Leadership & Governance

LAM Editorial Policies

Successful magazines are the product of a collaborative and collegial relationship between editorial and publishing.  The following policies frame the responsibilities of each party.

Note:  In the construction of this document, the term “should” is used to express what is expected, i.e., goals the parties must strive to meet, and the term “shall” is used to express what is mandatory, i.e., goals the parties are required to meet.

1.    Defining the editorial sections of the magazine
The editor in chief shall be responsible for and hold final authority over the content and layout of the editorial sections of Landscape Architecture Magazine (hereinafter referred to as “LAM” or the “magazine” or the “publication”).  The editorial sections of the magazine shall include:  the cover, the spine, the table of contents, letters, departments, feature articles, book reviews, product profiles, critical commentary, and any other areas written or edited by editorial staff or not explicitly labeled as advertising.

1.1    LAM editorial content online
The editor in chief shall control all online editorial content, including the website, blogs, and digital issues of the magazine.  Hypertext links that appear within editorial content, including graphics, shall do so at the sole discretion of the editor in chief.

1.2    Relationship to ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) public policy
LAM editorial positions shall not be in opposition to ASLA public policy.  Individual articles and letters to the editor may contain opposing points of view and the editor in chief may raise issues of interest to the profession at large.

1.3    Editorial transparency
Contributing writers who are current members of the LAM Editorial Advisory Committee shall be identified as such in their author bios.

1.4    Covering ASLA
ASLA news and information shall be covered by the magazine when considered relevant to readers by the editor in chief.  ASLA shall be identified as the owner and publisher of LAM the first time it is mentioned in an editorial piece.

1.5    Sharing article content
To maintain the objectivity, editorial staff and contributing writers shall not share articles with the subjects of those articles or others who might have a stake in the subject.  However, writers shall should call sources to check facts and quotes verbally to ensure correctness.

1.6    Stakeholders as writers
Articles about projects written by the landscape architect or someone else directly involved in the project shall not be accepted for publication.  Exceptions to this rule may be made by the editor in chief in cases where the experiences of the landscape architect or other directly involved individual are part of the story.

1.7    Site visits
Writers of feature articles about built works shall visit the featured site and consider the context of the landscape within the greater region; writers should visit the site with its landscape architect to get the most complete view of the project.

1.8    Letters to the editor
The editor in chief shall select letters for publication.  Published letters may be subject to abridgment due to space limitations.  The editor in chief should use discretion in publishing multiple letters from the same writer within a calendar year.

1.9    Corrections
Corrections, clarifications, and retractions should be printed in the next available issue and in a regular, consistent space close to the front of the publication that is easy for readers to find.

2.    Defining the boundary between editorial and publishing
General information about article topics shall be provided to the publisher and advertising staff prior to publication; however, no specific information about the content or slant of the articles shall be shared with the publisher or advertising staff.  Layouts, tables of contents, and article text shall not be shared with advertisers prior to publication, and editorial staff should be blind to advertisements that will appear adjacent to articles until the proof stage.

2.1    Editorial calendar
The editor in chief shall provide the publisher with an annual editorial calendar that gives an overview of the types of articles expected to be published in the coming year.  More complete lists of articles shall be provided to the publisher and advertising staff closer to the dates of publication.

2.2    Editorial/advertising ratio
The magazine should maintain a ratio of 55 percent editorial to 45 percent advertising. For the purpose of determining this ratio, “advertising” refers to all regular paid advertising pages or partial pages and does not include Product Directory pages in the December Annual Product Directory. Multi-page advertorial inserts or multi-page continuing education inserts paid for by parties other than ASLA would count as a maximum two advertising pages in determining the ratio.

2.3    Relationship with advertisers
Advertisers and potential advertisers shall not receive favorable editorial treatment because of their economic value to the magazine or to ASLA; nor shall non-advertisers receive unfavorable treatment or be excluded from articles because they do not advertise.

2.4    Cover
The front cover of the magazine and the spine shall not be used to promote ASLA programs or magazine advertisers.  Separate bands or pull-away covers that can be removed without damaging the main cover may be used, and extra copies with a revised cover, e.g., to hand out during National Landscape Architecture Month, may be printed.

2.5    Logos
Advertiser logos shall appear only within advertisements and not within editorial sections of the magazine.  The magazine’s logo shall appear only in house advertisements that promote the magazine and its programs, and may be used by advertisers only for the purpose of publicizing awards conferred by LAM.

2.6    Product placement/integration
Paid product placement or product placement in return for advertising shall be strictly prohibited.

2.7    Avoiding adjacencies that could damage editorial integrity
Advertisements shall not be placed within articles that discuss, show, or promote the advertised products; appear immediately before or after such articles; or be placed in the first two spreads of articles that talk about the advertised products in generic terms.

2.8    Avoiding adjacencies that may be embarrassing to the advertiser
The editor in chief shall identify advertisements that do not correspond well with callouts or titles on adjacent pages for relocation by the production manager.

2.9    Graphic distinction between advertisements and editorial content
A clear graphic distinction shall be drawn between advertisements and editorial sections of the magazine.  A narrow rule shall separate editorial content from advertisements on the same page.  Paid content that might be confused with editorial content should be labeled “Special Advertising Section” at the top of every page in type that is as prominent as the magazine’s normal body type.  The layout, design, and typeface of special advertising sections shall be distinctly different from those of the publication itself.

2.10    Special advertising sections and directories
No reference shall be made to special advertising sections or directories within editorial sections of the magazine.  However, house advertisements may be used to call attention to such sections.

2.11    Sponsorships
Sponsorship language, such as “sponsored by” or “presented by,” shall not appear in connection with regularly occurring editorial features.  It may be included in inserts, special sections, contest announcements, and other specific cases provided the narrative content does not endorse the sponsor’s products and the graphic presentation is clearly differentiated from editorial content.  (For more information on sponsorships, refer to the American Society of Magazine Editors “Guidelines for Editors and Publishers.”)

2.12    Shades of gray
In situations where there are differences in interpretation or application of these policies between editorial and publishing or where an issue is not covered herein, the circumstances shall be brought to the attention of the executive vice president by the Editor-in-Chief and/or the Publisher and discussed with the ASLA Executive Committee to resolve the issue.

3.    Conformance with ASLA corporate policy
LAM editorial and publishing staff, freelance writers, Editorial Advisory Committee members, and other volunteer leaders associated with the magazine are subject to the ASLA Administrative Policy on Antitrust and Restraint of Trade and the ASLA Administrative Policy on Conflict of Interest.

3.1    Antitrust and Restraint of Trade
Any discussions, actions, understandings, or arrangements (either express or implied) among staff, writers, and/or volunteer leaders that may have the effect of improperly restraining trade and competition in the marketplace shall be strictly prohibited.

3.2    Conflicts of interest
Staff, writers, and volunteer leaders shall not use their positions to gain personal or commercial favor for themselves, their immediate families, or friends.  Staff shall not endorse products or publications other than LAM.  Writers shall identify any conflicts of interest prior to working on a topic and within an article itself.  The editor in chief shall decide whether such conflicts of interest hold the potential to affect a writer’s ability to address a topic without bias.

Gifts: Staff, writers, and volunteer leaders shall not accept gifts, entertainment, or any other item of gratuity in excess of one hundred and fifty ($150) dollars in value. Travel and lodging expenses incurred by editorial staff may be reimbursed by outside organizations for appropriate speaking opportunities or jury service that advance the goals of the magazine and the Society.  

Outside activities:  Editorial staff shall not accept freelance work from individuals, companies, associations, or any other entity they cover.  Editorial staff shall receive approval from the editor in chief and the ASLA executive vice president before accepting freelance work such as writing articles or editing a book.

Board approval:  2009; R2016