Guidelines for writers and contributors.

Our editorial promise

The Dehat publishes the stories of rural life with the seriousness of a research institution and the warmth of the communities they come from. News can come from anywhere. We see all of it through the lens of the dehat.

• The story belongs in the language in which it happened. We publish in Nepali, Bhojpuri and Maithili, with an English desk for international readers and the diaspora, and treat every language as a complete language, never a dialect of something more important.
• Accuracy before speed. We would rather be right than first.
• Dignity for the people we write about. Rural people are subjects of their own stories, not objects of pity or curiosity.
• Independence. We do not publish party propaganda, paid content disguised as journalism, or work that serves a hidden interest.

What we publish

Language and style

• Write in the language as it is actually spoken and written by its people. Local words, idioms and regional forms are welcome.
• English desk writers: use clear international English, explain local terms the first time they appear, and keep original words where no translation does them justice.
• Use Unicode Devanagari (not Preeti or other legacy fonts) so the text works on every device. Maithili writers may add Tirhuta where relevant.
• Write clearly and simply. Short paragraphs, concrete detail and real voices matter more than ornate language.
• Name places precisely: village or municipality, district and province.
• Use respectful terms for communities, castes, genders and identities, as people describe themselves. Madhesh is written and respected as an identity, not only a geography.
• Add a two-line English summary if you can. Our editors will help if you cannot.

Accuracy, fairness and ethics

• Verify. Every factual claim needs a source. Important claims need two independent sources or a document. Cite data with its origin (for example, the 2021 census).
• Attribute. Name your sources wherever it is safe to do so. Anonymous sources are used only when there is real risk, and the editor must know who they are.
• Right of reply. Anyone accused of wrongdoing must be given a fair chance to respond before publication.
• Originality. Work must be your own and not published elsewhere, unless you tell us. Plagiarism means rejection.
• Artificial intelligence. Tell us if you used AI tools for translation or editing. AI must never invent quotes, facts, sources or reporting.
• Conflicts of interest. Declare any political, financial or personal connection to your subject.
• No hate. We do not publish content that demeans people for their caste, ethnicity, religion, gender, language or region.

Consent and community knowledge

• Get informed consent before interviewing, recording or photographing people, and tell them where the work will appear.
• Take special care with children, survivors of violence, and people in vulnerable situations. Protect identities when in doubt.
• Songs, rituals, oral texts and traditional knowledge belong to their communities. Credit the community and the knowledge holder, and respect anything they ask to keep private.
• Speakers of endangered languages are partners in documentation, not sources to be extracted from.

Photos, audio and video

• Send only images and recordings you made yourself or have written permission to use.
• Every photo needs a caption: who, where, when, and the photographer's name.
• Send photos at full resolution (at least 1600 pixels wide). Do not add filters that change what the scene shows.
• People in photos should know they are being photographed for publication.

How to submit

1. Pitch first for longer pieces. For features, reportage and oral histories, send a pitch of 3 to 5 lines: the story, why it matters, who you will speak to.
2. Email [email protected] with the subject line [Desk] Format: Title, for example [Bhojpuri Desk] Feature: Songs of the harvest.
3. Attach your piece as a Word file, Google Doc link or plain text in Unicode.
4. Include your full name, district and country, phone number, and a two-line bio. A photo of yourself is optional.

Email your submission

What happens next

• We acknowledge every submission within 7 days and aim to decide within 3 weeks.
• Editors may edit for accuracy, clarity, length and style. You will see and approve any significant change before publication.
• If we cannot publish a piece, we will tell you, and where possible tell you why.

Credit, rights and corrections

• You keep the copyright to your work. By submitting, you give The Dehat a non-exclusive right to publish it, translate it and keep it in our open archive, always with your name.
• Terms for commissioned work are agreed with the editor in advance.
• If we get something wrong, we correct it openly and add a note explaining the correction. Readers can report errors to our email address.