How we work
The IVN Etiquette
These four rules apply to every contributor, every article, and every comment on IVN. They are what let people who disagree sharply still share the same platform.
IVN is an open platform for independent-minded readers and authors. We will publish anything that follows our etiquette, whoever wrote it and whatever they conclude.
1. No personal attacks.
Argue with the idea, not the person. Disagree as hard as you want with what someone wrote. Do not attack their character, intelligence, or motives without evidence. Substantive criticism is welcome. Insults are not.
2. No partisan attacks.
Criticize a policy, a record, or an argument, not someone's party. Avoid lazy partisan shorthand. Sentences that begin with "Democrats think...," "All Republicans are...," or "Every independent believes..." are almost always wrong and almost never useful. Engage with what actual people, institutions, or rules are doing. Your argument is stronger when it does.
3. Substantiate your claims.
State it as fact, back it up. Be clear when you are offering opinion. If you make a factual claim, source it. "Someone said it" is not evidence. Link to primary sources, official documents, court filings, credible reporting, or your own underlying data. Unsupported claims will be returned for sourcing or removed.
4. No self-promotion.
Write to inform the reader, not to sell a product, a service, or yourself. IVN is for political discussion, not advertising. Do not use a contributor piece to promote a product, service, candidate, campaign, or organization you control or work for. If you want to advertise, IVN offers separate sponsorship and advertising options.
Write for IVN
Interested in writing your own story? Start with Publish with IVN. The standards our editors apply are in our Editorial Standards and Practices.