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Site Updated:
Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Market Square

Market Squares in the Virgin Islands (and across the Caribbean) were once the locations where slaves were traded.  Whites would gather to meet each other, catch up on the latest news and purchase slaves.  Since the abolition of slavery, market squares have still maintained a prominent roll in caribbean life.  They now serve as “farmer’s markets” where goods and crafts are traded.  Now, people gather to meet each other, catch up on the latest news and purchase goods for their use.  Market Square is a community powered and produced project of sponsored by Virgin Islands Watch as a way to provide more news that better represents the pulse of Virgin Islanders.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Send your submissions to marketsquare AT virginislandswatch.com. If it is your first submission, please also include a short bio and a headshot photo.  Subscribe to VI Watch by clicking the link in the sidebar to the left of the homepage and create an account.  This account will allow us to post articles in your name.

WHAT TO SUBMIT: Market Square posts news stories and opinion pieces. Market Square is looking to use the diverse perspectives of Virgin Islanders at home and abroad to expand coverage of pertinent issues. We don't aim to compete with news agencies like the Daily News, publishing the very latest VI Government proceeding. With contributors spread out across the Territory and VI Diaspora, we can compare material to test news media assumptions and government-pushed story-lines, and see how they are playing out by assembling the snapshot-style stories our contributors file.

Is $34 Million of taxpayer dollars really best used to create a fish farm?  Why or why not?  Does the scandal at Schnieder Hospital run deeper than Amos Carty?  What other scandals are going under the radar?  Who can be trusted to have the best interest of the Virgin Islands and Virgin Islanders?  Market Square looks for smaller stories that include interviews and fresh observations and insights on larger topics.

News stories consist of fresh information. It can come from press releases, company/organization listservs, audio, video, the internet or public events and etc. New stories - that haven’t been covered in other media - are more likely to be published.  Stories that exist elsewhere will not be published unless they present some new information/perspectives.  All news must be verifiable.  We're not interested in rewriting existing campaign coverage.  All new information must be verifiable, so you should use trustworthy sources.  Market Square publishes much on the rights of Virgin Islanders and government accountability in the Virgin Islands.  News that is focused on how the VI Government and its agencies are deficient are most welcome.

We know you are interested in submitting great (original) work.  Yet, great work does not mean you must wait until you find the BIG story.  Focus, rather, on stories that are simple and that you feel would resonate in your community.  Sometimes people overestimate what it takes to do original reporting.

* Please provide the who, what, when, where and why of an event on which you are reporting.  And, try to conduct interviews with people (& hosts/participants) of the events.  Introduce yourself and say you're reporting for Market Square.  If you are taping the interview, let them know before you get them talking.  Try not to ask “yes/no” questions.  Ask open-ended questions that allow them to describe the event, share their interests, and discuss their experiences.  If in the Virgin Islands, ask them what they feel the relationship is between the issue you are discussing and National issues.  If on the mainland, ask them how this issue relates to the Virgin Islands.  If you have time, try to get the opinions of others, especially conflicting views.  You can also look on the web for reputable sources for links.  To find “experts” on a particular issue, you can try sites such as PowerReporting for a list of useful names and contact numbers.

You should also look to weave your observations into the pieces.  What is your sense of the event?  What do you think about the issue?  What has made you think this?   If - for instance - you wish to discuss the excitement at the crowning of a new Carnival Queen,  the 15-minute ovation filled with tears of joy is relevant, the argument between two men at a food truck is not.  Your observations are what makes for great event coverage.  Sharing your observations helps to build rapport with the readers and create discussion.

* Local reporting can help to correct or confirm Territorial narratives. How are the governor and other officials really doing?  How is the delegate representing the Territory?  How does their message match up to their actions?  Are then needs of your community being addressed?  If not, why?  

While writing your Market Square stories, remember that you are writing for Virgin Islanders at home and abroad.  Secondly, you are also writing for those interested in the Virgin Islands and the rights of Virgin Islanders.  Be sure to introduce persons to this audience with the appropriate detail and titles so that anyone can follow the article.

* Was media coverage incorrect or inaccurate?  Did one of the reporters misquote someone, miscalculate data, or use “fuzzy” sources?  Was an entire story missed?  Did the media coverage only scratch the surface of something far more profound?  Provide your media critique as a news story.  Conduct interviews on the issues, or show evidence of where the story fell short.

News stories may be displayed on other sections of the Virgin Islands Watch site and might also be referenced by other news organizations.  If necessary, we may rewrite sections or add information to your piece.  We may strengthen the story lead or title, and we might tie your story into a larger narrative.  We might strengthen the tone of your story and add more references.  If you submit a piece that becomes big, please be prepared to make yourselves available to Virgin Islands Watch for follow up.

* In writing an op-ed, we look for hard-hitting views that try to persuade people to take a particular stance on an issue.  Feel free to be controversial!  However, Market Square does not post unfounded attacks, melee, or the kind of brief corrections better suited to a comments thread.  Focus on new information or on old information viewed with a fresh perspective.  Be sure to use reliable sources.  Do not ramble.  Use links and site other sources to give your opinion greater authority.  If something requires too much sidebar explanations, consider changing it.  Make your opening pack a punch!  Readers should know what the piece is about, immediately.  Your pieace will be reviewed, proofed and published by one of our editors.  

The Market Square community of writers is always expanding. Join our ning group and pose your questions to people who have written on similar topics and/or have relied on sources who you could call to complete your story.

CONTACT: Questions? Contact Market Square, at marketsquare AT virginislandswatch.com

PUBLISHING TIMELINE: Our lead time varies. News pieces will take deadline priority. An Op-Ed may be published quickly.  However, it also might not be published for several days. Due to the high volume of opinion pieces we receive, we must prioritize articles based on breaking events.  When we publish your post, we will send you an email. If after a few days you have not received an email and do not see your post displayed, we made an editorial determination that your post did not meet our standards.   Unfortunately we are unable to respond personally on the status of every submission.

Market Square publishes most content between Mondays and Fridays.  Only major stories will be posted on weekends.

PUBLISHING STANDARDS: Every piece we publish is held to certain editorial standards. By following these guidelines, you can help expedite the process:

1. SPELL AND GRAMMAR CHECK YOUR SUBMISSION. We will proof it ourselves, however you can best determine that all the facts, figures and names are correct.

2. RESEARCH YOUR ISSUES AND PROVIDE EVIDENCE.  You should always try to include links to support the facts and figures you use.  When sending us links, please format them as follows:

"Share your experiences at [Market Square]. http://www.virginislandswatch.com/marketsquare"

Please, do not send us a hyperlink in the text.  Put brackets around the words you want to use as a link in the article.  Then paste the link directly following the bracketed words.

3. BE SURE YOU CAN BACK UP ANY QUOTES PROVIDED.  You should be able to provide the name of the person quoted and when (where) the quote was made, especially if it was made to you.  If possible, you should be able to produce a transcript or recording of any interviews you conduct.  Be sure to establish that the person to whom you are speaking is willing to speak “on the record.”  State your relationship (or stance) - if any - with the subject of your interview.  Are you a friend or supporter?  Do you work together?  State any relevant information up front in your submission.  It is fine to use anonymous quotes, but you still need to be able to back them up if necessary.  (Remember the Valarie Plame scandal and Judith Miller going to jail?)

4. IF YOU MAKE A NEGATIVE, FACT-BASED ASSERTION ABOUT AN OFFICIAL, YOU NEED TO REACH THAT OFFICIAL’S OFFICE FOR THE COMMENT.  Contacting for comment could mean an email or call to that person’s direct office (personal assistant or spokesperson, etc.).  You must give them enough time to respond.  Provide them a stated deadline of at least 2 hours.  Remember, you can always submit something without a reference to them and redress it in follow up submissions.  

5. WE TEND TO MAKE EDITORIAL CHANGES.  Our intention is simply to match your submission to breaking issues and not to change the meaning/tone.  We change headline to best suit them for search engine optimization, catchiness, and space, among other considerations.