Yesterday, JAMM got its oats, and I could not be more excited about it.  Of course, by oats, I mean O.A.T.S., the newly created Organization for App Testing Standards.  This is an online group created to ensure that its member sites adhere to the highest ethical standards when posting reviews.  All of this is designed to ensure that you, the reader, are always provided an unbiased, fair, and honest look at the products we review.

At the heart of O.A.T.S. is its oath, to which all of the member sites agree to adhere.  The O.A.T.S. oath looks like this:

WE, THE CONSTITUENT SITES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF APP TESTING STANDARDS, have gathered under the auspices of O.A.T.S. with a common goal: to improve the quality of iPhone games and App criticism. While we applaud the great diversity of opinion now available to consumers looking for iPhone App reviews, it is equally clear to us that not all of these sources have put the best interests of the readership first. We hope to combat such unscrupulous journalism by holding ourselves to a higher standard.
TO THAT END:
1) WE PLEDGE to never mix business with editorial. We reject all forms of paid reviews, including "express reviewing" fees. Advertising on an O.A.T.S. site will have no bearing whatsoever on whether we decide to review an App, or on the nature of coverage we give it, when and if we do;
2) WE PLEDGE to clearly mark all advertisements as such on our sites;
3) WE PLEDGE to insure that each of our reviews is as thorough, accurate, honest, and fully informed as possible;
4) WE PLEDGE to promptly correct all factual mistakes in our reviews, and to post an Editor’s Note when we do;
5) WE PLEDGE that all editorial work appearing on our sites is our own;
6) WE PLEDGE to allow disagreement, dissent, and complaint through reader commentary, and to never censor it;
7) WE PLEDGE that all App reviews will follow the same process, whether a particular App is obtained via promo code, purchase, or ad-hoc distribution;
WE PLEDGE that site promotions or contests involving promo code giveaways will not influence any review in any way.

That is a lot to look at, and I know you are thinking well, how does this all apply to JAMM?  Well, bear with me for a minute.  I want to walk through each of the eight prongs of the oath and elaborate on JAMM’s policies and practices in each area.

1) WE PLEDGE to never mix business with editorial. We reject all forms of paid reviews, including "express reviewing" fees. Advertising on an O.A.T.S. site will have no bearing whatsoever on whether we decide to review an App, or on the nature of coverage we give it, when and if we do.

This is an easy one.  Many sites accept payment for writing favorable reviews, speeding up the review process, or ensuring better placement of reviews on the site.  JAMM does not do engage in these practices.  We never have and we never will.  Period. 

2) WE PLEDGE to clearly mark all advertisements as such on our sites.

Like any other site, JAMM does accept paid advertising, often from the same companies whose products we review.  We always keep our editorial copy and advertising separate.  We do not accept text ads or ads which resemble editorial copy.  If it is not entirely clear that a graphic or item is an advertisement, then we will clearly mark it as such.

3) WE PLEDGE to insure that each of our reviews is as thorough, accurate, honest, and fully informed as possible.

Sadly, we do not always have as much time with a loaner device as we might like.  That being said, we use the heck out of the items we review, right up until we have to return them (if they are loaners).  We take the time to test every feature, and if something does not work properly, we’ll let you know.  Regardless of whether an item is given to us to keep, loaned to us, or purchased with our own money, we will not sugar coat a review.  We want our reviews to help your decision making process, and to do that, you need to know where each item needs to improve as well as what we liked.

4) WE PLEDGE to promptly correct all factual mistakes in our reviews, and to post an Editor’s Note when we do.

Let me be perfectly clear about this one.  We are not going to make a change just because someone disagrees with out opinion, or does not appreciate our criticism.  Each reviewer forms his or her own opinions, and those form the basis of each review.  However, if we write something which is factually inaccurate, then we will update the review to include the correct information.

5) WE PLEDGE that all editorial work appearing on our sites is our own.

We often get news and other information from a variety of sources, including other sites around the web.  If another site’s reporting forms the basis for a post on JAMM, we will include a credit and link to the original article.

6) WE PLEDGE to allow disagreement, dissent, and complaint through reader commentary, and to never censor it.

Like I said, our writers’ opinions form the basis for each review.  And your experiences certainly may have been different from ours, so please let us know.  We encourage open debate and discussion in our comments.  All we ask is that the debate remain civil.  We do reserve the right to edit or remove comments which are unnecessarily rude, hostile, or are otherwise not civil in nature.

7) WE PLEDGE that all []reviews will follow the same process, whether a particular item is obtained via promo code, purchase, or ad-hoc distribution.

First off, I edited this one a bit to make it more universal and not aimed solely at the iPhone.  Second, this is an area I alluded to earlier.  There are a lot of ways we get connected with review items.  Sometimes the company or a PR firm contacts us and offers an item for review, other times we may contact them.  Sometimes they send us a loaner which must be returned, sometimes they let us keep the item, but often we purchase many items with our own money (sometimes at a discount available to reviewers).  Bottom line, though, regardless of how we obtain an item and whether we must return it, we treat every review the same.  We thoroughly test the item, and then deliver our impressions (good, bad,and ugly) directly to you.  No item is ever perfect.  There is always room for improvement (even when it if given to us by the company to keep), and we will always be sure to point out those areas which could be improved.

WE PLEDGE that site promotions or contests involving promo code giveaways will not influence any review in any way.

Much the same as item #7.  Bottom line here is that regardless of what, if anything, a developer or company loans or gives to us (or to our readers), our reviews will not be influenced in any way.  This includes items for review, giveaways for contests, and advertising.  Our opinions are based solely upon the results of our testing, and nothing else.

One final thought I wanted to mention.  Earlier, I noted that we often receive advertising from companies whose products we review.  If this is the case, we will always note in the review if the item was manufactured or developed by one of our advertisers.  Likewise, we will always tell you how we obtained an item, whether it was loaned or provided to us. 

Like I said, I am really excited to be joining O.A.T.S., because I think their mission meshes so perfectly with JAMM’s existing editorial policies.  In other words, there were all things we did anyway, now we just have the power of the O.A.T.S. Oath behind us.

If you have any questions about JAMM’s editorial policies, please let us know either in the comments or by using the contact form

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