Editorial Guidelines

These guidelines establish the editorial standards for all content published on Michipedia. Their purpose is to ensure that articles remain accurate, neutral, verifiable, and useful to readers while preserving Michigan's historical, cultural, governmental, and geographic record.

Michipedia is an encyclopedia—not a social network, blog, advocacy platform, political campaign, marketing tool, or forum for personal opinions.

All content published on Michipedia should follow four foundational principles:

• Neutrality
• Verifiability
• Accuracy
• Encyclopedic Value

Editors should strive to document subjects rather than advocate for them. Articles should inform readers, not persuade them. Similar principles form the foundation of major encyclopedia projects worldwide. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Articles must be written from a neutral point of view.

Editors should:

• Present facts without editorial commentary.
• Attribute opinions to reliable sources.
• Describe controversies rather than participate in them.
• Represent significant viewpoints fairly and proportionately.
• Avoid promotional or derogatory language.

Editors should not:

• Use emotionally charged language.
• Present opinions as facts.
• Write articles to support political, ideological, religious, or commercial agendas.
• Omit significant viewpoints that are well documented by reliable sources.

Example:

Acceptable

The proposal generated public debate among residents and elected officials.

Not Acceptable

The proposal was an obvious disaster that angered everyone.

Neutrality is a core requirement for encyclopedia content. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Information must be capable of verification through reliable published sources.

A statement should be cited when it:

• Makes a factual claim.
• Provides statistics or measurements.
• Discusses historical events.
• Describes legal matters.
• Attributes statements to individuals or organizations.
• Includes controversial information.

Material that cannot be verified may be removed.

Verifiability is often more important than whether a statement appears to be true. Readers must be able to independently confirm information through cited sources. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Preferred sources include:

• Government publications
• Court records
• Historical societies
• Academic journals
• University publications
• Books from reputable publishers
• Major newspapers and news organizations
• Official organizational records
• Archival documents

Sources should be evaluated for:

• Accuracy
• Editorial oversight
• Reputation
• Independence
• Expertise

Primary sources document events directly.

Examples:

• Government records
• Court filings
• Meeting minutes
• Historical letters
• Official reports

Primary sources may be used for straightforward factual statements.

Editors should avoid interpreting primary sources beyond what they explicitly state.

Secondary sources analyze or interpret primary information.

Examples:

• Historical books
• Scholarly articles
• Independent news reporting

Secondary sources are generally preferred because they provide context and analysis.

Examples include:

* Encyclopedias * Reference works * Educational summaries * Institutional knowledge bases * Historical compilations

Tertiary sources may be used to provide background information, establish context, identify research leads, or summarize well-established information.

Michipedia recognizes that historical preservation, genealogy, local history, science, and technical subjects often rely on a mixture of primary, secondary, and tertiary materials.

As a result, tertiary sources may be used more flexibly when:

* The information is relevant to understanding a subject. * The source is reasonably reliable. * The information can be corroborated through available evidence when necessary. * The subject has historical, educational, institutional, scientific, or research value.

Academic repositories and research archives may be cited when appropriate.

Examples include:

* arXiv * institutional repositories * university archives * conference proceedings * technical papers * preprints

Research papers hosted on platforms such as arXiv may be cited when they provide relevant information, particularly in scientific, mathematical, technical, engineering, or academic topics.

Editors should note whether a work is:

* Peer-reviewed * Published * A preprint * A working paper

Preprints and unpublished research should be presented carefully and should not be treated as settled fact unless supported by additional evidence.

Editors should not dismiss information solely because it appears in a tertiary source or research repository.

Many subjects that are obscure today may become valuable to researchers, historians, descendants, students, or the public in the future.

Whenever possible, editors should continue seeking primary and secondary sources, but the absence of extensive secondary coverage does not automatically disqualify documented information from inclusion.

Michipedia favors preservation of documented knowledge over unnecessary exclusion.

Michipedia generally discourages unpublished original research.

However, Michipedia recognizes that many valuable historical discoveries, genealogical findings, local records, technical papers, and archival projects originate from independent researchers rather than traditional publishers.

Original research may be included when it has been formally published or endorsed by a recognized institution.

Examples include:

* Historical societies * Museums * Universities * Libraries * Tribal governments * Archives * Government agencies * Educational organizations * Research institutions

To qualify, the work should be:

* Publicly accessible * Attributable to an author or organization * Published in a stable location * Subject to some level of institutional review or sponsorship

Michipedia may recognize verified organizations through an Institutional Seal system.

Institutional Seals indicate that content originates from, is maintained by, or has been reviewed by a recognized organization.

Examples may include:

* University Seal * Historical Society Seal * Museum Seal * Government Seal * Tribal Nation Seal * Library Seal * Research Institution Seal

Institutional Seals do not guarantee accuracy and do not exempt content from editorial review. They serve as indicators of provenance, authorship, and organizational accountability.

Organizations may apply for verified status.

Verified organizations may:

* Maintain institutional pages * Publish archival materials * Submit research collections * Contribute historical records * Display approved Institutional Seals

Verification may require evidence of organizational legitimacy, public presence, or legal existence.

Michipedia values the preservation of documented knowledge.

Information should not be excluded solely because it originated from independent research if that research has been formally published through a recognized organization or institution.

The goal of Michipedia is to preserve and organize knowledge while providing readers with clear information regarding the source and provenance of that knowledge.

Articles should be written in a professional, informative style.

Preferred writing:

• Clear
• Concise
• Formal
• Objective
• Educational

Avoid:

• Promotional language
• Political slogans
• Advocacy
• Personal opinions
• Informal commentary
• Humor within article text

Historical articles should:

• Identify dates when possible.
• Distinguish between documented facts and traditions.
• Present historical interpretations fairly.
• Cite original records whenever available.

When historical accounts conflict, significant interpretations should be summarized with appropriate attribution.

Articles about people must be written with particular care.

Requirements:

• Use high-quality sources.
• Avoid speculation.
• Distinguish facts from allegations.
• Give appropriate weight to notable accomplishments.
• Avoid gossip and trivial information.

Living persons require especially careful sourcing.

Unsourced or poorly sourced contentious material may be removed immediately.

Articles about organizations should:

• Describe their history.
• Explain their purpose.
• Document notable activities.
• Provide historical context.

Articles should not function as:

• Advertisements
• Press releases
• Marketing materials
• Recruitment pages

Promotional language should be removed.

Geographic articles should include:

• Location
• History
• Geography
• Demographics (when available)
• Economy
• Transportation
• Government
• Notable landmarks

Examples include:

• Counties
• Cities
• Villages
• Rivers
• Lakes
• Islands
• Regions

Images should:

• Be legally usable.
• Improve reader understanding.
• Be accurately described.
• Be relevant to the article.

Preferred images include:

• Historic photographs
• Maps
• Government photographs
• Public-domain materials
• Original photographs released under appropriate licenses

Editors should exercise caution when editing subjects with which they have a close personal, financial, political, or professional connection.

Examples include:

• Their employer
• Their business
• Their family members
• Their political campaign
• Their own biography

Editors are encouraged to prioritize neutral documentation over advocacy.

Michipedia exists to document:

• Michigan history
• Michigan government
• Michigan geography
• Michigan communities
• Michigan institutions
• Michigan organizations
• Michigan culture

Articles should maintain a clear connection to Michigan whenever possible.

Editors should:

• Assume good faith.
• Discuss disagreements respectfully.
• Focus on improving content.
• Support claims with sources.
• Seek consensus where possible.

Content disputes should be resolved through evidence and sourcing rather than personal attacks.

Michipedia's mission is to preserve and present knowledge about Michigan in an accurate, neutral, and verifiable manner.

Editors should remember a simple rule:

Document what reliable sources say. Do not use articles to promote what you personally believe.

policies editorial_guidelines neutrality verifiability sourcing writing_standards