At Kaiju United, it is our primary goal to provide professional, reliable, factual, and consistent coverage of all things giant monsters. Because of this, we strictly adhere to editorial guidelines put in place to ensure that we remain one of the top destinations for kaiju fans everywhere. Every single contributor, staff member, and higher-up will adhere to these rules and regulations at all times, with zero exceptions. By joining Kaiju United in any capacity, you agree to these terms.
Plagiarism
KU has a zero tolerance policy towards plagiarism, which is defined by Oxford Language as “the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.” Anyone caught directly lifting from another body of work will face consequences not limited to but including removal of pieces and cease of publication to Kaiju United entirely. Every single accusation of plagiarism will be investigated at every single level, even the top. This includes graphic design, written articles, and more.
Citation of Sources
Anyone making general claims needs to back them up with reputable sources. Unless noted otherwise through direct interviews with firsthand sources, all claims must be vetted and checked for accuracy purposes. The kaiju fandom is full of myths, but we do not want to permeate them. All major editorials or op-eds that are informational/educational need quotations from the source or a footnote with a “References” or “Works Cited” section at the bottom of the piece.
Example: There is not two endings to King Kong vs. Godzilla. There never has been, and never will be.
Factual Accuracy
Kaiju United believes in not being the first, but the best. We will publish news if confirmed by major community sources with reliability, such as Toho Kingdom or SciFi Japan, but urge our writers to adhere to brands/companies/organizations themselves. Our primary sources are usually press releases & kits, official statements, or direct firsthand contact with filmmakers, artists, editors, marketing directors, and more.
Running leaks of any kind on Kaiju United is strictly forbidden. We do not post unapproved photos that would create a conflict with our trusted partners.
NDAs and Embargoed Material
Kaiju United regularly deals with embargoed material and early reviews. Being assigned a project with one is a symbol of trust. By doing so, you will agree with the Editor-in-Chief in writing and honor the embargo until lift date. Failure to do so will result in immediate termination from Kaiju United and removal of all pieces from the site.
If approached about signing a non-disclosure agreement on behalf of Kaiju United, please approach the Editor-in-Chief immediately. Contributors are forbidden from doing so, only verified and vetted staff members can and will represent Kaiju United on an non-disclosure basis.
Conflicts of Interest
Any contributor or staff member who chooses to cover something on Kaiju United must do so in a fair manner. For instance, one that works or is employed by an organization is strictly forbidden from writing news, articles, etc. about that organization. We allow collaborations with companies, but if sent a package or free item, it must be disclosed as an ad or a promotional video. Transparency and honesty are required for any type of media done with Kaiju United, and it is required by policy for any contributor, be it freelance or staff writer, to disclose any potential conflicts of interest before assigned any kind of piece.
Additionally, KU contributors or staff may not write, edit, or otherwise produce content about an organization that a family member, spouse, or partner is involved with. These relationships, even if new in nature, must be brought to the attention of the Editor-in-Chief or Managing Editor.
AI
Usage of artificial intelligence to write, generate, or otherwise produce pieces is strictly forbidden. We’re okay with transcription services in places like Adobe Premiere Pro, but even those must be used as a tool rather than the end-all-be-all. It is our strict guideline that every single final edit is reviewed by our human editorial team and written pieces are written by human beings. Kaiju United is vehemently against generative AI images. No exceptions.
Reviews
Our official stance with reviews of any kind is honesty. We want an honest, fair review, even if it is not as positive. We sometimes receive early copies of books, movies, comics, and television, but that does not impact how we review things. Our review scores are generated by how enjoyable it is from a community/fan perspective, but with a critical lens thrown in. We have never, nor will ever, take a payment or a gift for a review of any kind.
Social Media
When writing for Kaiju United, your name and social media may be reflective of the site, contributor status or not. It is imperative that every single person representing Kaiju United is presenting themselves smart and wise in their decision-making when choosing to post on social media. Although your opinions do not reflect the values of KU, the association can and will still be made by different brands, organizations, and people in the general community.
- Please do not reply negatively in comment threads towards community members and our audience, even if the feedback is negative. Being educational and helpful is great for our readers and fanbase, but please be educational and helpful in tone and approach.
- Please refrain from unconstructive criticism of other publications and their representatives/staff/writers. We strive to be the best and to uphold journalistic integrity, even if the organization is a competitor, or even just isn’t a fan of Kaiju United.
- Please be respectful when handling direct criticism of the organization at large. If serious accusations are made, please bring them to the attention of the Editor-in-Chief.
Protection of Artists
Every single photo or video taken on KU must have the photographer’s watermark on the photo, even if requested to be removed by an organization. The only way we will allow our work to be removed, even if sponsorship is enabled at a show, is for them to purchase the rights to distribute online or in print from the artist in question. This is in reference to original photos and videos captured at events, screenings, and conventions, not press assets given to us by another organization.