How to Participate

Essays

Feedback

Guidelines for submitting essays

Topic: Manuscripts should be brief ethical analyses of cases that have practical relevance to journalists. Submissions can analyze a trend, event or issue in print, broadcast or online journalism. The submission should raise serious ethical questions that will stimulate discussion on the Web site. The case is a starting-point for discussion. The author should outline the facts of the case, the issues raised and briefly indicate their position on the ethical issue in question. Possible topics include the use of confidential sources, free press cases, issues of privacy and so on.

Style and Format: The manuscript should be no more than 1,000 words, or about the length of two computer screens. The text should be written in a clear and accessible style, free of unnecessary jargon. The submission should contain suggestions for (Web) links to additional material, such links to original documents and organizations.

The submission should be double-spaced on Microsoft Word or similar word-processing software. Successful submissions will receive $150 U.S. upon acceptance. Authors of successful submissions will be asked to submit a photo of themselves.

Submission: It is preferred that the document be sent as an e-mail attachment to the editor or the publisher. Authors are encouraged to contact either the editor or the publisher in advance of writing a submission.

Evaluation of submissions

Peer-review: All manuscripts will be peer-reviewed by at least two people: one external referee and either the publisher or the editor of Global Journalism Ethics, or both. The author of a submission may be asked to make changes to the manuscript.

Evaluation: Evaluation of submission will be based on a number of criteria, including (a) the relevance to journalists and journalism ethics (b) the quality of writing and analysis and (c) the potential to stimulate discussion. The submission should not have been published previously.

External referees will be senior ethics professors and/or senior journalists. Referees will not know the identity of the author. Referees recommend or not recommend the posting of a manuscript, or recommend acceptance on condition that certain changes are made. The identity of the referees will remain confidential. In case of disagreement, the publisher is the final arbiter of what manuscripts are accepted.

How to Submit Feedback

We want your views about these issues. Please send your responses as an e-mail to the editor, Stephen Ward, at sjward@interchange.ubc.ca.

Responses will be edited for libel (U.S. legal standards), length and taste. We will show you the edited version before posting it on the Web site under the original article. Please write no longer than the original essay to which you are responding. We will also post responses to other letter writers. You are welcome to agree or disagree. We want to hear from you and we will share your views with others.