Statement of Editorial Policy

McMaster Times is an award-winning magazine that features overall excellence in design and content. It offers news, features, events, opinions and editorials written for, by and about the McMaster community, especially University alumni.

Established in 1985, the Times is published two times a year -- spring and fall. It is available free of charge to more than 147,000 McMaster alumni. The magazine comprises:

Features and news stories about McMaster alumni

  • Features and news stories about McMaster alumni
  • Features and news stories about the University and its activities
  • Reports on external issues that affect the University and other Canadian universities
  • Communications from the Alumni Association and the Office of University Advancement
  • Recognition of alumni achievements and University support
  • Letters to the editor and commentaries on topical issues
  • Listings of events of interest to the readership
  • Paid advertising

 

Organization and responsibilities
The McMaster Times is managed by an editor who reports to the director of public relations. Assignment of articles, editing of copy (using the Canadian Press Stylebook as authority), selection of material and placement of stories in the magazine are the responsibilities of the editor.

 

Style
A modified CP (Canadian Press) style is used throughout the Times. The CP Stylebook, along with CP Caps and Spelling, is the guide for capitalization, abbreviation, puctuation, use of titles, neutral language, and other issues of style. The Concise Oxford Dictionary is the authority for Canadian Press spelling, with specific exceptions noted in the two volumes named above. The Office of Public Relations has prepared a style guide for use by staff, freelancers and contributors which is based on CP style and incorporates McMaster terms and preferences.

 

Sections and Departments
Regular departments in the Times includes:

  • Letters to the editor
  • Columns by the director of alumni advancement and the president of the Alumni Association
  • Alumni Album (class notes about McMaster graduates; includes a special section for books authored by grads)
  • In Memoriam (alumni obituaries)
  • Campaign News (news and information about fundraising eforts)
  • Alumni Activities (a calendar of events and reports on events involving alumni)
  • The Last Word (an opinion piece written by a graduate)

 

Letters to the Editor
McMaster Times welcomes letters to the editor. The editor reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity without changing the orginal meaning. Writers must include their full name with signature and address.

 

Contributors
Articles and columns in McMaster Times not written by staff are clearly identified as such. The McMaster Times reserves the right to edit copy from contributors to conform with Canadian Press style. Any other changes will be made in consultation with the contributor.

 

Publication of Photos
Individuals who wish to obtain prints, for personal use, of photographs shot for the McMaster Times may do so by making arrangements for purchase through the Office of Public Relations.