I’ve been asked by someone creating a new website to give some advice on what legal and other text they should have on the site. Imprint – obviously. Reference to data protection and, it being a Lib Dem site, being covered by the party’s data protection registration for petition data and so on. Also a good idea to write down the moderation policy (note to self: remember to add one to my own blog).
But exactly what words to use for the moderation policy? And what else to say? Perhaps in the interests of financial transparency any affiliate links (e.g. to Amazon) and the arrangements behind any advertising (e.g. Google adverts) should be declared? Links too to any relevant online register of interests for elected public officials? Anything else?
I’ll come up with some words next week hopefully, and I’m happy to share them with as a template for use on other sites too. On issues such as whether or not to allow anonymous comments, there are respectable cases to be made either way, so I’d rather include options for people to choose between. So over to you. What would you cover? What words would you use?
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2 Comments
A biog of the person/people operating the site is surely important too.
During my spat with Jonathan Sheppard a couple of weeks ago about Scrap EDMs (http://www.scrapedms.com/) I was amazed that he seemed to think that anyone visiting the site would be immersed enough in the Tory blogosphere to know he was behind it (he did quietly add an “about” page a couple of days later though). You simply can’t afford to make such assumptions.
I like the moderation policy on crikey.com.au (the Aussie equivalent of Private Eye). Here it is:
DON’T BE A DICKHEAD
No flamewars
No abuse
Dont be a smart arse to people asking honest questions
Political discussion will always stir passions – so put downs are fine, as long as they’re witty or good natured
When you slap – do it with a smile.
No debate will be entered into over moderation, any debate about moderation will itself be moderated. Abide by these simple things and all will be good in the world.