Inside Voices Collective (IVC) is a publication. Our responsibility is to publish work that is accurate, fair, and responsibly sourced. We operate with limited legal resources and a strong commitment to clarity and transparency. These standards explain how we make decisions and why.
Identity & Attribution Standards
All contributors must publish under their real legal names. We do not publish work under pseudonyms.
Why: Credibility is foundational to this publication. Readers must be able to understand who is speaking and evaluate their perspective accordingly. Publishing under real names protects the integrity of the platform and reinforces accountability.
If publishing under your legal name would create immediate, serious safety risks, the appropriate decision may be not to publish at this time.
Anonymous Sources (Rare and Case-by-Case)
We do not routinely publish anonymous sources.
Anonymous sourcing may be considered only if:
- The information is materially important.
- The source faces credible risk of retaliation or harm.
- The information cannot reasonably be obtained on the record.
If anonymous sourcing is requested:
- The contributor must have a direct call with an IVC editor.
- The editor must understand the source’s identity.
- The specific reason for anonymity must be documented internally.
- The published piece must clearly inform readers why the source is anonymous.
Example language might include:
“The source requested anonymity due to credible fear of professional retaliation.”
We will not publish anonymous allegations without strong corroboration.
Why: Anonymous sourcing increases legal and credibility risk. When used, it must increase clarity — not decrease it.
What We Publish
We publish:
- Articles
- Audio
- Video
Within these formats, we accept:
- Personal narratives
- Current events analysis
- Highly sourced opinion pieces
- Hard news journalism
Each must meet our documentation and clarity standards.
Proof Standards & Thresholds
The seriousness of a claim determines the level of support required.
Personal Experience (Lower Threshold)
Claims clearly framed as first-person experience require:
- Clear attribution (“I experienced…”)
- Reasonable specificity
- No presentation of personal interpretation as verified fact
Institutional or Behavioral Claims (Moderate Threshold)
Claims about policies, practices, or leadership roles require at least one of:
- Public documentation
- Archived materials
- Contemporaneous records
- Corroboration from additional identifiable individuals
Allegations About Identifiable Individuals (High Threshold)
If a piece names individuals and alleges misconduct, we will require:
- Multiple forms of support (documents, corroboration, records)
- Careful language distinguishing allegation from proven fact
- In some cases, documented effort to seek response
We may decline to publish if the proof threshold is not met.
Criminal Allegations (Highest Threshold)
Criminal claims must meet an extremely high standard.
Generally, we will only consider publication when supported by:
- Court filings
- Police reports
- Sworn testimony
- Official investigations
- Or multiple corroborated accounts with documentation
If the claim cannot meet this threshold, we may:
- Reframe it as a personal experience narrative
- Remove specific criminal language
- Or decline publication
What We Do Not Publish
- Poetry
- Fiction
- Highly accusatory investigative pieces beyond our legal capacity
- Redundant pieces
Redundancy Policy
We may publish multiple pieces about the same group, issue, or concept.
However, we may decline or delay publication if:
- A similar piece was recently published,
- The new submission does not add substantially new reporting, documentation, or perspective,
- Publishing too closely together would dilute clarity or overwhelm readers.
Decisions about timing and editorial spacing are at the editor’s discretion.
Why: Editorial pacing helps maintain clarity, fairness, and reader engagement. We prioritize meaningful contribution over volume.
Editorial Control
Editors at Inside Voices Collective retain full discretion over:
- What is accepted or declined
- How a piece is edited
- Whether additional documentation is required
- When a piece is published
- Whether a piece is paused or removed
We may decline any submission at any stage.
Why: Consistency and credibility depend on centralized editorial judgment. Open pitches do not guarantee publication.
Safety & Risk
We take risks seriously, but publication always carries potential consequences.
We may recommend:
- Removing certain details
- Adjusting language to reflect evidentiary limits
- Narrowing the scope of claims
- Delaying publication
We will not lower proof standards to accelerate publication.
Corrections
If we make an error, we will correct it.
Corrections may include:
- Removal in rare circumstances
- Updated text
- Editor’s note
- Clarification of sourcing
The Inside Voices Collective – Journalism Ethical Guidelines
The Inside Voices Collective is built on trust, respect, and curiosity. We are a learning and storytelling space for people who have left insular religious groups, and with that comes a responsibility to treat one another — and our stories — with care.
Journalistic Guidelines
The Inside Voices Collective follows the Society of Professional Journalists’ (SPJ) Code of Ethics. All participants are expected to uphold these standards in their work. You can read the full SPJ Code of Ethics here.
Additionally:
1. Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism: Plagiarism — using someone else’s words, ideas, or structure without credit — breaks the trust that journalism depends on. Always cite, link, or acknowledge your sources. If you’re unsure, ask your editor before submitting.
2. No Fabrication, Ever: Every quote, event, and fact must be real and verifiable. Making up details, composite sources, or invented dialogue destroys credibility — not just yours, but the entire collective’s.
3. Deadlines and Accountability: Meeting deadlines teaches discipline and respect for your collaborators. If you anticipate delays, communicate days in advance, not hours. Journalism relies on reliability.
4. Treating Sources with Respect: Our sources — especially those from closed or high-control communities — deserve empathy and accuracy. Never manipulate or pressure a source for a quote or confession. Their story is a gift, not a transaction.
5. Anonymous Sources Are Never Anonymous to Your Editor: Editors must know who your sources are to verify credibility and ensure safety. Confidentiality will always be respected, but transparency within the editorial process is essential.
6. AI Use and Critical Thinking: We strongly discourage the use of generative AI for writing or editing. Journalism is about thinking deeply, not outsourcing thought. If you choose to use AI, it must be undetectable and your final work must fully represent your own thinking and voice. If it “sounds like AI,” it’s not publishable.
These guidelines are not about perfection. Our goal is to help you tell stories that are honest, humane, and rooted in truth. Mistakes will happen, but accountability, communication, and respect are non-negotiable.