Anthropology News encourages lively conversation and debates, and at the same time expects civil and professional discourse. Opinions expressed in Anthropology News are those of its authors. Publication does not signify endorsement by Anthropology News or the American Anthropological Association (AAA).
Anthropology News reserves the right to edit, reschedule, or reject any submission. Publishing in Anthropology News is a benefit of AAA membership. The editor will review any pitch, but the decision to proceed with a piece is contingent on the author’s current membership.
Access to AN
Anthropology News pieces are published on our website, which is open for everyone to enjoy.
Assertions or attacks
Anthropology News will not publish any legally actionable or libelous assertions or personal or ad hominem attacks.
Author agreements
All authors are required to sign an author agreement prior to publication. All section contributing editors are required to sign a publishing agreement that covers the publication year (January through December).
Anonymity
Anthropology News expects authors to abide by disciplinary norms and standards (including IRB compliance) to protect the people or places mentioned in their work, including through anonymization. While most pieces should include the author’s name and contact information, under special circumstances, we will consider pseudonymous contributions.
Criticisms of AAA in Anthropology News
Criticism of AAA and its bodies is welcome in Anthropology News. The AN editor will notify the appropriate AAA representative (such as an author, section president, or staff member), who will have the opportunity to respond to the criticism in a timely manner. Comments that dissent from official positions of the AAA need to be clearly stated as the author’s personal opinion.
Fact-checking
Authors and section contributing editors are expected to verify all factual information and be able to provide sources or other means of verification on request.
Image descriptions
To help ensure our content is accessible, images should include alt text (alternative text), image descriptions, captions, and a credit line. Authors should consult the AAA’s Guidelines for Creating Image Descriptions for information about these different elements and examples.
An example of concise and clear image descriptions in a photo essay.
An example of an image description for artwork.
Letters to the editor
Finalized letters to the editor about a specific Anthropology News essay, contributor, or anthropologist will be shared with the subject of the letter. The subject will have the opportunity to respond in writing at the same time of publication on the AN website. If they choose to respond, the original letter writer will have the opportunity to read the response before publication. See the adopted 1995 AAA Executive Board Motion below.
The decision to publish a letter to the editor does not signify endorsement by AN or the AAA. Letters should be no more than 500 words. Comments or criticisms must be original and should engage with the content of the article. Ad hominem attacks will not be published. Comments that violate the AAA statement on ethics or the AAA Policy on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault will not be published.
Permissions
You must receive provide written permission to use any images, audio, video, or other media for which you do not own copyright. Authors should also secure permission from any subjects depicted in images, audio, or video published in AN.
Previously published work
In general, Anthropology News publishes new, original content and does not publish previously published essays.
Profanity
Anthropology News does not publish profanities, unless part of a direct quotation and intrinsic to the point being made or discussed by the author.
Submitting AAA section contributions
Section contributing editors should solicit content from current members of the section. Submissions should be full developed and polished essays/stories ready for a final copyedit from the Anthropology News editor. If a submission does not meet the standards of publication, the AN editorial team will notify the section contributing editor, who then has the option to return the article to the author with developmental suggestions and line edits from the editor.
Sexual harassment policy
By submitting a pitch or manuscript for publication or registering as a section contributing editor in Anthropology News, the author commits to maintaining respectful and ethical professional relationships in accordance with the AAA Principles of Professional Responsibility and the AAA Policy on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault. The author further understands that sexual, sexual identity, or racial/ethnic harassment—or harassment of any kind—is unethical and unacceptable professional behavior, and that it is unethical to exploit the inequalities of power that characterize many professional relationships to obtain personal, sexual, or professional advantages. The author also understands that unprofessional conduct may be considered grounds for being excluded from future reviewing and publication opportunities. This policy also applies to the subjects of AN obituaries.
AAA Executive Board Motion
American Anthropological Association Statement on Response to Accusations in the Anthropology Newsletter (adopted January 1995)
WHEREAS the Anthropology Newsletter (AN) offers members opportunities to express views of ethical issues affecting the profession, And whereas a member, to express her/ his views fully, may feel it necessary on occasion to accuse another association member of wrongdoing, And whereas the member accused should be given timely opportunity to respond fully to the charges,
THEREFORE, be it resolved
- the person accused should be the opportunity to respond fully in the same edition of the AN in which the charge of wrongdoing appears;
- the person accused should be given two weeks to prepare a response; and
- publication of the original article should be delayed only if the person accused cannot meet the two-week deadline for good reason (e.g., overseas field research, illness). It is understood that the AN reserves the right to edit a response as with any submission to the AN.