Community Guidelines | 3News

Welcome to 3News! 3News is Ghana's trusted source for breaking news, in-depth analysis, and meaningful conversations about the issues that matter to our nation and the world. We're building a vibrant community of informed citizens who care about Ghana's future and want to engage in thoughtful discussions about the news that shapes our lives.

We've created these community guidelines to ensure that everyone feels welcome to participate in our growing community. Whether you're commenting on our website, engaging on our social media platforms, or participating in our live discussions, we expect all community members to follow these guidelines.

What Makes Great Comments

Be respectful. Respectful dialogue is the foundation of meaningful conversation. Treat fellow community members with dignity, even when you disagree. Consider how your words might affect others and strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcome to share their perspectives. Ghana's rich tradition of respectful discourse should guide our interactions.

Be informed. 3News is committed to providing accurate, well-researched journalism. We encourage our community to approach discussions with the same commitment to facts and truth. Before commenting, take time to read the full article. If you're sharing information, make sure it's accurate and from reliable sources.

Be constructive. Great comments add value to the conversation. Share your insights, experiences, and knowledge that can help others understand the story better. Whether you're discussing politics, business, sports, or entertainment, aim to contribute something meaningful rather than simply reacting.

Show your sources. Just as our journalists cite their sources, we encourage you to back up your claims with credible evidence. If you're referencing another news story, study, or report, share the link. This helps create richer, more informative discussions and builds trust within our community.

Stay on topic. Keep your comments relevant to the article and story being discussed. While we encourage thoughtful debate, comments should relate to the topic at hand. Off-topic discussions dilute the conversation and make it harder for others to follow.

Help maintain our standards. Our moderation team works hard to keep 3News a place where everyone can engage in quality discussions. You can help by reporting comments that violate our guidelines, including spam, personal attacks, or misinformation. Together, we can maintain the high standards that make our community special.

Community Rules

We are committed to fostering informed, respectful, and productive conversations. Comments that undermine this goal will be removed. While we support free expression, 3News maintains higher standards than much of the internet, and our editorial team has the final say on whether content meets our community guidelines.

We will remove inappropriate content, and these rules may evolve as our community grows. Violations will result in comment removal, and serious or repeated violations will result in account suspension or permanent bans.

Prohibited Content and Behavior:

Personal attacks and insults: Do not attack, insult, or demean other community members. This includes name-calling, character assassination, and calling others "trolls" or similar labels.

Discrimination and hate speech: We have zero tolerance for racism, tribalism, sexism, religious intolerance, homophobia, or discrimination based on ethnicity, region, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. Ghana's diversity is our strength, and our community should reflect that.

Threats and harassment: Any content that threatens violence, contains aggressive language, or constitutes harassment will be immediately removed and may result in permanent bans.

Misinformation and false claims: 3News is committed to truth and accuracy. We will not tolerate the spread of false information, conspiracy theories, unverified claims, or deliberate misinformation. This is especially important during elections and health emergencies.

Political manipulation: While we encourage political discussion, we prohibit content designed to manipulate voters, spread false information about electoral processes, or undermine democratic institutions.

Privacy violations: Do not share personal information about others (doxxing), including phone numbers, addresses, or private social media profiles.

Inappropriate content: No sexually explicit material, graphic violence, or content that would be inappropriate for a general audience. Keep it family-friendly.

Spam and self-promotion: Repeated posting, promotional content, irrelevant links, and obvious spam will be removed. This includes excessive self-promotion of businesses, events, or personal projects.

Political Discussions

As a news organization covering Ghana's dynamic political landscape, we recognize that political discussions are an important part of our community. However, we expect all political discourse to be:

Fact-based: Support your arguments with credible sources
Respectful: Criticize policies and positions, not people's character
Constructive: Focus on solutions and meaningful analysis
Non-partisan: We welcome all viewpoints but expect civility regardless of political affiliation

Moderation and Enforcement

Our moderation team reviews reported content and may remove comments or suspend accounts for violations. We aim to be fair and consistent, but moderation decisions are final. Repeated violations may result in permanent account suspension.

Appeals: If you believe your content was removed in error, you may contact our moderation team for review.

Reporting Guidelines

Help us maintain community standards by reporting:

Personal attacks or harassment
Misinformation or false claims
Spam or irrelevant content
Discriminatory or hateful speech
Inappropriate or explicit content

Our Commitment

3News is committed to creating an inclusive community that reflects the best of Ghana – our diversity, intelligence, and spirit of unity. We believe that informed citizens engaging in respectful dialogue is essential for our democracy and our nation's progress.

We reserve the right to update these guidelines as our community evolves and new challenges emerge. Changes will be communicated to the community.

Contact Us

Questions about these guidelines? Need to report a violation? Contact our moderation team:

Email: editorial@mg.com.gh
Use the report function on comments
Contact us through our website contact form

Thank you for being part of the 3News community. Together, we can create meaningful conversations that inform, educate, and inspire positive change in Ghana and beyond.

These guidelines apply to all 3News digital platforms, including our website, social media accounts, mobile app, and any future platforms we may launch.