Rhetorica Blogging and Comment Policy

The Rhetorica Press-Politics Journal web log offers analysis and commentary about the rhetoric, propaganda, and spin of journalism and politics. The following are my posting policies. I hold to these "rules," however imperfectly, as way to make this blog a trusted voice in the explication and criticism of press-politics and language issues involving journalism and politics.

I will always try to:

1- Refrain from posting a link to any material I have not read thoroughly and carefully.

2- Make sure that I understand important concepts presented in source material and explain to my readers concepts that undergird my analyses.

3- Be fair in my representations of all political factions.

4- Remember that my purpose is academic, not polemic.

5- Update entries as new material becomes available.

6- Correct my errors and omissions promptly.

7- Reply to correspondence as necessary promptly and politely.

8- Strive for the best writing and analysis that I am capable of producing--understanding that some days will be better than others.

9- Avoid posting off-topic entries unless I explain why I feel the need to go off topic.

10- Avoid criticizing the opinions of other bloggers.

Comments Policy: Rhetorica now uses the Haloscan comment system.

Podcasting Policy: I have upgraded my hosting service so that I may do podcasting.  The .mp3 files are large and eat up a lot of bandwidth. So, on or about the 15th of each month, I will erase the previous month's podcasts. I will, however, preserve the entries and comments. I will archive only selected podcasts with the Radio.Blog feature you'll find on the sidebar.

Book Review Policy: Weblogs are rapidly becoming a sources of book reviews as publishers tap into the power of the blogosphere to target likely customers. If I accept a book for review from a publisher, I will follow through with a review on Rhetorica. The nature and scope of a review will be entirely up to me. I will only accept books in my teaching discipline (journalism), my research discipline (rhetoric), or my areas of interest closely associated with Rhetorica and  my teaching and research (language and communication issues involving journalism and politics). I will approach each book from my disciplinary perspectives. In addition, I will comment on the rhetoric of a given book, i.e. what outcome the author intends, how s/he articulates that intention,  and what use a reader may make of it. I will link to any associated websites. I will link to the book's page on Amazon (I do not participate in any associate or advertising programs with Amazon).

The Rhetorica Network provides an independent and academic voice in civic affairs. I do not accept advertising, tips, or other forms of compensation for this site. I am not now, nor have I ever been, in the employ of any political faction, politician, or party. I am paid by Missouri State University to, among other things, disseminate my research and expertise. The Rhetorica Network provides one venue for that effort.

About Andrew R. Cline, Ph.D.