National Sikh Organisation

Core Principle

• Respect and Dignity: All articles must uphold the dignity of every individual and community. Content that contains derogatory remarks, demeaning language, or hostile sentiments toward any community, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, or social group is strictly prohibited.
• Sikhi Foundation: Submissions must reflect or be consistent with the ethical and moral teachings of Sikhi: compassion, equality, service, truth, and humility.

Content Standards

• No Hate Speech or Incitement: Articles must not promote, justify, or normalize hatred, violence, discrimination, or exclusion. Critique of ideas, policies, or institutions is permitted only when expressed respectfully and without targeting protected groups.
• No Defamation: Avoid unverified allegations or statements that could harm an individual’s or organisation’s reputation. Allegations must be supported by credible evidence and clearly framed as claims when not proven.
• Civility and Tone: Maintain a constructive, measured tone. Avoid sensationalism, inflammatory language, or personal attacks. Use language that invites dialogue and understanding.

Accuracy, Sourcing, and Originality

• Fact-Checking: All factual claims must be verifiable. Cite reputable sources for statistics, legal references, historical facts, and direct quotations.
• Attribution: Provide clear attribution for ideas, quotes, images, and data that are not original. Use inline citations or a short reference list at the end of the article.
• Original Work: Submissions must be original and not previously published elsewhere. Plagiarism is prohibited; any text copied from other sources must be quoted and attributed.

Editorial Scope, Structure, and Legal Compliance

• Relevance: Articles should address issues relevant to the Sikh diaspora, explain Sikhi principles, or offer informed opinion grounded in evidence and ethical reasoning.
• Clarity and Length: Aim for clear, well-structured writing. Typical articles should be between 700–1,500 words unless otherwise agreed with editors. Use headings, short paragraphs, and subheadings for readability.
• Balanced Perspective: Where appropriate, present multiple viewpoints and acknowledge complexity. Distinguish clearly between fact, analysis, and opinion.
• Legal and Safety Compliance: Submissions must comply with applicable laws, including defamation, privacy, and copyright. Do not publish private personal data without explicit consent. Do not publish content that could reasonably lead to harm, harassment, or endangerment.

Submission Process and Editorial Rights

• Submission Requirements: Include author name, brief bio (50–75 words), contact details, and a short summary (2–3 lines) of the article’s purpose. Attach source links and permissions for any third‑party material.
• Editorial Review: All submissions undergo editorial review for compliance with these guidelines. Editors reserve the right to edit for clarity, length, tone, and legal safety. Substantial edits will be shared with the author for approval when feasible.
• Rejection and Appeal: Articles that violate these guidelines will be rejected. Authors may request a written explanation and may submit a revised version addressing the concerns.
• Conflict of Interest: Disclose any financial, organizational, or personal interests relevant to the article’s subject matter.

Opinion Pieces: Disclaimer Requirement

• • Mandatory Disclaimer: All opinion pieces must include a clear disclaimer placed immediately below the headline and author byline in bold or italic so it is visible to readers before they begin the article. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of their opinions and any claims made; editors may request revisions to ensure legal safety and alignment with NSO values.