https://workbench-jerusalem-salt.thenewjew.org/articles/contributor-agreement.xml /articles/contributor-agreement xml article The New Jew Contributor Agreement TNJ's standard agreement for the assignment, payment, publication rights, and an editorial process that preserves the writer's meaning. The New Jew /index.xml editorial /sections/editorial.xml The New Jew Contributor Agreement /articles/contributor-agreement.xml https://workbench-jerusalem-salt.thenewjew.org/articles/contributor-agreement https://workbench-jerusalem-salt.thenewjew.org/articles/contributor-agreement.json <_xml>https://workbench-jerusalem-salt.thenewjew.org/articles/contributor-agreement.xml
contributor-agreement The New Jew Contributor Agreement TNJ's standard agreement for the assignment, payment, publication rights, and an editorial process that preserves the writer's meaning. TNJ's standard agreement for the assignment, payment, publication rights, and an editorial process that preserves the writer's meaning. orientation editorial contributors publication-policy 2026-11-07T22:56:44.964Z 2038 9
editorial editorial
heading 1. Assignment record and parties 1. Assignment record and parties paragraph Complete the following in the assignment email or a signed document: Publisher's full legal name, address, and notice email (doing business as The New Jew a publication of Theatricals 42 LLC); writer's legal name, address, and notice email; working title and subject; commissioned format; scope and intended audience; approximate word count; delivery deadline; flat fee in USD; preapproved expenses and any cap; credit/byline; and date of agreement. Identify any prior publication, third-party permissions, coauthors, or separately agreed rights. The New Jew is referred to below as TNJ and the contributor as the Writer. A working title may change under section 4. Complete the following in the assignment email or a signed document: Publisher's full legal name, address, and notice email (doing business as The New Jew a publication of Theatricals 42 LLC); writer's legal name, address, and notice email; working title and subject; commissioned format; scope and intended audience; approximate word count; delivery deadline; flat fee in USD; preapproved expenses and any cap; credit/byline; and date of agreement. Identify any prior publication, third-party permissions, coauthors, or separately agreed rights. The New Jew is referred to below as TNJ and the contributor as the Writer. A working title may change under section 4. paragraph The assignment record and these terms form the Agreement. Any departure from these terms must be expressly identified and accepted by both parties in writing. A submission alone does not constitute acceptance. No assignment is complete without identifying the legal person or entity responsible for payment. The assignment record and these terms form the Agreement. Any departure from these terms must be expressly identified and accepted by both parties in writing. A submission alone does not constitute acceptance. No assignment is complete without identifying the legal person or entity responsible for payment. heading 2. Delivery, sources, and revisions 2. Delivery, sources, and revisions paragraph The Writer will deliver an original, professionally competent article that substantially meets the agreed scope, length, and deadline, together with source references and disclosures reasonably necessary for fact-checking. Quotations must be faithful to their sources; uncertain or contested claims must be presented accordingly. The Writer will disclose relevant conflicts of interest, prior publication, and permissions needed for third-party material. The Writer will deliver an original, professionally competent article that substantially meets the agreed scope, length, and deadline, together with source references and disclosures reasonably necessary for fact-checking. Quotations must be faithful to their sources; uncertain or contested claims must be presented accordingly. The Writer will disclose relevant conflicts of interest, prior publication, and permissions needed for third-party material. paragraph The fee includes up to two reasonable rounds of substantive revision within the original brief, plus reasonable copyediting and fact-check queries. TNJ will consolidate requests where practical. New reporting, a materially different thesis or subject, a substantial expansion, or additional substantive revision rounds require agreement on the additional fee and schedule before that work begins. Neither party may unilaterally expand the assignment. The fee includes up to two reasonable rounds of substantive revision within the original brief, plus reasonable copyediting and fact-check queries. TNJ will consolidate requests where practical. New reporting, a materially different thesis or subject, a substantial expansion, or additional substantive revision rounds require agreement on the additional fee and schedule before that work begins. Neither party may unilaterally expand the assignment. heading 3. Acceptance and payment 3. Acceptance and payment paragraph Within 15 business days after delivery or an agreed substantive revision, TNJ will accept the article in writing, identify specific revisions reasonably required by the assignment, or cancel it under section 7. Acceptance means the article substantially satisfies the agreed brief and professional standards; it is distinct from the Writer's later review of the edited version. If TNJ does not respond within that period, the Writer may send a reminder. After five further business days without a response, the Writer may terminate and receive the applicable cancellation payment under section 7. Within 15 business days after delivery or an agreed substantive revision, TNJ will accept the article in writing, identify specific revisions reasonably required by the assignment, or cancel it under section 7. Acceptance means the article substantially satisfies the agreed brief and professional standards; it is distinct from the Writer's later review of the edited version. If TNJ does not respond within that period, the Writer may send a reminder. After five further business days without a response, the Writer may terminate and receive the applicable cancellation payment under section 7. paragraph TNJ will pay the agreed flat fee within 30 calendar days after written acceptance and receipt of any reasonably required invoice and tax documentation. TNJ will promptly identify missing documentation and may not delay payment by failing to request it. Payment does not depend on publication, audience size, or the final edited word count. Preapproved, documented expenses are reimbursed separately within 30 calendar days of submission. TNJ bears its payment-processing fees; any currency conversion arrangement must be agreed in writing. TNJ will pay the agreed flat fee within 30 calendar days after written acceptance and receipt of any reasonably required invoice and tax documentation. TNJ will promptly identify missing documentation and may not delay payment by failing to request it. Payment does not depend on publication, audience size, or the final edited word count. Preapproved, documented expenses are reimbursed separately within 30 calendar days of submission. TNJ bears its payment-processing fees; any currency conversion arrangement must be agreed in writing. heading 4. Editorial latitude and protection of meaning 4. Editorial latitude and protection of meaning paragraph TNJ may edit, abridge, reorganize, and rewrite for length, clarity, flow, grammar, house style, accessibility, factual accuracy, and legal concerns. TNJ chooses the headline, deck, subheads, captions, illustrations, placement, and publication date, subject to the safeguards below. Extensive editing is permissible; the number or proportion of changed words does not by itself establish a breach. TNJ may edit, abridge, reorganize, and rewrite for length, clarity, flow, grammar, house style, accessibility, factual accuracy, and legal concerns. TNJ chooses the headline, deck, subheads, captions, illustrations, placement, and publication date, subject to the safeguards below. Extensive editing is permissible; the number or proportion of changed words does not by itself establish a breach. paragraph In every version and its accompanying headline, deck, captions, and promotional excerpts, TNJ must preserve the Writer's substantive meaning. TNJ must not materially change the thesis, stance, degree of certainty, characterization of people or events, or essential qualifications; remove context in a way that misleads; introduce unsupported factual claims; distort quotations; or attribute a belief, experience, or conclusion to the Writer that the Writer has not expressed or accepted. A change of substantive meaning requires the Writer's express written agreement. Silence is not agreement to such a change. In every version and its accompanying headline, deck, captions, and promotional excerpts, TNJ must preserve the Writer's substantive meaning. TNJ must not materially change the thesis, stance, degree of certainty, characterization of people or events, or essential qualifications; remove context in a way that misleads; introduce unsupported factual claims; distort quotations; or attribute a belief, experience, or conclusion to the Writer that the Writer has not expressed or accepted. A change of substantive meaning requires the Writer's express written agreement. Silence is not agreement to such a change. paragraph TNJ may require correction or removal of inaccurate, unsupported, or legally problematic material as a condition of publication. The Writer need not endorse a replacement claim or a different argument. If the parties cannot produce an accurate version that preserves the Writer's meaning, they will use the withdrawal or cancellation process below. TNJ retains the decision whether to publish. TNJ may require correction or removal of inaccurate, unsupported, or legally problematic material as a condition of publication. The Writer need not endorse a replacement claim or a different argument. If the parties cannot produce an accurate version that preserves the Writer's meaning, they will use the withdrawal or cancellation process below. TNJ retains the decision whether to publish. heading 5. Review of the edited article 5. Review of the edited article paragraph Before first publication, TNJ will send the Writer the substantially complete edited text, proposed headline and deck, and any captions or other accompanying text that attributes substantive claims to the Writer. TNJ will allow five business days for review unless both parties agree in writing to a shorter period for a time-sensitive assignment. The Writer may identify factual errors, misleading omissions, and changes of meaning, and may suggest wording. This is a meaningful review opportunity, not a general veto over length, house style, design, or editorial taste. Before first publication, TNJ will send the Writer the substantially complete edited text, proposed headline and deck, and any captions or other accompanying text that attributes substantive claims to the Writer. TNJ will allow five business days for review unless both parties agree in writing to a shorter period for a time-sensitive assignment. The Writer may identify factual errors, misleading omissions, and changes of meaning, and may suggest wording. This is a meaningful review opportunity, not a general veto over length, house style, design, or editorial taste. paragraph After timely objections, TNJ and the Writer will make a good-faith effort to resolve them. A materially changed version must be returned for review with a fresh review period unless the Writer expressly agrees otherwise. Following the review period, TNJ may proceed with edits permitted by section 4, but must resolve any timely material-meaning objection before publication; a failure to respond does not waive section 4. Subsequent typographical corrections and changes that do not affect meaning need not restart review. New substantive changes do. After timely objections, TNJ and the Writer will make a good-faith effort to resolve them. A materially changed version must be returned for review with a fresh review period unless the Writer expressly agrees otherwise. Following the review period, TNJ may proceed with edits permitted by section 4, but must resolve any timely material-meaning objection before publication; a failure to respond does not waive section 4. Subsequent typographical corrections and changes that do not affect meaning need not restart review. New substantive changes do. heading 6. Withdrawal before publication 6. Withdrawal before publication paragraph If, after reviewing the edited version, the Writer reasonably believes it materially changes or misrepresents the Writer's meaning, the Writer must identify the specific passages and concern in writing during the review period. TNJ will have five business days to offer a compliant revision or agree another resolution. If the disagreement remains unresolved, the Writer may withdraw the article by written notice before publication. TNJ must not publish the withdrawn article, an edited version of it, or its substantive excerpts, with or without the Writer's byline. All publication rights under this Agreement, and all obligations of TNJ toward the Writer, then terminate. If, after reviewing the edited version, the Writer reasonably believes it materially changes or misrepresents the Writer's meaning, the Writer must identify the specific passages and concern in writing during the review period. TNJ will have five business days to offer a compliant revision or agree another resolution. If the disagreement remains unresolved, the Writer may withdraw the article by written notice before publication. TNJ must not publish the withdrawn article, an edited version of it, or its substantive excerpts, with or without the Writer's byline. All publication rights under this Agreement, and all obligations of TNJ toward the Writer, then terminate. paragraph Where TNJ offers a version that complies with section 4 but the Writer nevertheless elects to withdraw over the unresolved editorial disagreement, no article fee is owed and any article fee already paid must be returned within 30 calendar days. Approved, incurred expenses remain reimbursable. Where TNJ declines to offer a version preserving the Writer's meaning, the withdrawal is treated as a TNJ cancellation under section 7, including its payment protections. A fee dispute does not permit TNJ to publish a withdrawn article. These provisions create a specific contractual withdrawal right; they do not represent that all magazines offer one. Withdrawal for unrelated reasons requires mutual written agreement. Where TNJ offers a version that complies with section 4 but the Writer nevertheless elects to withdraw over the unresolved editorial disagreement, no article fee is owed and any article fee already paid must be returned within 30 calendar days. Approved, incurred expenses remain reimbursable. Where TNJ declines to offer a version preserving the Writer's meaning, the withdrawal is treated as a TNJ cancellation under section 7, including its payment protections. A fee dispute does not permit TNJ to publish a withdrawn article. These provisions create a specific contractual withdrawal right; they do not represent that all magazines offer one. Withdrawal for unrelated reasons requires mutual written agreement. heading 7. Cancellation and nonpublication 7. Cancellation and nonpublication paragraph TNJ may cancel before publication by written notice. If TNJ cancels for editorial, scheduling, budget, or other reasons unrelated to an uncured material breach by the Writer, it will pay 25% of the agreed fee after commissioned work has begun but before a complete draft is delivered, 50% after delivery of a complete draft substantially meeting the brief but before written acceptance, or 100% after written acceptance. Approved, incurred expenses are payable in addition. Cancellation payments are due within 30 calendar days of notice; amounts already paid count toward them. TNJ acquires no publication rights in a canceled article. TNJ may cancel before publication by written notice. If TNJ cancels for editorial, scheduling, budget, or other reasons unrelated to an uncured material breach by the Writer, it will pay 25% of the agreed fee after commissioned work has begun but before a complete draft is delivered, 50% after delivery of a complete draft substantially meeting the brief but before written acceptance, or 100% after written acceptance. Approved, incurred expenses are payable in addition. Cancellation payments are due within 30 calendar days of notice; amounts already paid count toward them. TNJ acquires no publication rights in a canceled article. paragraph If the Writer materially breaches the Agreement, TNJ will identify the breach and allow ten business days to cure where cure is possible. For an uncured material breach, TNJ may cancel without an unpaid article fee and seek return of an advance for undelivered or unusable work; this does not create a penalty for good-faith disagreement about editing. No cure period is required for deliberate plagiarism or fabrication. If TNJ has not first published within six months of written acceptance, the publication license automatically ends unless both parties agree to extend it. The Writer retains the full accepted fee, and any unpaid balance remains due. If the Writer materially breaches the Agreement, TNJ will identify the breach and allow ten business days to cure where cure is possible. For an uncured material breach, TNJ may cancel without an unpaid article fee and seek return of an advance for undelivered or unusable work; this does not create a penalty for good-faith disagreement about editing. No cure period is required for deliberate plagiarism or fabrication. If TNJ has not first published within six months of written acceptance, the publication license automatically ends unless both parties agree to extend it. The Writer retains the full accepted fee, and any unpaid balance remains due. heading 8. Copyright and licensed uses 8. Copyright and licensed uses paragraph The Writer retains copyright; this is not work made for hire or a copyright assignment. Subject to payment and the review and withdrawal provisions, the Writer grants TNJ first worldwide English-language digital publication rights in the article on TNJ's own website and newsletters, exclusive from this Agreement's effective date through 30 calendar days after first publication. Exclusivity ends sooner upon withdrawal, cancellation, or expiry under section 7. After the exclusive period, TNJ may retain and display the published article nonexclusively in its online archive, with normal links, discovery listings, and accurate promotional excerpts. TNJ may use service providers solely to carry out these authorized uses. The Writer retains copyright; this is not work made for hire or a copyright assignment. Subject to payment and the review and withdrawal provisions, the Writer grants TNJ first worldwide English-language digital publication rights in the article on TNJ's own website and newsletters, exclusive from this Agreement's effective date through 30 calendar days after first publication. Exclusivity ends sooner upon withdrawal, cancellation, or expiry under section 7. After the exclusive period, TNJ may retain and display the published article nonexclusively in its online archive, with normal links, discovery listings, and accurate promotional excerpts. TNJ may use service providers solely to carry out these authorized uses. paragraph Audio narration, translations, print publication, anthologies, third-party syndication, adaptations, AI-training licenses, and any other rights require separate written permission and any separately agreed fee. No voice-cloning rights are granted. TNJ will disable automatic narration or other unlicensed uses for this article unless separately authorized. The Writer may republish after exclusivity ends and will credit TNJ as the first publisher with a link where practical. All rights not expressly granted remain with the Writer. Rights to first publish become effective only upon full payment; TNJ may edit and prepare the article beforehand. Audio narration, translations, print publication, anthologies, third-party syndication, adaptations, AI-training licenses, and any other rights require separate written permission and any separately agreed fee. No voice-cloning rights are granted. TNJ will disable automatic narration or other unlicensed uses for this article unless separately authorized. The Writer may republish after exclusivity ends and will credit TNJ as the first publisher with a link where practical. All rights not expressly granted remain with the Writer. Rights to first publish become effective only upon full payment; TNJ may edit and prepare the article beforehand. heading 9. Credit, later changes, and corrections 9. Credit, later changes, and corrections paragraph TNJ will credit the Writer using the agreed byline. The meaning protections in section 4 continue after publication, including for later editorial or community-proposed revisions TNJ accepts. TNJ may promptly correct errors and add clearly labeled editorial notes, but must notify the Writer of material corrections and seek agreement before changing the Writer's substantive position. A signed article must not silently become an evolving text expressing views the Writer has not endorsed. TNJ will credit the Writer using the agreed byline. The meaning protections in section 4 continue after publication, including for later editorial or community-proposed revisions TNJ accepts. TNJ may promptly correct errors and add clearly labeled editorial notes, but must notify the Writer of material corrections and seek agreement before changing the Writer's substantive position. A signed article must not silently become an evolving text expressing views the Writer has not endorsed. paragraph If a postpublication dispute arises, the parties will promptly try to correct the text or distinguish TNJ's later commentary from the Writer's contribution. At the Writer's request, TNJ will remove the byline within five business days if the dispute remains unresolved. Byline removal does not authorize a distortion of meaning. TNJ may remove the article at its discretion; there is no general postpublication right to withdraw a compliant article from the archive or reclaim the fee. If a postpublication dispute arises, the parties will promptly try to correct the text or distinguish TNJ's later commentary from the Writer's contribution. At the Writer's request, TNJ will remove the byline within five business days if the dispute remains unresolved. Byline removal does not authorize a distortion of meaning. TNJ may remove the article at its discretion; there is no general postpublication right to withdraw a compliant article from the archive or reclaim the fee. heading 10. Responsibilities and general terms 10. Responsibilities and general terms paragraph The Writer represents that the work is original except for identified and properly attributed material, that the Writer controls the granted rights, that necessary permissions have been disclosed and obtained as agreed, and that factual assertions have been checked with reasonable professional care. The Writer will disclose material legal or privacy concerns known to the Writer. TNJ is responsible for its own additions, alterations, packaging, and uses beyond the license. Neither party gives the other an unlimited indemnity under this Agreement. The Writer represents that the work is original except for identified and properly attributed material, that the Writer controls the granted rights, that necessary permissions have been disclosed and obtained as agreed, and that factual assertions have been checked with reasonable professional care. The Writer will disclose material legal or privacy concerns known to the Writer. TNJ is responsible for its own additions, alterations, packaging, and uses beyond the license. Neither party gives the other an unlimited indemnity under this Agreement. paragraph The Writer is an independent contractor, not an employee, and is responsible for applicable taxes. Each party will keep unpublished drafts, private source information, and nonpublic contact details confidential except as needed for editing, fact-checking, legal advice, authorized publication, or as required by law. Source confidentiality commitments must be disclosed to and agreed by TNJ before affected material is delivered. The Writer is an independent contractor, not an employee, and is responsible for applicable taxes. Each party will keep unpublished drafts, private source information, and nonpublic contact details confidential except as needed for editing, fact-checking, legal advice, authorized publication, or as required by law. Source confidentiality commitments must be disclosed to and agreed by TNJ before affected material is delivered. paragraph Notices, acceptance, permissions, and amendments may be exchanged through the parties' designated email addresses. Business days exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays where TNJ's identified legal publisher is based; review periods run from confirmed delivery to the designated email. Both parties will first attempt in good faith to resolve disputes directly. No mandatory arbitration or exclusive forum is imposed by this template. If a provision is unenforceable, the remaining terms continue to the extent permitted by law. The completed assignment record and these terms comprise the entire agreement for this article; amendments require both parties' written consent. Notices, acceptance, permissions, and amendments may be exchanged through the parties' designated email addresses. Business days exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays where TNJ's identified legal publisher is based; review periods run from confirmed delivery to the designated email. Both parties will first attempt in good faith to resolve disputes directly. No mandatory arbitration or exclusive forum is imposed by this template. If a provision is unenforceable, the remaining terms continue to the extent permitted by law. The completed assignment record and these terms comprise the entire agreement for this article; amendments require both parties' written consent. heading Acceptance record Acceptance record paragraph Publisher: [full legal name], doing business as The New Jew. Authorized representative: [name and title]. Writer: [full legal name]. Article and assignment record: [title or reference]. Each party confirms agreement to that assignment record and the November 7, 2026 Contributor Agreement. Publisher acceptance and date: [signature or explicit email acceptance]. Writer acceptance and date: [signature or explicit email acceptance]. Publisher: [full legal name], doing business as The New Jew. Authorized representative: [name and title]. Writer: [full legal name]. Article and assignment record: [title or reference]. Each party confirms agreement to that assignment record and the November 7, 2026 Contributor Agreement. Publisher acceptance and date: [signature or explicit email acceptance]. Writer acceptance and date: [signature or explicit email acceptance]. heading Drafting note and sources — not operative terms Drafting note and sources — not operative terms paragraph Any review draft balances editorial discretion with preservation of the Writer's meaning. Review and approval rights vary by contract; the specific withdrawal procedure above is a negotiated TNJ policy, not an asserted universal industry custom. Cancellation percentages, review deadlines, exclusivity, and payment dates are TNJ's proposed terms. Before using this agreement with contributors, the publisher should have counsel confirm the legal identity, applicable law, and suitability of the terms. Any review draft balances editorial discretion with preservation of the Writer's meaning. Review and approval rights vary by contract; the specific withdrawal procedure above is a negotiated TNJ policy, not an asserted universal industry custom. Cancellation percentages, review deadlines, exclusivity, and payment dates are TNJ's proposed terms. Before using this agreement with contributors, the publisher should have counsel confirm the legal identity, applicable law, and suitability of the terms. paragraph Background: [Authors Guild guidance on newspaper and magazine contracts](https://authorsguild.org/app/uploads/2022/11/Chapter-12_Writers-Legal-Guide.pdf); [Writer Beware on editing clauses](https://writerbeware.blog/2023/05/19/editing-clauses-in-publishing-contracts-what-to-watch-for/); [SPJ Code of Ethics](https://www.spj.org/spj-code-of-ethics/). See also TNJ's [Contributor Rates](/articles/contributor-rates.xml). Background: Authors Guild guidance on newspaper and magazine contracts; Writer Beware on editing clauses; SPJ Code of Ethics. See also TNJ's Contributor Rates. parent editorial /sections/editorial.xml