Editorial Guidelines Print Media

Youth OUTLOUD! is committed to delivering the highest editorial and ethical standards in the provision of its programs and services both in the United States and around the world. Youth OUTLOUD! strives to be the primary source of youth expression for the mainstream press throughout the world.

We seek to balance our rights to freedom of expression and information with our responsibilities, for example, to respect privacy and protect children.

Youth OUTLOUD! Editorial Guidelines are a statement of the values and standards we have set for ourselves over the years. They also codify the good practice we expect from the creators and makers of all Youth OUTLOUD! content, whether it is made by Youth OUTLOUD! itself, or by an independent author, editor or producer or company working for Youth OUTLOUD! and whether it is made for:

• radio
• television
• online
• mobile devices
• interactive services
• the printed word

As different technologies evolve, these guidelines apply to our content whoever produces it and however it is received.

The values and standards outlined in these guidelines should be observed regardless of location. Much of Youth OUTLOUD!'s output is now available globally. Content producers working on productions for the United States should bear in mind that material they produce may be broadcast back to the country concerned.

Any proposal to step outside these guidelines must be discussed with Controller Editorial Policy, the Editor-In-Chief.

Submissions

Youth OUTLOUD! seeks the highest possible standards of youth media found anywhere in the world. All stories must be accurate and delivered in a compelling, story-telling format.

All stories must reflect the viewpoints of youth (ages 13 – 25). Preference will be made to stories authored by youth, and told in first-person. These personal accounts can be edited by an adult to insure accuracy and adherence to the editorial guidelines.

Youth OUTLOUD! has several “product offerings” and encourages submissions according to these product offerings: Current Events. Feature Stories. Postcards. Snapshots.

Stories containing a variety of viewpoints from youth around one topic are encouraged. 

All sources must be revealed to the editor of Youth OUTLOUD!, though they may not be revealed in the story.

Youth OUTLOUD! aims to reflect the world as it is, including all aspects of the human experience and the realities of the natural world. But we balance our right to broadcast and publish innovative and challenging content with our responsibility to protect the vulnerable.

Youth OUTLOUD! encourages and supports the telling of stories from all people, from every country in the world.

Youth OUTLOUD! does NOT ACCEPT press releases or advertising. An “In the Field” member is encouraged to submit timely, relevant stories from the perspective of a youth if interested in telling the story about their programs, issues,  etc.

Youth OUTLOUD! does NOT ACCEPT fiction.

Style

• Length for feature articles should be approximately one (1) to three (3) double-spaced typed pages (500- 1000 words)
• Include a title and subheads
• Write in the third person, not first or second (no I, you, or we, except in quotes) unless the story is a personal account.
• Avoid the passive tense
• Use clear, straightforward English
• Spell out acronyms or abbreviations the first time you use them
• Include all titles of standards, in addition to standard designations
• Define all jargon
• Double space copy
• Single space between sentences
• Pull out items of interest in sidebar material
• Articles must not appear to promote the products or services of authors who represent vendors of said products
• Every effort must be made to assure that news content is accurate, free from bias and in context, and that all sides are presented fairly
• Editorials, analytical articles and commentary will be held to the same standards of accuracy with respect to facts as news reports
• All bylined submissions should be accompanied by a author's biography of no more than 75 words
• Include charts, graphs, diagrams, photographs, illustrations, cartoons, etc. to break up text
• Suggested captions and credits should accompany suggested artwork
• A permission statement for use must accompany original photographs or illustrations

Quotations and References
Readers should be able to assume that every word between quotation marks is what the speaker or writer said. YOUTH OUTLOUD! will correct spelling, capitalization and grammar errors within a quotation and will provide definitions for abbreviations and initializations. If a subject's grammar or taste is unsuitable, quotation marks should be removed and the awkward passage paraphrased. Unless the writer has detailed notes or a recording, it is usually wise to paraphrase long comments, since they may turn up worded differently on television or in other publications. Attribution Facts gathered by any other organization must be attributed to that organization. Credit shall be given to the source of any material referenced by an author, including any material from newspapers, magazines, books and broadcasts, as well as news agencies.

Fact-Checking
Writers submitting work to YOUTH OUTLOUD! are accountable in the first instance for their own accuracy and may, in some cases, be solely responsible for fact-checking. Writers are responsible for verification of all facts prior to filing their story with YOUTH OUTLOUD!, unless deadlines prevent completion of the fact-checking by the article's due date. In these cases, authors are responsible for identifying for YOUTH OUTLOUD!'s communication staff that fact-checking is required prior to publication.

Stories submitted for publication by YOUTH OUTLOUD! must include a complete contact list for the fact-checker, specifying the names, titles, locations and telephone numbers of everyone quoted or cited in the article. Sources must be identified fully, including their credentials, titles or reasons they are qualified to comment, and provide full references for any publications used as sources. Any special instructions to the fact-checker must be identified at this time.

Research materials (e.g., publications, news clips, specialized journals, etc.) used in the creation of the manuscript should be identified (include date and name of publication) and keyed to the respective section of the article. These files may be required by YOUTH OUTLOUD! during the fact-checking process, though they can be returned to the author after fact-checking is complete.