We see 20-50 articles and links a day in the queue. Here are some tips on how to process them.

Guidelines for Queue Editors

Since we can publish submissions as diaries, which have different editorial standards than articles, try to consider all submissions as potential articles or diaries. All articles must have a real name for an author, not a "handle" or blogger name that doesn't look like a real name.

A first initial and a last name is okay. Articles under 400 words are usually diary length. Poetry and Satire: Poetry should have the word poetry in the description, somewhere and have poetry selected as one of the subject categories. Same idea for satire.

No meanspirited attacks on people, and no attacks on anyone, except famous celebrities, and only with justification. It's okay to go after Bush or members of congress, but not their assistant.

Always consider an article that is being rejected as a diary. Acceptance as a diary is a lot better than rejection altogether. Always try to give some brief explanation of why an article is being rejected.

Some examples: no separation between paragraphs makes it unreadable. too many basic grammatical and spelling errors not something we want to cover too negative abusive language racist, misogynist, hateful do the link submissions first. try to get the older articles first. try to get to the longer articles first.

If you're not sure, there's a box in the article modify interface where you can leave a message for other editors. Please use it often. Ask a question. Ask for others' opinions. Make sure to leave your name with your message so we know who left it.

Remember, if you reject an article, you may hear back from the writer. Patient, calm questions are fine. Nasty, resentful responses are way out of line and I need to know. Those kinds of people should be banned from submitting to the site.

Providing a very short, kind explanation often helps. IF you hate the article and feel it's poorly written, just say it's not for us and good luck submitting it elsewhere, or consider it as a blog. to approve, click on the approve/reject button Make sure the article is in the correct category-- oped, news, life/arts/science

If you are rejecting it, select basic rejection-- usually. If you want it on the front page, uncheck the arrow in the box. If the article really only fits a local area or subjects, then leave the arrow checked. If you like, add a little message to the writer. It will appear as a PS after the stock message. Editorial policy on articles discussing religion. This was a response to an article that mocked the ten commandments and the called the bible fairy tales.

This unnecessarily mocks the sacred books of a religion. I have no problem with questioning assumptions, but you don't call the sacred books fairy tales. I didn't really like the reference to the goat-- it's not part of the ten commandments, anyway. Clean up those two elements and resubmit and it should be fine. Bottom line, it is fine to challenge people's actions which are based on their interpretations of religion. It's fine to criticize the interpretations, but don't attack the religion itself. It is okay to discuss aspects of the religion, including premises and history. But do it without hate or meanness. We have readers who are staunch progressives who also practice all different faiths. There is no reason to attack their religion. Attack the people who misinterpret or use it.

I do have a penchant for-- and am a stickler for grammar, typos and having at least a reasonable vocabulary. (I use a copy editor program as well as grammar and spell check) but how much emphasis do you want placed on this? The article has to read reasonably well. I give more latititude to people who write English as a second language, like our writers from Egypt, Gaza, Yemen, Pakistan. -

What are some reasons to reject an article?

libelous unsubstantiated claims or statements, stupid, hateful, mean: Those are reasons to reject, period. -nothing new being said, weakly argued, very short, very personal, not consistent with OpEdNews content -- reasons to not accept as article but consider as blog.