Dear readers,
This publication updates Must Read Alaska’s Comment Guidelines, last published January 29, 2020.
Must Read Alaska is dedicated to promoting rational, civil discourse. Our website is not a social media platform. We provide a platform for serious, down-to-earth dialogue about the news and issues that matter most to Alaskans. We also maintain X and Facebook accounts. These accounts are not subject to comment guidelines beyond those enforced by X and Facebook.
We welcome our readers’ ideas, whether right or left of center. However, we do maintain a set of rules in order to keep this discourse rational and respectful. Each comment is personally reviewed by the Operations and Communications Director, Natalie Spaulding. Every comment which follows our guidelines will be approved in a timely manner. If any reader has concerns about the approval or disapproval of a comment, please reach out to [email protected].
All comments must adhere to the following:
Limited to 200 words
We appreciate readers taking the time to express their ideas and engage with our content. However, the comment section is not the appropriate place to publish an op-ed. All op-eds go through a rigorous editorial process, and writers will not be permitted to circumvent this process using the comment section. If you need more than 200 words to express your ideas, you may submit an op-ed to [email protected] for consideration.
No name-calling or personal attacks
Ad-hominems will not be tolerated at Must Read Alaska. We love to hear feedback, opposing ideas, and questions. Comments demeaning an individual (whether a writer, an MRAK executive, another commenter, a political figure, or anyone else) with name-calling or insulting language are unacceptable. Comments challenging an individual’s ideas are welcome.
Limit use of expletives and explicit language
While sometimes a point benefits from a well-placed expletive, the overuse of such language hampers civil discourse. The Operations and Communications Director will approve or disapprove comments using expletives and explicit language according to her discretion. If the comment still makes sense without the expletive, just the expletive will be deleted, and the comment will be approved.
Please do not use all caps
There is no need to yell in civil dialogue. Please refrain from the use of all caps when submitting a comment.
No external links
We do not allow any commenters to include external links in their comments. If the comment otherwise follows our guidelines, we will remove the link for you and approve the comment. Sources may be cited as [title], [author], [publisher], [date].
No insulting pen names
We discard any comments written by someone using a rude, insulting, or inappropriate pen name. You may use an appropriate pen name or your true name.
Please proofread your work
Occasionally, we will lightly edit a comment to fix a substantial spelling or grammar error. If there are too many typos to fix, we will spare you the embarrassment and toss your comment. You can always try again.
Please be patient
Each comment is read in its entirety by the Operations and Communications Director. Additionally, the Director takes time to reply to comments when she feels additional questions or clarifications would benefit readers. Good conversation takes time. If your comment is not approved right away, please be patient. There is no need to submit the same comment multiple times.
Thank you for engaging with MRAK content! We trust the dialogue we have here will be to the benefit of our great, beloved Alaska.
God bless,
The MRAK Team
