TSSZ: Sensitive Materials Policy

Newsworthy but sensitive materials published on TSSZ News will automatically remain online for a pre-determined, finite period, if widespread efforts are underway to suppress the material at other news sources. The period will apply from the time of a story’s original publication. If, after such period has passed, the qualifications for retraction have not been fully met, the story will remain permanently published.

This rule will be in effect regardless of whether we receive a cease and desist on a story or not. The term “widespread” will be subject to the jurisdiction of the staff member who published the story.

The rule will apply to secondary and some primary source material sent into us via News Tips, anonymously or otherwise, or materials publicly found via secondary sources. So, if we are forwarded sensitive material first published elsewhere, we will publish it, but if successful efforts are underway to eradicate the story on the primary source or on other sites who picked it up, our story will be retracted after a certain period.

The rule will not apply to primary source material that results from independent research. This includes materials sent in via a news tip that is not publicly available anywhere else, or materials we independently check and research via our own sources. So, if we were given sensitive materials or details that haven’t already been made available through other channels, and it’s on the record, this rule would not take effect.

The rule will not apply if the materials were obtained from other readily available material. So, anything from an early upload of materials or details to poor coding on a website will not be subject to this rule.

The rule will not apply to fan projects, except specific instances where elements of a fan work may be considered original, and possibly protected by separate copyrights (for example, an original game engine). In those instances, we will not cite those specific, original works–though TSSZ News will still reference other materials not covered under this exception.
Comments Policy

Users of the discussion system on TSSZ, including unregistered users, are expected to shows both common sense and respect in their remarks. Debate is encouraged, and at times it will get heated. Still, inflammatory, unintelligible, trolling, or otherwise offensive comments are subject to editing or deletion. Excessive violation of this provision risks a ban from commenting. While the tolerance level for comments on TSSZ is fairly high, second chances after violations are rare.