Welcome to The Soapbox, a forum aimed at promoting idea-sharing and dialogue among members of the internal audit community. We welcome submissions on any internal audit related topic and encourage practitioners from all levels of experience to participate. Entries should be submitted to the InternalAuditorOnline blog editor, Tim McCollum, at tim.mccollum@theiia.org for consideration. Posts may be edited for clarity and length.  

1. Strive to have open and honest dialogue with your readers. Your post should be thought provoking and foster a sense of community. The blog should be constructive in tone rather than an airing of complaints. You should offer solutions to the issues you present.
2. Use conversational writing. Talk to your readers like you would talk to people in professional situations. Avoid overly pedantic or “composed” language. Bring in your own personality and say what’s on your mind. However, also be sure to check your writing for correct grammar and spelling.
3. Avoid making your post a lengthy essay. The word count of blog posts will vary; there is no minimum length requirement. 
4. Broaden the conversation. When feasible, cite others who are bloggers about the same topic and allow your content to be shared. Provide links to relevant material available on other blogs and websites. Disclose any sources fully through credits and links.
5. Encourage comments. Consider content that invites response.
6. Posts must be original and may not have been published elsewhere online already.
7. Respect your audience. Don't use ethnic slurs, personal insults, or obscenities. Show appropriate consideration for others’ privacy and for topics that may be considered objectionable or inflammatory — such as politics and religion.
8. Do not comment on information about IIA financials, intellectual property, trade secrets, management changes, lawsuits, volunteer issues, and layoffs.
9. Respond to comments that call for a response timely. You can't respond to every comment, but you should read all of them. Your interactions with your readers will make them feel like they’re being heard. 
10. Refer any contact with the media regarding usage of material that appears in your blog to IAOnline’s blog editor.  
11. Be sure that all of your content is consistent with The IIA’s Code of Conduct, values, and professional standards.