Some of my stories have been flagged multiple times, even though they were published a long time ago and have already been available on the platform for quite some time.
I fully respect the Local Guides Connect community guidelines and moderation process. My intention is simply to better understand what may have caused the flags so I can make sure my future contributions follow the guidelines and provide value to the community.
If anyone has experienced something similar or has advice on how to better understand the flagging process, I would really appreciate hearing from you.
As someone who often flag posts, I can explain in general terms why some posts get removed. It is not the whole story.
The category Google Maps Contribution Stories is often used to post stories that are unrelated to the authors Google Maps Contributions. If you can’t add a link to your reviews or photos posted on Google Maps or otherwise explain how your story is related to Google Maps or your Local Guides activities, then it is likely off-topic here on Connect.
Also, if someone uses Connect to promote their services, products, or brand. Then the post is likely to be removed at spam.
I see that your linked posts appear now public, with a recent edit. What kind of changes did you make?
There are several reasons for a post to be flagged, and sometimes removed definitely from Connect.
Copyright infringement: use of text or images sourced from external sources, and not owned/created by us. As you are a journalist, I believe you are well aware of this.
Adding links to websites or social media in a post. This is usually not permitted, and most of the time it’s considered SPAM. Even if we may want just to increase the information, often that kind of links are sending to places that contain advertisement.
Off topic: post that are not directly related to the Local Guides program or Google Maps.
Knowing what kind of edit you made will answer your question
Thanks @ErmesT and I appreciate @MortenCopenhagen that you recommended me about the issue. I went through my stories and removed the news links and other social media links.
As a journalist, I understand that we can use photos from sources as long as we provide proper credit to the photo owner or original source.
There is some exception for the journalist, of course, if the use is related to their work only. In Connect you are a Local Guide, like everyone else, not a journalist.
E.g. : you cannot add a photo taken by someone else (or sourced from the web) in Google Maps. And you cannot do it here in Connect, without adhering to the international rules of attributions: “You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use”. and this only if the author declare that the file is shareable.
Of course, if you have a written permission for using a specific photo, you are welcome to use it, by indicating that you have the permission, and by giving credit to the author.
