Content Guidelines 

Contributor Ownership

Contributors to The Grad Media, including writers, photographers, and artists, retain full ownership of their respective intellectual property rights to their work. By submitting content to The Grad Media, contributors grant The Grad Media a non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and display their work on its website and associated platforms.

Limited Rights

The Grad Media has no claim of ownership over content published by writers on its platform, and is not entitled to any revenue generated from the platform. Contributors retain full copyright and control over how their work is distributed beyond The Grad Media.

Content Standards

All published content must adhere to respectful language, particularly concerning the university, its learning environment, and community values. Content that promotes hate speech, discrimination, or violence is strictly prohibited.

Right of Reply

If an individual or entity mentioned in an article believes their perspective has been misrepresented or omitted, they may submit a formal request to exercise their right to reply within ten business days of publication. When an article directly targets an individual or group, or any institution itself, the writer should take full responsibility for informing them, ensuring they are aware and granted the opportunity to exercise their right to reply. This policy reflects our commitment to transparency and fairness.

Conditions for Reply Publication

• Relevance: The reply must directly address the content of the original article.
• Clarity: Replies must be concise, unambiguous, and no longer than 600 words.
• Timeliness: Replies must be submitted in writing within five business days of the offer being extended.
• Factual Basis: Replies must be factual, directly addressing specific claims or points made in the original article.
• Respect: Replies must comply with The Grad Media’s editorial guidelines, upholding standards of accuracy, relevance, and respectful language. The following will not be accepted in a reply:
  • Unsubstantiated Claims: Statements lacking clear, credible, and verifiable evidence.
  • Indirect or Implicit Accusations: Language implying wrongdoing, unethical behavior, or misconduct without explicit substantiation.
  • Misrepresentation or Distortion: Attempts to alter the original article’s meaning, context, or intent in a misleading manner.
  • Defamatory or Inflammatory Language: Content attacking the character of the contributor or The Grad Media staff, including baseless accusations or language intended to provoke hostility.

Editorial Review Process

Replies will be reviewed by The Grad Media’s editorial board to ensure adherence to the above policies. Replies that fail to meet these standards will not be published. 

Publication Details

Approved replies will be published under a clear title indicating authorship by the submitting party (e.g., “Statement by Organization x”) and will appear alongside the article in question. Replies will not be edited or altered by The Grad Media, ensuring that the original statement is preserved.

Monetization and Revenue Rights

Contributor Rights to Revenue

Contributors maintain full rights to any (if at all) revenue generated from their work published on other platforms outside The Grad Media. The Grad Media does not claim any share of this income.

Platform Revenue

Any revenue generated by The Grad Media through advertising, sponsorship, or other means remains solely under the platform’s control. Revenue is allocated to support the platform’s operational costs, growth, and, if applicable, payment for the contributors upon discussion with the editorial board.

Third-Party Collaborations

Collaborative Content

If The Grad Media engages in collaborative projects with external organizations or stakeholders, intellectual property rights will be addressed through separate agreements with each collaborator. Such collaborations will not grant the university any rights to the intellectual property created as part of these projects.
Sponsored Content

Sponsored or co-branded content must be clearly labeled as such in a prominent position at the beginning of the article. Sponsored content does not imply university ownership or endorsement unless specified otherwise.

Contributor Responsibilities

Respect for Third-Party Rights: Contributors must ensure that their work does not infringe on third-party intellectual property rights. Contributors agree to verify permissions for any third-party materials (e.g., images, text) included in their submissions, where applicable.
Representation and Accuracy: Contributors are responsible for ensuring that their work represents facts accurately and respects the community standards established by The Grad Media. Any work found to violate these principles may be subject to editorial review and possible rejection or removal.

Code of Conduct

The Grad Media adheres to principles of integrity, respect, and responsibility. All contributors and community members are expected to:

• Maintain honesty and integrity in all submissions, avoiding plagiarism and misrepresentation.
• Foster respectful dialogue, treating fellow contributors and readers with courtesy, and avoiding discriminatory language or behavior.

Uphold confidentiality and ethical standards in reporting and content creation, following guidelines set forth in the SPJ Code of Ethics (SPJ Code of Ethics – Society of Professional Journalists) for accuracy, independence, accountability, and transparency​.

Comment Policy

The Grad Media welcomes thoughtful, constructive comments that foster respectful and meaningful discussions about the news. Our goal is to create a space for intelligent exchanges that promote constructive conversations. To achieve this, all comments are reviewed before they are posted, and those that violate our policy outlined below will not be posted, or will be subject to removal.

Users can flag specific comments for review by emailing us at thegradmedia@gmail.com.

Comments will either be accepted or removed based on the criteria below. We strive to be fair and consistent in our moderation, but all decisions are made on a case-by-case basis by our editorial team.

Comments will remain as long as they adhere to these guidelines and contribute constructively. All moderation decisions will be documented to ensure transparency and consistency.