POLICIES

The text below is a draft only and work-in-progress  and must not be used out of context!

TASNETWORK43 it is proposed will be dedicated to independent, critical debate and commentaries regarding matters pertaining to the TAMAR/ESK REGION – local politics, media, business, culture, the arts, gardening, fishing, history and anything relevant to the Tamar/Esk Region generally. In order to be 21st C relevant TASNETWORK43  would welcome readers participation in the broad spectrum of discussion, and TASNETWORK43 will be asking  its readers to help in all this by keeping their conversation useful, interesting and welcoming. After all is said and done TASNETWORK43 will promoting its readers as 'Citizen Journalists' and especially so when writing 'Letters to the Editor'.

TASNETWORK43 will aim to publish all material submitted and without editing in the digital formats. However TASNETWORK43  will be asking  readers to assist by following the publication's guidelines.

By necessity while getting up and running TASNETWORK43  will be running on the smell of an oily rag and the  support of the volunteers TASNETWORK43 hopes to enlist. The workload in moderating comments is likely to be onerous. 

Complying with the 'code of conduct' is the way that readers/contribiutors can make sure that TASNETWORK43 gets the information out in a timely way. Plus, it allows more time to adding new editorial content.

Some rules under consideration

1. Context is important: a polite, constructive, engaging and respectful  attitude helps facilitate better understandings.  It also ensures that a  reader might  continue on to read comments and thus get the point across.
2.  Civility promotes debate: So, ‘play the ball not the person’ and stay relevant. A thread that is nothing more than sparring session will lose readers quicker than anything. Presumably you want your comment to be read and understood. Sticking to the topic always helps. Overly aggressive language, swearing and sexist comments will not be welcomed anymore than bullying which will not be tolerated. All threats of legal action, the advocation property damage or the promotion of violence will be edited out.
3. Clarification & links: Writers will be asked to provide links to source material, definitions and complementary texts. If additional information will help to inform other readers it should be provided – ideally via a hyperlink. Alternatively, if you are not sure about a point, just ask the question and seek the clarifying information.
4. Pseudonyms: It will be preferred if  readers comment and/or contribute under their own real name. Pseudonyms may accepted in good-faith if contributors prefer to use a pen name and they openly disclose that they're doing so. Yes, it is impossible to prevent people registering under what appear to be real names using valid email addresses but if this is detected appropriate action will be taken. However, if  a contributor works for a private company, government agency or political party and they post comments promoting their employers’ policies, etc. they  should disclose who they work for. When and where people are using anonymity to promote an employers’ views, policies, whatever and  without disclosure, comments and/or  contributions will be deleted.
5. Mono personas: It is often obvious to readers that one person is creating multiple personas to submit comments. When detected this kind of 'identity charade' will  not be tolerated and all material related to it will be deleted and or exposed.

Style and points of etiquette to be considered

1. Lower case letters indicate quieter demeanour; upper case words are the equivalent of shouting. Tasmanian Times simply doesn’t have time to retype comments or parts of comments which include capitals. Sorry, but comments which include sentences in capitals will be deleted.
2. Spelling is often a contentious issue but it is recommended that the spellchecker in your browser is used prior to submitting a comment or article. To save time and money spelling will not be checked by editors and if it is important to you that your contribution does not draw negative comment spend the time to see that your grammar and spelling is as you'd wish it to be presented. Similarly, vernacular language will not be 'corrected'. 

Legal considerations

Under Australian law, companies which employ more than 10 people can’t sue for defamation. Nonetheless, smaller companies and individuals can. Without going into the complexities of defamation law, key elements of a defence relate to truth and public interest.

Some basic rules to follow to avoid funding a law practice:

• Avoid playing the individual. Any terms that could be construed as diminishing the personal or professional standing of an individual could be defamatory. Therefore, avoid describing people as liars, engaging in lying or being corrupt.

• Even if you don’t mention someone by name, it may be possible that individuals could reasonably be identified by the public. For example, a statement that “all the members of Company XYZ are corrupt” would be defamatory of all the members of the group even if it had been proven that one of the members of the group had been convicted of corruption. 

• If you are angry when you are writing something, set it aside, give it time and then see if you are expressing yourself succinctly, unambiguously and straightforwardly.

General prohibitions

Readers and/or contributrs must not up-load, post, transmit or otherwise make available through this site any material which:

• violates or infringes the rights of others (including their privacy and publicity rights).
• is unlawful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, invasive of privacy, vulgar, obscene, profane or which may harass or cause distress or inconvenience to, or incite hatred of, any person.
• encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offence, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any law.
• restricts or inhibits any other user from using or enjoying this site.
• affects the functionality or operation of this site or its servers or the functionality or operation of any users’ computer systems (for example, by transmitting a computer virus or other harmful component, whether or not knowingly).
• breaches any standards, content requirements or codes promulgated by any relevant authority, including authorities which require us to take remedial action under any applicable industry code.

NB: Ownership

It is proposed that this 'publication/series of publications' be owned by a Cooperative yet to be formed. Interim contact details are: Email: LAUNCESTONprojects@bigpond.com