LWN GUIDELINES – REV. 9.30.14
(Contact information updated Feb. 19, 2016)
Mission Statement
The Leisure World News is a publication for the benefit of Leisure World residents. Its
mission is to provide news and information about community governance and other relevant
issues, events, and activities, and to provide residents a forum for their opinions and an
opportunity to contribute articles of general interest. All matters concerning the Leisure World
News will be decided with this mission in mind.
General Guidelines
1. These Guidelines apply to all entities having anything to do with the LW News, such as
LWCC Board and committees, LWMC staff, writers, readers, recognized groups, clubs,
and organizations, all other groups, clubs, and organizations, advertisers, consultants,
contractors, delivery volunteers, copy-editing volunteers, proofreading volunteers, and
others.
2. These Guidelines must be applied in conjunction with sound editorial judgment.
3. The LW News will at all times reflect professional standards in terms of content,
design, and readability appropriate to a senior community.
4. The process for producing the LW News will change, as necessary, to adapt to the
changing needs and expectations of LW residents.
5. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated in the LW News. All quotes and
paraphrased material must be attributed. Photos must have permission from, and give
credit to, the photographer.
6. Reprinted material (see Terminology below), while not prohibited, will be used only
rarely and only with written permission from the source. Material that is readily
available from the original source or which contains disclaimers will not be reprinted in
the LW News.
7. All LW residents (see Terminology below) are welcome and encouraged to submit
material for potential publication in the Leisure World News.
8. All content must be of interest and value to the community, respectful and in good
taste, clear, concise, accurate, non-repetitive, relevant, and avoid personal attacks.
9. Writers are strongly encouraged to consult with the Leisure World News Advisory
Committee to facilitate potential publication of their work.
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10. All submissions will be subject to editing. Writers of news, features, opinions, and
letters will have the opportunity to discuss and approve substantive pre-publication
edits. LW News cannot guarantee when or if any submission will be published.
11. Editing is not to be confused with censorship. LW News welcomes constructive
criticism (or praise), as long as it is clearly identified as “opinion” and adheres to all
other Guidelines.
12. Each and every individual page, as well as the totality of the paper, will be thoroughly
proofread and corrected prior to printing. The production, printing, and delivery
schedules must allow adequate time for such proofreading.
13. Each editorial submission will be organized and printed in the appropriate section,
regardless of its source.
14. To promote optimum readability, display ads will be placed throughout the paper in
appropriate locations.
15. News, features, governance information, and official notices will be placed in the front
of the newspaper.
16. All groups, clubs and organizations in Leisure World of Maryland, whether or not they
are “recognized” by the Education & Recreation Department, will be treated equally in
the LW News.
Terminology
Editorial judgment—Decisions on including or excluding submitted material and on the
placement of included material, in accordance with generally accepted professional standards
and the LW News Mission Statement, LW News Guidelines, LW News copy-editing,
proofreading, and style guides, and space availability.
Plagiarism—Presenting someone else’s words or ideas as your own by using the material
without attribution or credit.
Reprinted material (or “Reprints”)—A whole article or lengthy quotes from an article previously
printed elsewhere.
Residents—Resident-owners, absentee owners, lessees, and legal occupants of any unit in
Leisure World of Maryland.
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Copy-editing—
--Reading and correcting errors in dates, names, places, etc., grammar, diction, syntax,
spelling, punctuation, and conformity with Associated Press standards and the LW
News copy-editing and style guides and conformity with Associated Press standards
and the LW style guide
--Improving clarity in the flow of sentences
--Rearranging information
Proofreading----Checking copy against original text for conformity and completeness, and identifying
omissions of dates and other important details
--Checking galleys against the LW copy-editing & proofreading checklist
--Checking 2nd galleys against 1st revision corrections; double-checking accuracy,
headlines, and jumps
Residents’ Forum
The purpose of the Residents’ Forum (RF) is to provide an opportunity for LW residents to
convey opinions, thoughts, ideas, recommendations, and information of community-wide
interest to their fellow LW residents as a whole. The RF is not a “Letters to the Editor”
column. Issues that relate only to a specific resident or a specific Mutual are not appropriate
for the RF. The LW News is a publication of the LW Trust, and the Mutuals are independent
corporations. Therefore, beyond what is spelled out in the governing documents or other
agreements between the Trust and the Mutuals, the Trust cannot publish information about
the internal affairs of any Mutual. The following Residents’ Forum Guidelines will be printed in
every edition of LW News:
RF submissions must be emailed to [email protected]
1. or delivered to the LW News Office.
2. RF submissions must state the writer's name, address, telephone number, and email
address, if any, but if the material is published, it will include only the writer’s name.
3. RF submissions must adhere to all General Guidelines (see above), including but not
limited to:
-- Material must be of interest and value to the community, respectful and in
good taste, clear, concise, accurate, non-repetitive, relevant, and avoid personal
attacks
-- All submissions will be subject to editing. Writers will have the opportunity to
approve substantive pre-publication edits. LW News does not guarantee when
or if any submission will be published.
-- Editing is not to be confused with censorship. LW News welcomes
constructive criticism (or praise), as long as it is clearly identified as “opinion”
and adheres to all other Guidelines.
4. Receipt of RF submissions will be confirmed by email or telephone.
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5. If an RF submission refers to another source, such as an article in another publication,
a press release, a legal opinion, etc., a copy of that source must be provided for
verification and reference.
6. RF submissions are strictly the opinion of the writer.
Advertising
1. The LWNAC will monitor advertising revenue (more than $300K per year), using an
advertising database to be designed in accordance with LWNAC-identified technical
specifications. Together with monthly financial reports, the committee will form
recommendations for annual advertising rates and budget expenditures for printing,
salaries, and other costs.
2. The Leisure World News accepts paid advertising in the form of classified and display
ads, as long as ads are informative and helpful to LW residents.
3. The Leisure World News does not knowingly publish a dishonest advertisement, but
also does not guarantee the reliability of advertisers.
4. The Leisure World News reserves the right to cancel any advertisement for just cause.
5. For paid display ads that express opinions, the words “Paid Advertisement” in large
font shall appear at the top of the advertisement, and there shall also be a disclaimer at
the top stating that opinions expressed are strictly those of the advertiser.
6. For paid advertisements that could be mistaken for editorial text, the word “Paid
Advertisement” in large font shall appear at the top of the advertisement, but no
disclaimer is needed.
7. Placement of advertisements shall try to meet the desires of advertisers while also
maintaining the integrity of the editorial sections of the Leisure World News.
8. The advertising policy as well as information on rates, deadline/issue date and general
instructions for placing ads is available from the Leisure World News office.
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