Editorial Policy for Holler

Holler is dedicated to providing insightful, engaging, and high-quality content that celebrates the essence of country music, its artists, and its community. We aim to be the go-to source for country music enthusiasts, offering news, reviews, interviews, and features that reflect the diverse and rich tapestry of the genre.

1. Content Guidelines

Accuracy and Integrity

  • We thrive on providing factually accurate and thoroughly researched content. We only use sources we deem reliable to the extent possible, and we verify content before publication to the best of our abilities.
  • We only publish content we consider original and properly attributed.

Respect and Sensitivity

  • We endeavour to avoid content that could be considered offensive, discriminatory, or harmful. We are sensitive to cultural, racial, gender, and other diversity issues.

2. Content Types and Standards

News

  • Provide timely and relevant updates on the latest events in the country music industry.
  • Ensure news articles are concise, clear, and to the point, with verified facts and sources.

Reviews

  • Offer honest and critical reviews of albums, singles, concerts, and other country music-related events.
  • Maintain a respectful tone, even when offering criticism, and provide constructive feedback.

Interviews

  • Conduct thorough and respectful interviews with artists, industry professionals, and other relevant figures.
  • Ensure that interviews are accurately transcribed and that the interviewee’s words are not taken out of context.

Features and Opinions

  • Produce in-depth features and opinion pieces that explore various aspects of country music, its history, and its cultural impact.

3. Submission and Review Process

Contributor Guidelines

  • Content is commissioned from staff and freelance writers who have signed an agreement with Holler laying out the standards Holler expects.
  • All submissions must be reviewed to ensure quality and adherence to editorial guidelines.

Editing and Approval

  • The editorial team reviews, edits, and approves all content before publication.
  • Edits will be made to improve clarity, coherence, and accuracy while preserving the author's original voice and intent.

4. Corrections and Updates

Corrections

  • We promptly correct any factual errors found in published content. Corrections are clearly noted in the article.
  • We encourage readers to report errors or inaccuracies on our About page

Updates

  • Update content as necessary to reflect new information or developments.
  • Clearly mark updates with the date and nature of the update.

5. Ethical Standards

Conflicts of Interest

  • Writers and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including financial interests or personal relationships with subjects of coverage.

Transparency

  • We maintain transparency with readers about our editorial processes, standards, and policies.
  • Clearly distinguish between editorial content and advertisements or sponsored content.

Complaints Process for Holler

Introduction

Holler is committed to maintaining high standards of journalism and editorial integrity. We take complaints seriously and aim to resolve them promptly and fairly. This process outlines how complaints can be made, how they will be handled, and what steps will be taken to address them.

1. How to Make a Complaint

Submission

Complaints can be submitted via email to complaints@holler.country.

Information to Include

When submitting a complaint, please provide the following information:

  • Your name and contact information.
  • A detailed description of your complaint, including the specific content or issue in question.
  • The date of publication and the title of the article (if applicable).
  • Any supporting evidence or documentation that supports your complaint.

2. Handling Complaints

Acknowledgment

  • Upon receiving a complaint, we will acknowledge receipt within 48 hours.
  • We will provide the complainant with a reference number for their complaint.

Review Process

  • Complaints will be reviewed by the editorial team to determine their validity.
  • If the complaint concerns a potential breach of our editorial policy or ethical standards, it will be escalated to the CEO.

Investigation

  • A thorough investigation will be conducted, including reviewing the content in question and consulting with relevant staff or contributors.
  • The complainant may be contacted for additional information or clarification during the investigation.

3. Resolution

Outcome

  • We aim to resolve complaints within 14 days of acknowledgment. If more time is needed, the complainant will be informed of the reason for the delay and the expected timeframe for resolution.
  • Possible outcomes include:
    • No action if the complaint is not upheld.
    • Correction or clarification of the content in question.
    • Removal of the content if it is found to be in serious breach of our policies.
    • An apology if warranted.

Communication

  • The complainant will be informed of the outcome of the investigation and any actions taken.
  • If the complaint is upheld, a summary of the complaint and the resolution will be published on our website in the relevant section or article.

4. Confidentiality and Privacy

  • All complaints will be handled with confidentiality. Personal information provided by complainants will be used solely for the purpose of addressing the complaint.
  • Information about the complaint will only be shared with those directly involved in the investigation and resolution process.
  • All confidential and personal information will be treated according to our privacy policy

5. Continuous Improvement

  • Holler is committed to learning from complaints to improve our editorial practices.
  • Regular reviews of complaints and resolutions will be conducted to identify trends and areas for improvement.