Contributor guidelines
Community Voices is where people who live in the Grand Strand write about their towns under their own names. These are the rules every piece follows. They protect you, our readers and the people you write about.
What we publish
- Columns, first-person stories, local history, guides and opinion about the counties we cover.
- 500 to 1,200 words, written by you, in your own words. You can use spelling and grammar tools; the ideas and the writing must be yours.
- Opinion is welcome. Facts need a source: a link, a document or the name of the agency or organization.
What we don't publish
- Ads in disguise. No pieces written to sell a product, service or property. You may mention your own business only when it is relevant, and you must say it is yours.
- Accusations against private people. We don't name people who are accused of a crime but haven't been convicted, and we don't publish personal attacks.
- Copied work. Nothing published elsewhere without permission, and no paid or sponsored content.
- Campaign material. Candidates and campaign staff can't write columns about their own races.
Conflicts of interest
Tell us if you work for, are paid by, are related to or are a member of anything you write about. We add a short note at the end of the piece. When in doubt, tell us.
How editing works
- An editor reads every piece before it goes up. We may cut for length, fix errors, ask for sources or suggest changes. We may change the headline.
- We'll check with you before any change that alters what you meant.
- We can decline a piece or remove one later if it breaks these rules or turns out to be wrong.
Your rights
You keep the copyright to what you write. By sending a piece you give Grand Strand Dispatch a non-exclusive, permanent license to publish it, edit it for length and clarity, and share it in our newsletter and social channels. You can republish it anywhere else.
Pay
Contributing is voluntary and unpaid.