Contributor Policy & Editorial Guidelines

Here’s a professional, Google News–friendly Contributor Policy you can publish on your site ( Plimoth Today ) and also use internally.

? Plimoth Today Contributor Policy & Editorial Guidelines

About Plimoth Today

Plimoth Today is a local news platform covering stories across Plymouth County, with a focus on accurate, timely, and community-driven reporting. We welcome contributions from local writers, photographers, and community members.

? Contributor Roles

Contributors may include:

• Community reporters
• Freelance journalists
• Local residents submitting tips or stories
• Photographers and media contributors

All contributors must follow the editorial standards outlined below.

⏳ Submission & Approval Policy (IMPORTANT)

• ALL contributor posts are set to “Pending Review” by default
• No contributor content is published automatically
• Every submission is reviewed by the Plimoth Today Editorial Team before going live
• Editors may:
  • Approve
  • Edit for clarity, grammar, or accuracy
  • Request revisions
  • Reject content that does not meet guidelines

? This ensures accuracy, trust, and compliance with Google News standards

? Content Standards

All submissions must:

• Be factually accurate and verifiable
• Be original content (no plagiarism or AI spam)
• Include clear sources when reporting news
• Be written in a neutral, non-biased tone
• Avoid misinformation, rumors, or unverified claims

Prohibited Content:

• False or misleading information
• Hate speech or harassment
• Explicit or inappropriate material
• Promotional spam or affiliate content disguised as news
• Copyrighted material without permission

? Local Focus Requirement

Content should be relevant to:

• Plymouth County
• Surrounding South Shore communities
• Regional public safety, events, weather, and local government

✍️ Writing Guidelines

• Use clear headlines (no clickbait)
• Include a dateline (e.g., “PLYMOUTH, Mass.”)
• Keep paragraphs short and readable
• Use proper grammar and spelling
• Add context so readers understand the story

? Media & Images

• Only upload images you own or have permission to use
• No copyrighted images without rights
• Graphic or sensitive images may be rejected
• Editors may replace images to meet publishing standards

⚖️ Ethics & Transparency

Contributors must:

• Disclose conflicts of interest
• Not impersonate officials or organizations
• Clearly separate opinion from factual reporting

?️ Editorial Rights

The Plimoth Today Editorial Team reserves the right to:

• Edit submissions for SEO, clarity, and accuracy
• Add headlines, tags, and formatting
• Remove or update published content
• Suspend or remove contributor access if guidelines are violated

? Violations & Enforcement

Failure to follow this policy may result in:

• Content rejection
• Account suspension
• Permanent removal from the platform

? Contact & Submissions

For questions, corrections, or to become a contributor:

• Contact: plimoth@mkmcst.net
• Website: https://mkmcst.net/Plimoth/]

✅ Agreement

By submitting content to Plimoth Today , contributors agree to follow all policies outlined above and understand that publication is not guaranteed