Editorial Policy for Guest Writers and Internal Standards
Purpose and Principles
The Irrawaddy’s Opinion Section serves as a platform for thoughtful commentary, informed analysis and diverse perspectives on Myanmar and global affairs. We welcome guest submissions that reflect intellectual rigor, clarity and a commitment to democratic values, transparency and public interest journalism.
While guest contributions may not represent The Irrawaddy’s editorial position, they are valuable for enriching public discourse. To ensure credibility and uphold our standards, we maintain a firm editorial policy for external writers and our internal team.
Guidelines for Guest Writers
1. Scope of Topics
We accept opinion pieces on a wide range of subjects, including but not limited to:
- Myanmar’s politics, conflicts, federalism and governance
- International affairs and regional geopolitics
- Economic policy, development and business
- Environment, education and health
- Human rights, law and civil society
- Culture, identity, literature and the arts
2. Submission Requirements
- Length: Ideally 700-900 words. Submissions outside this range may be considered with prior discussion.
- Originality: All articles must be original and exclusive to The Irrawaddy. We do not accept previously published pieces or simultaneous submissions.
- Language: Submissions should be in clear and fluent English or Burmese.
- Tone: Constructive, respectful and fact-based. We do not publish hate speech, personal attacks or unverified allegations.
3. Contributor Information
To maintain transparency and reader trust:
- Authors must disclose their real identity to the editorial team. Pseudonyms may be used for publication—with the approval of the editorial board—if there is a justified reason, such as security concerns.
- A short biography (50-100 words) must accompany each submission, stating the author’s credentials, affiliations and areas of expertise.
- Any potential conflicts of interest—political, financial or organizational—must be declared.
4. Fact-Checking and Editorial Review
All accepted submissions undergo:
- Fact verification by the editorial team
- Structural editing for clarity and coherence
- Final approval by a senior editor
If factual inaccuracies or misrepresentation are found post-publication, the article may be amended, retracted or removed, and future contributions from the writer may be restricted.
5. The Right of Reply
The Irrawaddy’s Opinion section is a public forum, providing a platform for different points of view. While contributors to the section are at liberty to express their views, anyone criticized has a right to respond in The Irrawaddy if issues discussed in guest columns prompt controversy.
Responses will be published in The Irrawaddy’s Letters section.
In certain cases, at the discretion of the editorial team, those criticized may be invited to submit a story in response.
6. How to Submit
Send your article, bio and contact information to:
[email protected]
or contact relevant section editors directly.
Internal Editorial Standards
1. Verification and Due Diligence
- Strengthened procedures for verifying the identity, background and credibility of all contributors
- Mandatory internal review for politically sensitive or high-impact content
- Additional scrutiny of anonymous submissions or first-time contributors
2. Ethical and Editorial Integrity
- Editorial decisions are independent of commercial, political or personal influence
- Editors must declare any potential conflict of interest and recuse themselves where appropriate
- Our Editorial Board upholds The Irrawaddy’s long-standing commitment to press freedom, accountability and fairness
3. Transparency and Corrections
- Factual errors are corrected promptly with transparency
- Reader concerns are reviewed fairly and professionally
- Retractions are issued in cases of serious ethical violations or misinformation
4. Workflow and Accountability
- Clear internal protocols for assigning, reviewing and approving opinion pieces
- Editors are responsible for maintaining consistent quality and ethical oversight
- Regular team discussions are held to reflect on challenges, emerging risks and best practices
The Irrawaddy’s Opinion Section remains committed to serving as a platform for dialogue, critical thought and the open exchange of ideas. We ask all contributors—internal and external—to uphold the values of integrity, accuracy and responsibility in their work.