You are viewing this site in staging mode. Click in this bar to return to normal site.
x#{notify_img}
#{notify_title}
#{notify_text}

Community Participation Rules

Pulborough Post Community Participation Rules

Last Updated: 19 June 2026

Our Community

The Pulborough Post exists to serve and strengthen the local community. We welcome participation from readers, contributors, local organisations, businesses, community groups, and residents.

These Community Participation Rules are intended to help create a respectful, informative, and welcoming environment for everyone.

By participating in our website, social media channels, comments, submissions, surveys, competitions, events, or other community activities, you agree to follow these rules.

  1. Be Respectful

We encourage discussion, debate, and the exchange of ideas.

However, participants must:

  • Treat others with courtesy and respect.
  • Challenge ideas rather than attack individuals.
  • Avoid abusive, insulting, threatening, or intimidating behaviour.
  • Respect differences of opinion.

Disagreement is welcome. Personal abuse is not.

  1. No Hate Speech or Discrimination

We do not permit content that promotes or encourages:

  • Racism
  • Religious intolerance
  • Sexism
  • Homophobia
  • Transphobia
  • Ableism
  • Harassment
  • Discrimination against any individual or group

Content that targets people on the basis of protected characteristics may be removed.

  1. Keep Discussions Relevant

We encourage participants to:

  • Stay on topic.
  • Contribute constructively.
  • Share information that is relevant to the discussion.

Repeated attempts to disrupt conversations, derail discussions, or post irrelevant material may result in moderation.

  1. No Misinformation

Participants must not knowingly share:

  • False information
  • Fabricated claims
  • Hoaxes
  • Misleading content
  • Conspiracy theories presented as fact

Where factual claims are made, participants should be prepared to provide reliable evidence if requested.

  1. Respect Privacy

Do not publish:

  • Private personal information
  • Home addresses
  • Telephone numbers
  • Personal email addresses
  • Sensitive personal data

without consent or a clear public-interest justification.

Particular care should be taken when discussing children and vulnerable individuals.

  1. No Defamation

Participants must not make allegations about individuals or organisations that cannot be supported by evidence.

Comments or submissions that may be defamatory, malicious, or legally problematic may be removed without notice.

  1. Commercial Content and Self-Promotion

Reasonable references to local businesses, events, charities, and community organisations are welcome where relevant.

However, participants must not:

  • Post spam
  • Repeatedly promote products or services
  • Publish misleading advertising
  • Use community features primarily for commercial gain

Promotional content may be removed at the discretion of moderators.

 

  1. Independence and Conflicts of Interest

Contributors must disclose any personal, financial, political, professional, or organisational interests that may be relevant to the subject they are writing about.

Examples include:

  • Membership of a campaign group
  • Political party membership where relevant to the topic
  • Employment by an organisation being discussed
  • Financial interests that may benefit from coverage

The existence of a conflict does not automatically prevent publication, but transparency is essential.

 

  1. User-Generated Content

By submitting content to the Pulborough Post, you confirm that:

  • You have the right to submit it.
  • It does not infringe copyright or intellectual property rights.
  • It complies with these rules.
  • It is accurate to the best of your knowledge.

We reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, style, length, legal compliance, and editorial standards.

Submission does not guarantee publication

 

  1. Photographs and Images

When submitting photographs, contributors should ensure that:

  • They own the image or have permission to share it.
  • Any required permissions have been obtained.
  • The image does not unlawfully invade privacy.

We may decline to publish images that are inappropriate, offensive, misleading, or legally problematic

 

  1. Social Media Participation

The same standards apply across our social media channels.

We may remove comments or restrict participation where users engage in:

  • Abuse
  • Harassment
  • Trolling
  • Hate speech
  • Spam
  • Repeated disruption of discussion

Constructive engagement is encouraged.

 

  1. Moderation

The Pulborough Post reserves the right to:

  • Moderate comments and submissions.
  • Edit content where appropriate.
  • Decline publication.
  • Remove content that breaches these rules.
  • Restrict or suspend participation where necessary.

Moderation decisions are made to protect the quality, safety, and integrity of community discussion.

 

  1. Reporting Concerns

If you believe content published through our website or community channels breaches these rules, please contact us.

We will review reports fairly and take action where appropriate.

Email: editor@pulboroughpost

Website: pulboroughpost.co.uk

 

  1. Our Community Values

The Pulborough Post aims to foster a community that is:

  • Respectful
  • Inclusive
  • Informative
  • Constructive
  • Welcoming

We believe local journalism works best when readers can participate openly, responsibly, and in good faith.

 

Thank you for helping us maintain a positive and trusted community space.