Editorial—Story Submissions, etc.

To submit stories, corrections, or updates, please use the submissions form. Submit corrections or updates just as if you were submitting any other news item, by using the web submission form. Please include a link to the story you're updating or correcting, and explain what the trouble is.

Use the same submissions form; just make clear that you're asking a question. (A good way is to title your submission starting with "Ask Slashdot".)

We often edit submissions for reasons of spelling, grammar, or clarity, or to format them for visual consistency. We're happy when a story submission comes in with no changes needed, but most stories get at least a tweak or two. Sometimes we'll shorten a submission to emphasize its key points or points, remove links not relevant or central to the story posted, swap anchor text to make links easier to read, or substitute a better link for one that may be broken, expired or paywalled (or not the best link for some other reason). When two submissions offer different sources, we may combine them into a single story. Sometimes, too, we may fold links to relevant previous Slashdot stories into the text, or add these links separately. Though we do so in good faith, we apologize in advance and strive to correct any errors that this tweaking introduces.

This is harder than it sounds. We try to select the most interesting, timely, and relevant submissions, but can only run a fraction of those submitted; there are probably as many reasons for stories to get declined as there are stories. Think positive: read our submissions guidelines for some hints about increasing the chances that we'll run yours.

Yes. If you log in, though, the editors can follow up with questions if for some reason we'd otherwise like to run your story but some crucial word or link is missing.

We'd rather you didn't submit press releases—at least not ones that sound like press releases! But if you're going to submit one, please use the submission form.

In short, No. If you email one of the editors directly, the others won't see your submission. (And your mail might hit someone who's on vacation, sleeping, or has a downed network connection.) Assume that any emailed story submission is likely to go unread; please use the submission form instead.

Sometimes we post a later submission rather than an earlier one. There are a variety of factors: the personality of the post, the quality of the submission, or even the quantity of stories already posted when your submission entered the queue—and sometimes, we just mess up.

Be sure to read our book review guidelines so you know what we're looking for. When you're ready to submit it, you can do so on our submissions page.