Editorial Policies
ASCOOP Editorial Policies
Last updated: August 2026
ASCOOP is the official student publication of Alangalang Agro-Industrial School. It is committed to responsible campus journalism, factual reporting, creative expression, and meaningful storytelling. These policies apply to all articles, photographs, illustrations, videos, opinion pieces, and other materials published by ASCOOP.
1. Accuracy and Verification
ASCOOP strives to publish complete and accurate information. Writers and editors must verify names, dates, quotations, statistics, titles, and other important details before publication.
Information gathered from interviews, documents, official announcements, and online sources must be checked whenever possible. Rumors, misleading statements, and unverified claims will not be published as facts.
2. Fairness and Balance
News stories must present relevant sides of an issue fairly. Individuals or groups who are criticized or accused of wrongdoing must be given a reasonable opportunity to respond.
Writers must avoid language that discriminates against or unfairly targets people based on their gender, age, religion, ethnicity, disability, economic status, academic standing, or personal background.
3. Editorial Independence
ASCOOP makes editorial decisions based on accuracy, relevance, public interest, journalistic value, and the welfare of the school community.
Writers and editors must disclose personal interests, relationships, or affiliations that may affect their impartiality. Staff members should not cover matters in which they have a direct conflict of interest without informing the editorial board.
4. Sources and Attribution
Information obtained from another person, publication, website, document, photograph, or organization must be properly attributed.
Direct quotations must accurately reflect what the source said. Writers must not change the meaning of a quotation or present another person’s words and ideas as their own.
Anonymous sources may be used only when the information is important, the source has a valid reason for requesting confidentiality, and the editorial board can verify the source’s identity and information.
5. Originality and Plagiarism
All submitted work must be original. Plagiarism, unauthorized copying, fabrication, and presenting someone else’s work as one’s own are strictly prohibited.
Short quotations and information from other sources may be used when properly credited. Copyrighted photographs, illustrations, music, videos, and written materials must not be reproduced without permission or a valid legal basis.
6. Use of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence tools may be used responsibly for brainstorming, organizing ideas, proofreading, or improving grammar. However, AI must not replace original reporting, interviews, research, judgment, or authorship.
Writers remain responsible for checking every fact and ensuring that the final work is accurate and original. AI-generated quotations, sources, events, images, or information must never be presented as real. Significant AI assistance should be disclosed to the editorial board.
7. Photographs and Multimedia
Photographs and multimedia materials must accurately represent the event or subject being reported. Images must not be edited in a way that changes their journalistic meaning or misleads readers.
Captions must identify the people, activity, place, date, and photographer whenever appropriate. Sensitive photographs involving accidents, injuries, grief, or private situations must be handled with care and respect.
8. Privacy and Protection of Learners
ASCOOP respects personal privacy and the safety of learners. Private information—including home addresses, personal contact numbers, medical information, and sensitive family circumstances—will not be published without a valid journalistic reason and proper authorization.
Special care must be exercised when reporting about minors, victims, disciplinary matters, mental health, harassment, or other sensitive issues.
9. News and Opinion
News articles must separate facts from the writer’s personal opinion. Editorials, columns, reviews, and commentaries must be clearly identified as opinion-based content.
Opinions may criticize actions, policies, or ideas, but they must not contain personal attacks, threats, deliberate falsehoods, or discriminatory statements.
10. Submissions and Editing
Submitting an article does not guarantee publication. The editorial board may accept, edit, return for revision, postpone, or reject a submission based on accuracy, relevance, originality, quality, available space, and compliance with these policies.
Editors may revise headlines, grammar, organization, length, and style while preserving the writer’s intended meaning. Substantial revisions should be discussed with the writer whenever possible.
11. Corrections and Updates
ASCOOP will correct significant factual errors promptly and transparently. Minor spelling, grammar, and formatting errors may be corrected without a separate notice.
When an article requires an important correction or update, ASCOOP will clearly indicate the change. Requests for correction must identify the article, explain the alleged error, and provide supporting information.
12. Comments and Reader Participation
ASCOOP welcomes respectful feedback and constructive discussion. Comments containing threats, bullying, hate speech, spam, personal attacks, private information, or unrelated promotional content may be removed.
The views expressed by contributors and commenters do not necessarily represent the official position of Alangalang Agro-Industrial School or the entire ASCOOP editorial board.
13. Editorial Authority
The ASCOOP editorial board, in coordination with the publication adviser and school administration when appropriate, is responsible for interpreting and implementing these policies.
These policies may be reviewed and updated to respond to changes in journalistic practices, technology, school regulations, and the needs of the school community.
Contact the Editorial Board
Questions, submissions, correction requests, and concerns regarding ASCOOP content may be sent to:
ASCOOP
“Sowing Dignity, Harvesting Insights”
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