Editorial Policies and Guidelines for Anahon Media Platform

Purpose

The purpose of these editorial policies and guidelines is to ensure the integrity, quality, and credibility of content created and published by Anahon Media Platform. These guidelines cover content creation, publication, correction procedures, and safety measures.

Positive / Solution Journalism Policy

Since AnaHon announced itself as an independent media platform, we also believe in the role of positive journalism. We focus on solution-based journalism, providing multiple approaches and perspectives to fully cover each story. We identify trending topics and ensure audience engagement through various content formats such as infographics, reels, short documentaries, interviews, and posts across our platforms: WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and our website. We also prioritize communication with our audience through comments, live chats, and platform-optimized content.

Responsibilities

Programs Director

Oversees all editorial activities and ensures alignment with the platform’s vision and mission. Chairs the weekly editorial meeting.

Production Manager

Manages day-to-day production activities and ensures content quality. Holds daily meetings with Project Officers, reporters, content creators, and podcasters.

Project Officers (per program)

Responsible for the content and operations of their specific program. Coordinates daily with reporters, content creators, and podcasters. Participates in weekly editorial and daily production meetings.

Reporters

Gather and report news and stories. Attend daily meetings with Project Officers and the Production Manager.

Content Creators

Develop multimedia content including articles, videos, and social media posts. Attend daily meetings with Project Officers and the Production Manager.

Podcasters

Produce and host podcast episodes. Attend daily meetings with Project Officers and the Production Manager.

Editorial Meetings

Weekly Editorial Meeting

Participants: Programs Director, Production Manager, Project Officers. Purpose: discuss strategy, upcoming projects, and content quality. Agenda: review past week’s content, plan upcoming projects, address editorial issues, align content with the platform’s mission.

Daily Production Meeting

Participants: Production Manager, Project Officers, Reporters, Content Creators, Podcasters. Purpose: coordinate tasks, address ongoing issues. Agenda: assign daily tasks, project updates, resolve production issues, share urgent news and changes.

Content Creation

Accuracy and Objectivity

Thorough research and fact-checking. Balanced and unbiased reporting. Verified, credible sources.

Relevance and Impact

Focus on cultural, social, economic, and political topics. Empower youth and community-led initiatives.

Ethical Standards

Avoid plagiarism and respect copyright laws. Disclose conflicts of interest.

Inclusivity

Represent diverse voices. Promote equity and avoid discrimination.

Ethical Handling of Live Content

Plan and review live sessions in advance. Avoid compromising safety, dignity, or privacy. Designate live moderators. End or pause broadcasts if necessary. Clearly mark live content.

Ethical Handling of Violent and Explicit Content

Use only when essential and in the public interest. Avoid sensationalism, respect victims. Include content warnings. Minimize harm with editing techniques. Require editorial oversight.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Clearly mark AI-generated visuals. Use AI for fact-checking and post-production. Final decisions made by human editors. Maintain transparency and editorial integrity.

Ethical Treatment of Children and Vulnerable People

Obtain informed consent. Respect privacy and anonymity. Avoid exploitation. Portray with empathy and care. Editorial review required.

Publication

Editorial Review

Content reviewed for accuracy and clarity. Ensure alignment with guidelines.

Approval Process

Requires sign-off from the Production Manager and Programs Director. Legal team review for sensitive stories.

Transparency

Maintain honesty and integrity. Protect source confidentiality. Disclose affiliations and sponsorships.

Reporting

Disclose location and travel arrangements. Maintain editorial independence.

Anonymity and Protection of Sources

Grant anonymity to protect at-risk sources. Approval by the senior editorial team. Secure internal documentation. Use clear indicators for the audience.

Moderation and Defamation Protection

Remove defamatory or harmful comments. Monitor interactions actively. Encourage respectful dialogue. Report serious violations to authorities.

Correction Procedures

Promptly correct factual or editorial errors. Accept correction requests via official channels. Assess claims and approve necessary corrections. Maintain an internal log of corrections. Ensure transparency and visibility of updates.

Safety Measures

Journalist safety: provide safety training and protocols. Digital security: implement strong cybersecurity practices. Anonymous reporting: enable secure, anonymous tip submissions. Staff support for sensitive content: provide emotional and psychological support, encourage internal reporting of distress, offer legal support for harassment cases, and provide preventive training and briefings.

Implementation and Training

Provide ongoing training on editorial and digital safety standards. Monitor guideline implementation. Regularly evaluate and update policies.

Handling UGC and Eyewitness Content

Verify all UGC before use. Ensure editorial review. Label clearly and obtain proper rights. Assign a dedicated team for management.

Content Types Distinction

News: factual, verified, balanced — labeled as “News”. Commercial: labeled as “Sponsored” or “Advertisement”, distinct from editorial content. Opinion: clearly marked, based on facts but includes personal views.

Conflicts of Interest

Business: ensure editorial independence from commercial influence, clearly label paid content, separate editorial and business teams, oversight by the Management Directory. Political: remain neutral and unbiased, disclose affiliations if needed, review sensitive content. Personal: disclose personal relationships that may affect content, apply additional oversight where needed, ensure transparency and accountability.

Correction of Inaccuracies

Prompt corrections, clearly indicated and logged, with the same visibility as the original content. Public correction requests are welcome.

Conclusion

These editorial guidelines uphold AnaHon Media Platform’s mission to deliver credible, ethical, and impactful journalism. Policies are regularly updated and shared with all team members.

Program Director: Saad Matar
Strategic Research Director: Khaled W. Sabbagh