Policies

Village Voice Content Policy

Last Updated: 31 July 2024

The Village Voice content policy guides decisions about the content published on villagevoice.com and our social media channels. This policy reflects our commitment to high editorial standards and compliance with Google’s Site Reputation Abuse Policy.

Target Audience

Village Voice’s target audience includes:

New Yorkers and visitors interested in in-depth newswriting, arts, culture, music, dance, film, theater reviews, and comprehensive entertainment listings.
Individuals seeking investigative journalism and coverage of New York’s vast cultural landscape.

How We Source Our Content

Our content is sourced from:

Credible and reputable journalists, writers, and contributors with expertise in relevant fields.
Federal, state, and local government agencies and organizations that align with our editorial mission.
Well-known industry or cultural associations and non-profit organizations that are reputable and align with our content standards.

To ensure accuracy and relevance, Village Voice works closely with these sources and often links to more detailed information on their websites.

How Village Voice Content is Written

To ensure our content is accessible and engaging:

We write in plain English.
We aim for a reading level that is understandable to a broad audience.
We use a friendly and informal tone, keeping it practical and relatable.
We follow web accessibility guidelines.
We use best practice content principles, including those from the AP Stylebook and other reputable sources.
We ensure all information is reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.

Information We Publish

What We Will Publish

Village Voice publishes content that helps our audience:

Explore arts and culture, music, dance, film, and theater topics in New York City.
Stay informed about local events, concerts, and nightlife.
Understand important news and investigative reports.
Access reviews and recommendations for dining, entertainment, and cultural experiences.

Content includes:

News articles and investigative reports.
Reviews of arts, culture, music, and entertainment.
Guides, lists, and practical information to help readers navigate New York City.
Links to other reputable websites and resources for more detailed advice and information.

What We Won’t Publish

Village Voice does not publish, share, or link to content that:

Is irrelevant to our target audience or does not align with our editorial mission.
Is commercial in nature without clear editorial value or relevance.
Contains spammy or manipulative content intended to deceive or mislead readers.

Where We Publish Content

Website

News Section: Current news, investigative reports, and timely updates.
Feature Sections: In-depth articles, reviews, guides, and lists.

Social Media

Extending our reach to the broader New York community.
Interacting with readers and fostering community engagement.
Sharing content that aligns with our editorial standards and values.

Social Media and Online Presence

Official Accounts

Management

Our social media accounts are managed by trained personnel who ensure every post, comment, and interaction reflects the values and voice of Village Voice.

Consistency: Regular and consistent posting to keep our audience engaged.
Professionalism: Maintaining a professional tone in all communications.
Monitoring: Regularly monitoring social media accounts to address issues promptly.

Engagement

Engaging with our audience in a timely and respectful manner is crucial for building and maintaining trust.

Timeliness: Responding to comments, messages, and mentions promptly.
Respect: Addressing the audience with respect, even when responding to criticism.
Interaction: Encouraging and participating in discussions, polls, and other interactive content.

Content Sharing

Policy

Sharing content online must align with our editorial standards to maintain credibility and consistency.

Alignment: Ensuring all shared content is relevant to our audience and aligns with our editorial standards.
Quality: Sharing only high-quality content that adds value to our readers.

Attribution

Properly attributing content ensures respect for original creators and maintains transparency.

Source Attribution: Crediting the original source of content.
Transparency: Clearly indicating when content is shared from other sources.

Corrections and Retractions

Correction Policy

Process

Establishing a clear process for correcting errors is vital for maintaining accuracy and trust.

Identification: Promptly identifying any factual errors in published content.
Review: Conducting a thorough review to verify mistakes and determine necessary corrections.
Implementation: Correcting errors in the original content and updating it accordingly.

Notification

Transparent communication of corrections maintains reader trust and accountability.

Visibility: Making corrections visible by including a correction note in the article.
Details: Providing details about the correction, including what was incorrect and what the accurate information is.

Retraction Policy

Guidelines

Clearly defined guidelines for retracting content help maintain editorial integrity.

Criteria: Establishing criteria for when a retraction is necessary.
Process: Following a standardized process for retracting content, including internal review and approval.

Communication

Clearly communicating retractions to the audience maintains transparency.

Notice: Publishing a retraction notice explaining why the content was retracted.
Accessibility: Ensuring the retraction notice is easily accessible to readers.

Legal Considerations

Copyright and Plagiarism

Originality

Ensuring all content is original or properly licensed protects intellectual property rights.

Creation: Encouraging the creation of original content.
Licensing: Properly licensing any third-party content used.

Plagiarism

Strictly prohibiting plagiarism maintains our integrity and respect for other creators.

Detection: Using plagiarism detection tools.
Discipline: Enforcing strict disciplinary measures for any instances of plagiarism.

Defamation and Libel

Avoidance

Avoiding defamatory or libelous content is essential for legal compliance and ethical journalism.

Review: Conducting thorough reviews to identify and avoid potentially defamatory statements.
Training: Providing training on defamation and libel.

Review

Conducting legal reviews of content when necessary to mitigate risks.

Consultation: Consulting with legal experts for high-risk content.
Approval: Requiring legal approval for high-risk content.

Privacy

Compliance

Complying with privacy laws and regulations ensures we respect individual rights.

Data Protection: Protecting the personal data of individuals mentioned in our content.
Consent: Obtaining consent when necessary, especially for sensitive information.

Training and Development

Staff Training

Education

Regular training ensures staff are knowledgeable about editorial standards and ethical journalism.

Workshops: Conducting workshops on key topics.
Resources: Providing access to resources on best practices.

Updates

Keeping staff updated on changes in guidelines and industry best practices.

Briefings: Holding regular briefings on updates.
Communication: Sharing updates through internal channels.

Contributor Onboarding

Guidelines

Training new contributors on the publication’s guidelines ensures consistency and quality.

Orientation: Providing comprehensive orientation on editorial standards and policies.
Manuals: Supplying detailed contributor manuals.

Support

Offering ongoing support to contributors ensures compliance and fosters a collaborative environment.

Mentorship: Assigning mentors to new contributors.
Feedback: Providing regular feedback to help improve and adhere to guidelines.

Feedback and Accountability

Reader Feedback

Mechanisms

Establishing mechanisms for readers to provide feedback fosters engagement and accountability.

Contact Information: Providing clear contact information for comments or concerns.

Response

Responding to reader feedback in a timely and respectful manner shows we value our audience’s input.

Acknowledgment: Promptly acknowledging receipt of feedback.
Action: Taking appropriate action based on feedback.

Accountability

Standards

Holding staff and contributors accountable for adhering to content guidelines ensures consistency and quality.

Performance Reviews: Conducting regular performance reviews.
Expectations: Clearly communicating expectations and standards.

Actions

Taking appropriate actions in cases of guideline breaches maintains the integrity of our publication.

Disciplinary Measures: Implementing disciplinary measures for violations.
Remediation: Providing opportunities for remediation and improvement.

Conclusion

By adhering to these guidelines, Village Voice aims to maintain high-quality content that is valuable to our readers. This document demonstrates our commitment to maintaining site integrity and search ranking compliance.