages
- CCN Information Provider Web Sites
- Other (non-CCN) Information Providers (Web
Sites)
The CCN Editors (under the Editor-In-Chief) decide issues of style and content
for CCN Pages. These include CCN standard button bars, visual logos, general
organization and style of pages, etc.
- Some policy is set in common
- Some is left to individual CCN Editor areas.
This is a dynamic and ever growing sphere. CCN Editors must keep
up-to-date with current discussions and decisions.
In the larger sphere, this editorial policy must dovetail with general CCN-IP
and Board of Directors policies on the general nature of the Chebucto
Community Net. Contentious points will be discussed, however, the final
decision rests with the Board of Directors.
The same is true of the CCN Editors group. Decisions are reached by
consensus, with the final word being that of the Editor-in-Chief.
Directory Placement & Page Linkage
The decisions of where to place an IP's Directory and where it will be linked,
resides with the IP Editor and the CCN Editor. The final decision, however,
rests with the latter in terms of ensuring it meets the overall editorial
objectives of CCN.
CCN is obliged (on request) to provide a link to an IP's website via an
appropriate page. As well, CCN can insist that an IP be linked somewhere on
the CCN pages. The name of the link should be the responsibility of the IP
organization.
Additional links (cross-links) can be provided at the CCN Editor's discretion.
[Policy Note 1]
Content of CCN IP Websites
CCN Editors have responsibilities in four main areas:
- Compliance of the material with the CCN IP Agreement
- Technical Guidelines
- Stylistic Guidelines
- Other Matters
Compliance of the material with the CCN IP Agreement
Before linking an IP's material to CCN pages, the CCN Editor should ensure
it complies with the IP Agreement, i.e., that to the best of their
judgment it is not illegal or defamatory nor is it uncomplimentary to
CCN.
If there is any question on this score, refer to CCN-IP, who itself may
turn to the Policy on Information Committee for arbitration and a
decision.
The CCN Editor should also ensure that the material is in fact that of the
IP Organization (i.e. it should not be someone's personal home page
material, etc.) In keeping with our non-commercial policy, it should also
not be overtly commercial. In case of uncertainty, refer to CCN-IP.
Technical Guidelines
The CCN Editor should also assess the technical quality of the site ensuring
that it has:
- correct HTML coding
- anchor elements that actually work
- relative (rather than absolute) links for local material
- it is functional and legible by both text-only and graphical browsers
Important problems should be drawn to the attention of the IP Editors
group, with a request that they be rectified before the site is linked to
CCN pages. If necessary, IP applicants can be referred back to IP Training
to remedy problems. Proceed by consensus, but the final call is with the
CCN Editor.
The CCN maintains a strong commitment to both low-income users, whose
computer systems may have no option but to use text browsers, and to the
handicapped for whom text-only systems may be necessity. Thus we require
that all CCN IP's have websites that can function correctly and
comprehensibly in text-only mode. [Policy Note 2]
Stylistic Guidelines
These involve suggestions to the IP Editor with respect to:
- employing the CCN standard button bar
- acknowledging the CCN
- links back to the CCN Home Page
- other items that CCN Editors may in the future decide.
These matters should be addressed through requests. Final call is with the IP
Editor.
Other Matters
Editors may occasionally be called on to deal with other issues such as:
- IP Editors are not managing their files correctly
- IP Editors are not managing their mail list properly
- Other complaints about an IP site
Resolving these issues will be on a case-by-case basis until such time as a
policy on such topics is formulated.
Beyond this, it is not the responsibility of CCN nor of CCN Editors to meddle
in the content of a CCN IP website. Providing the IP adheres to their IP
Agreement, what they provide in their site is their choice.
Complaints about an IP site should be referred to the IP Editor, with a clear
indication that this is their responsibility, and not that of CCN.
What other links are provided to non-CCN IPs is left to the individual CCN
Editor.[Policy Note 3]
Requests to provide links should be viewed in light of the above and whether
the material is:
- Of good quality
- Of potential interest to CCN users
As in the case of CCN IPs, requests for multiple links should be examined
critically to ensure they are warranted.
Requests to delete links should be considered only in situations where:
- the nature of the site has changed
- there are significant technical problems with the site
- the site does not comply with our overall policy or objectives
- the site has ceased to exist
Someone's personal objection to a site is not sufficient reason to remove a
link to it.
WWW and Internet space are public domain and CCN (in common with
other Internet organizations) reserves for itself the right to select what
websites it chooses to link to, and in what context. [Policy
Note 4]
[Policy Note 1] Our policy is to provide
multiple links to an IP only where circumstances warrant. One might argue
that an IP belongs in many categories, and should be linked in all of them. To
avoid too much redundancy in our directory structure (some redundancy is
good), making it meaningless, we must carefully examine each request to
cross-link.
[Policy Note 2] We don't want to be pedants, but
on the other hand we must ensure that the standard of material on CCN
remains high. No one's material is perfect, but on the other hand, gross
errors that interfere with the site's correct usage or rendering must be
dealt with.
[Policy Note 3] In keeping with both the
community and non-commercial spirit of the CCN we should endeavor
to:
- Provide links to other significant community resources; and
- Not link sites whose sole raison d'etre is blatant selling
[Policy Note 4] The CCN Editor may choose
to editorialize, for instance:
- [14] Widgetworld International
- This is an important and interesting site on widgets, however, it
contains certain historical and factual inaccuracies.
If such editorial remarks come into dispute, in the interest of courtesy to our
fellow Internet organizations, we should strive for a wording that all can
agree on. If no agreement is possible, simply include the link with no
editorial comment.
You should ensure that any editorial comments are factual and would not
tend to bring the reputation of any other person into disrepute (which is
defamation).
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