NOTE: The term “you”, “your”, “yourself”, “we”, and “us” used in this POLICY refers to any person, publisher, staff, content creator, influencer associated with GAMELANCE™.
At GAMELANCE™ as an online content creator – whether it is as a blogger, video blogger, podcaster, micro blogger, or a general social media participant. You are an important part of the wider public knowledge creation and discussion. This role carries with it a responsibility to be fair, honest, and respectful, not only towards your fellow members of society but also towards fact. The content you create today will more than likely outlast both the content’s relevance and your own lifetime and its vital importance, i.e. be a truthful representation of the topic at hand not only for those who may access it today but also for those who might stumble upon it in the future as well.
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PUBLISHERS, INFLUENCERS AND CONTENT CREATORS
1. IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO VOICE YOUR OPINION
Freedom of speech, information, publication and expression are basic elements of democracy. As a content creator, it is your obligation to use and protect these rights at all times.
2. BE CRITICAL OF EVERYTHING, EVEN YOURSELF
As a content creator, you are a part of the creation of free knowledge and discussion. You are obligated to shed critical light on what goes on in society as well as how content creators, including yourself, are presenting these events.
3. USE YOUR POWER TO PROTECT
As a content creator, you can shine a light on injustices and neglect perpetrated on individuals and groups. Use this power wisely.
4. TELL THE TRUTH AT ALL TIMES
With great power comes great responsibility (Uncle Ben – Spiderman By the great Stan Lee). Words and images are powerful weapons’ that should be used with the utmost care. When you publish any content, always present the fact as they are even if you disagree with them.
5. PRESENT YOUR OPINION AS YOUR OPINION ONLY
Your opinion and interpretation of events is important and should be shared but must never be confused with hard facts or data. When voicing your own or someone else’s opinion or interpretation, always state it as such. Never present an opinion, interpretation or conjecture as a fact.
6. STATE YOUR ALLEGIANCES TO STAY INDEPENDENT
To preserve your own trustworthiness and integrity as a content creator, always state any relation i.e financial, personal, political or otherwise to the subject or topic you are presenting. Bias, even if it is only perceived as such, immediately discredits your account unless you warn of it first. In simple terms, if you have a political affiliation that colors your judgement, say so; If you are employed by or received money from the subject you are covering, say so; if you were given gifts or received preferential treatment in return for a positive review or commentary, say so. By stating these facts alone, your opinions gains informational value that may have been lost in suspicion of bias.
7. REVEAL YOUR SOURCES UNLESS DOING SO CAN HARM YOUR SOURCES
Always reveal your sources to ensure transparency unless doing so may put the sources in harms way. In ensuring transparency you can lend credibility to your content as well as provide others to further pursue the facts of the matter.
8. BE CRITICAL OF YOUR SOURCES AND SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION
Even if you are ethical and unbiased, there is no guarantee that your sources are too. Before presenting any information as fact, always check your sources credibility and seek independent verification of these facts. If none can be found state so clearly.
9. ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE
Always give proper attribution when quoting or paraphrasing and basing your content on the work of others. In other words, present quotes as quotes, link to original articles, give photo and illustration credit to the original source or creator.
10. ALWAYS PRESERVE THE INTENDED MEANING
When quoting and paraphrasing a statement, always make sure that the intended meaning of the message is passed on. Never edit or change a statement in such a way that the intended meaning is changed.
11. GIVE YOUR OPPONENT A CHANCE TO RESPOND
The very purpose of an open discussion is to give the other side an opportunity to voice their opinion. Always provide a leeway to the other side to present an opposing or different opinions.
12. ADMIT AND CORRECT YOUR MISTAKES IMMEDIATELY
When an inaccuracy or error in your content is discovered by you or someone else, correct it immediately and announce that you have done so to ensure that those who base their opinions and other content creation on the incorrect information have a chance to make corrections as well. It is your duty to uphold the truth and present fact even if that means admitting that you were wrong.