View source for SoylentNews Site Policy

Parent:[[SoylentNews|Useful_Links]]

== SoylentNews Policy - DRAFT ==

Notes - Usage of 'he, his' etc.  Any usage of the words he or his must be assumed to apply equally to members of either sex i.e. can be replaced with 'she, her' as appropriate.

=== Introduction ===

Welcome!

We incorporated SoylentNews PBC on July 4th 2014. It's run by the Board of Directors comprised of a few of our staff that handle all the legal and business items. The rest of the operation is completely in the hands of the community of volunteers and staff (of which you are now a part). Along with the benefits of an email address [any other benefits? (-[[User:Mrcoolbp|mrcoolbp]]) - no subscription fees - see below (-[[janrinok]])], comes the responsibility to uphold what this organization stands for.

=== SoylentNews Mission ===

We will be the best site for independent, not-for-profit journalism on the internet, where ideas can be presented and free discussion can take place without external needs overshadowing the community.

Except as required by law, no one will be banned or have their comments deleted due to stating a fact or opinion, no matter how unpopular or repugnant it is. We will not ban or silence a user for merely stating an opinion.

The right of our community to criticize, make suggestions, and help us improve our site will be respected. No staff or team leader will ever be above criticism.

We recognize that mistakes will be made, as we are all human. It is both the right and privilege of others to correct us when needed.

If serious errors are made, we promise to revert them and fix the problems.

=== Non-Discrimination Statement ===

SoylentNews shall not discriminate by gender, ability, religion, creed, race or belief; all are welcome to join the site and contribute either as members of the community or by serving as staff.

=== Staff ===

Lots of the work being done on SoylentNews is done by informal volunteers (story-submissions, suggestions, artwork, bug-hunting, etc.). Since you've been granted privileges on one or more of our systems, you are now considered part of the staff. In order to keep this project moving in the direction outlined in our [manifesto/vision], this document has been created to guide our actions.

== Organization ==

=== The Board ===

The [[SoylentNews_PBC_Board_of_Directors]] has the legal, financial and governance responsibility for the Corporation. 
With a goal of conducting meetings that are effective and efficient, meetings are run according to the guidelines stated in [[Board_Meetings_Rules_of_Order|Board Meetings - Rules of Order]].

=== Management Group ===

The day-to-day management of the site is conducted below Board level by the Management Group.

The staff comprises of various Teams, each with a specific function or range of functions.  Each Team is led by a Team Leader (TL) and, together, the TLs are known as the Management Group (MG). The MG has shared responsibility for the routine operation of the site and for providing guidance through each Team Leader to all
staff to ensure that they are contributing in a coordinated manner to the maintenance, support, and production of a high quality site.

Current TLs, and therefore the members of the MG, are shown in the wiki on page [[WhosWho]]

=== Team Leaders ===

TLs are in charge of guiding their teams.  Some responsibilities rest comfortably within a single team, but other responsibilities e.g. security, combating SPAM, rogue comments in discussions etc, require the cooperation and coordination of 2 or more teams.  TLs are responsible for deciding how the cooperation and coordination will take place, but the
actual execution can be carried out by team members i.e. this responsibility does not place an undue additional burden upon TLs but permits the task to be carried out between appropriate members of the staff.

=== Team Policy Documents ===

Each Team has its own Policy Document to provide guidance for the day-to-day running of that team.  The team documents can be found here:

* Editorial Team : [[Editorial_Policy]]

== Subscription Fees ==

=== Community Fees ===

The Board may choose to offer a subscription membership fee to some or all members of the SoylentNews community.  Nevertheless, non-payment of the subscription fee will not prevent access to the site; the intention is to enable the site to be viewed by as many people as possible and to encourage them to submit stories for publication and to comment on the stories that have already been accepted and released.

=== Waiving of Subscription Fees ===

Once an individual has served as a staff member for (immediately, x weeks, y months?) he is no longer required to pay subscription fees to enjoy all the privileges of site membership.  This privilege will remain for the period of their service on the staff, plus a discretionary extension of a maximum of 1 year from the individual leaving the staff. The actual duration will be decided by the MG.

Occasionally,  the MG might recommend to the Board that an individual be granted lifetime site membership in recognition of a significant period of service, or being a prominent figure from any relevant field of technology or related interests, or some other act deserving of special recognition.  The Board can accept or reject such recommendations as they deem fit.

== Site Control and Security ==

=== Access to Personal Data ===

No personal data held by the site will be shared, sold or otherwise distributed outside of the site with the exception of demands supported by the appropriate legal documentation served upon the Board.

Personal data shall be held by the site for the minimum time necessary, and efforts should be made to anonymize or encrypt such data wherever possible.

=== Abusive Behaviour ===

TODO - Down-modding, public request to desist, private (stronger) request to desist, banning(?)

=== Control of SPAM ===

TODO - Involves at minimum Editorial and System teams, and probably others too.

=== Control of Access and Password Policy ===

TODO - Authority to access (all, parts) of the site.  User passwords. Post-breach actions and analysis etc

=== Response to Denial Of Service (DOS) Attack ===

TODO - This might simply be "... is the responsibility of the Systems Team", or may be more detailed by listing actions to be taken by one or more teams.

== Miscellaneous Matters - (Temporary Title) ==

=== SoylentCode ===

The site is based on Slashcode (Version xyz) which is in the public domain.  Wherever possible, commensurate with maintaining site security, any new or updated code originated by SoylentNews will be kept in the public domain and made freely available for downloading by any individual.  Links will be maintained on the site to enable the repository of the code to be easily located.