Editorial Policy
North Saanich Online is published by and for North Saanich residents seeking to:
- preserve the ambience and lifestyle that makes North Saanich a preferred place to live
- foster a greater sense of community among residents
- protect and enhance our land and marine environment, and
- ensure that land and waterfront development is compatible with the physical nature, resources and limitations of the land base, and that growth is planned to ensure a high level of protection for the environment.
To achieve these goals, our editorial policy objectives are to:
- raise community awareness about local issues
- promote informed decision-making and political accountability
- engage in constructive debate on local problems, and
- encourage collaboration and the exchange of ideas to resolve problems.
Each edition of North Saanich Online features editorial comment on matters of local interest, with an opportunity for readers to respond by submitting their comments. North Saanich Online editorials reflect our opinion on topical issues. They are written to raise awareness and stimulate constructive debate. They evolve internally or by working with contributors on a topic of mutual interest. Where required to facilitate readers' understanding of an issue, our opinion pieces are supplemented with background material and analysis.
Readers are invited to respond to what we have to say, whether or not in agreement with our point of view (see Submission Guidelines). Through this exchange, we seek to inform a healthy and constructive debate on local issues, leading to better understanding and more collaborative decisions in the best interest of the whole community.
Our 'Have Your Say' pages are updated regularly to include new comments and facilitate ongoing discussion and information exchange. Comments submitted by our readers are the personal views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of North Saanich Online. We reserve the right not to publish a submission. We do not publish rants or personal attacks.
Readers may suggest topics of broad community interest for debate on our editorial pages. The decision to publish an editorial and invite comment on any topic is at the discretion of North Saanich Online.
Principles and Standards
North Saanich Online is staffed by volunteers. Within this context, we subscribe to the journalistic principles of accuracy, fairness, integrity, independence and accountability.
The members of our editorial team are not professionals but recognize that the success of North Saanich Online is dependent on an ability to comment fairly and report accurately on matters of local interest. Our editorial opinions may be critical, but always within the bounds of fair comment on matters of public interest. Our opinions are well-researched and our convictions honestly held. If we make an error of fact or omission, we will acknowledge it and immediately publish a correction.
We provide an immediate opportunity for our readers to comment, whether or not in agreement with our point of view, and to submit articles reflecting a different perspective, subject to the same tenets we aspire to.
Our Advisory Board is made up of respected members of the community not directly involved in the publication of the newsletter. The Board is called upon from time to time to advise the editorial team on issues relating to editorial principles and standards.
|
