Frequently Asked Questions

I. About 7iber

Is 7iber a blog?

We consider ourselves to be a citizen-media platform that seeks to publish, aggregate, and produce original local content. 7iber is home to a group of regular contributors and bloggers, but is also open to contributions from anyone interested in sharing an opinion or a story, in whatever form – text, photo, video, etc.

Are you an electronic news site?

No. While the 7iber editors produce some multimedia content, such as events and blog roundups, audio slideshows and street beat videos, we are not concerned with reporting news stories but rather providing citizens with the platform so they can tell their own stories.

Do you have any political, religious or ideological preferences/leanings?

7iber as an organization and platform doesn’t have a political, religious, or ideological affiliation. However, we believe in freedom of expression and human rights. We also believe that when people take ownership of their narrative and engage in telling their story and expressing their opinion, they become more active citizens and are more capable of contributing to the development of their society and country. We do not evaluate contributions based on whether we, as individuals, agree with them or not. Contributions are simply evaluated based on quality, relevance, and coherence (read more in the “Contributions” section below). We believe in the diverse nature of our country and our region, and believe that everyone has a right to speak and that every issue deserves to be tackled from different sides. Most importantly, we believe in fostering dialogue.

Are you a registered organization?

7iber, the site, is not a registered entity. However, the “7iber” brand is registered, as is our business arm, 7iberINC.

How is 7iber financially sustained?

7iber, the site, is a non-profit entity and seeks to run on a non-profit model. The editorial work on the website, content production, and running of activities like the Hashtag Debates and the book club are all conducted on a volunteer basis. The 7iber team members make a living through 7iberINC projects and trainings.

Ok, so what is 7iberINC?

7iberINC is a company based in Jordan that develops non-commercial digital media projects, consultancies and trainings focusing largely on digital storytelling, communication and social media. (For more details on 7iberINC projects click here)
Do you accept advertising on the site?

Currently we do not accept advertising, mainly to allow for the platform to grow organically without adhering to pressures of advertisers.

II. Contributions

How can I submit content to 7iber?

Just send us an email at editor[at]7iber[dot]com. More information is provided on our contributor’s page. [link]

What submissions do you accept?

7iber is all about quality citizen media. We look for stories that highlight local realities, features, op-eds, and reviews, in whatever format; text, video, photos, and other multimedia. At the moment, we do not publish fiction and poetry.

Do you have a language preference when it comes to content?

7iber is bilingual as it attempts to cater to Arabic and English-speaking audiences and content-producers. However, we do acknowledge the need for the production of localized quality Arabic content, so we try to encourage it in whatever ways we can.

Can I republish something I’ve already published elsewhere?

When it comes to content, our emphasis is on publishing something original and unique, thus the preference will always be geared towards that. We also publish content that has been published on personal blogs. However, if we feel that 7iber can add value to something that has been published elsewhere, specifically with regards to expanding its reach, then we will do so and you can feel free to send it to us for consideration.

Please keep in mind the republication policy of other organizations where the original work was published.

If I publish something on 7iber, can I republish it elsewhere, including my own blog?

Sure! It is your content after all. However, we would appreciate a link back to 7iber or the acknowledgment that it was published on 7iber first.

What issues does 7iber tackle?

We don’t seek out or exclude specific issues. Contributors are free to submit content on the issues that matter to them, be it politics, economics, arts and culture, social issues, or anything that might be of relevance to readers.

Does that mean you publish anything, no matter how incendiary?

7iber believes in responsible free speech. We believe that the boundaries of free speech in the region must be pushed and conquered by the people themselves. In other words, we are aware of the “red lines” that exist in Jordan but seek to push them bit by bit.

Is there any content that you won’t publish?

We do not publish press releases and we do not publish any material that promotes or elicits racism, sexism, or other forms of hatred, as well as any material that is slanderous.

So that means that everything else gets published?

No. Our editorial team evaluates contributions based on originality of idea, coherence, relevance, factual accuracy, as well as quality of writing, before deciding whether or not to publish. We will often work with contributors to help them edit and improve their submission.

Are there any cases in which you would share user information with, say, the authorities?

No. We believe that free speech is a right that is guaranteed not only by the Jordanian constitution but by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Jordan is signatory to. If we are ever starved and put in a dark interrogation room underneath a hot spotlight, we will do our best to articulate this message to the authorities.

Is the work published on 7iber protected?

7iber is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.
To find out what that means, please visit the Creative Commons website.

You can only republish 7iber’s content on non-commercial platforms. You have to credit both the writer and 7iber, and provide a link back. You also cannot modify or alter the original content. If you wish to republish 7iber’s content on a commercial platform please get in touch with us (email: editor@7iber.com)

Are any of the people who contribute to 7iber paid?

No. 7iber is a non-commercial platform. The content produced is by contributors who want to have their voices and thoughts heard rather than anyone looking for a freelance job.

Do you sell the content? What if a publication is interested in buying the content?

No, we do not sell any of the content produced by contributors on 7iber. If other publications are interested in buying or republishing certain content, then our policy is to connect them with the author/producer of that content. All that we ask for in return is an acknowledgment.

III. Comments

What is the commenting policy?

Comments do not need prior approval to appear on the site. Readers’ comments appear directly when they’re posted. However, 7iber’s editorial team reserves the right to delete comments that incite racism, sexism, and other forms of hatred. We would also delete comments that include unsubstantiated defamatory personal attacks and obscene language. This policy will always be applied based on the context of specific comments, which we take in to account.

Can the community help moderate the comments?

Yes, the community can flag comments that violate the above policy in order for the 7iber team to review them.

Can I edit my comments?

Yes. Simply click on the «edit» button in the lower right corner of the comment you’ve just published.

Would you remove a comment if I changed my mind?

If you want to delete a comment you’ve written on 7iber, please contact the editors (editor@7iber.com)

IV. 7iber Community

How can i be get involved in the 7iber community?

There are numerous ways you can contribute to 7iber and be involved in our activities. You can submit contributions to be published, and our editors are more than happy to meet with you and discuss content ideas and possibilities. If you’re into writing, photography, video, audio, or other forms of multimedia production, you can participate in our 7iber Meets. We have numerous 7iberINC projects that revolve around digital storytelling that you can be involved in, and we sometimes have openings for interns. We announce such opportunities on our website, facebook page, and twitter, so make sure you’re following us!

What kind of activities do you do for the community?

The 7iber team and contributors have numerous community activities focused on developing storytelling and digital media skills, and encouraging dialogue. Examples include the Hashtag Debates, workshops with children at the King Hussein Cancer Center, 7iber Meets to document stories in different parts of Jordan through video and photography, and others. If you have an idea for an activity you’d like to do in collaboration with 7iber, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

What are the Hashtag debates?

The Hashtag Debates are an attempt by the 7iber community to expand the online discussions to a larger offline audience and to foster a community of Jordanians with a genuine interest in debating and discussing vital national and regional issues. The debates are livestreamed and we also take input from our online viewers through twitter, using the hashtag #HashtagDebates.