Lecture Notes on TEDx Content Guidelines

Introduction

• TED provides a platform for spreading ideas and requires accuracy at the time of publication.
• TEDx organizers share the responsibility of maintaining TED's reputation.
• Content guidelines and fact-checking guides are provided for organizing TEDx events.

General Guidelines

1. No Commercial Agendas

   • Speakers can mention their work but must not pitch products/services or ask for funding.
   • Talks should be idea-driven, not sales-driven.
   • Avoid shameless self-promotion.

2. No Political Agendas or Inflammatory Rhetoric

   • Avoid partisan politics and extremist views.
   • Focus on discussing concrete problems and solutions.
   • Be cautious with divisive subjects and avoid polarizing language.

3. No Religious Agendas

   • Avoid proving or persuading the correctness of a single belief system.
   • Be wary of speakers promoting new age beliefs.

4. No Bad Science

   • Claims should be testable and published in peer-reviewed journals.
   • Avoid pseudoscience and ensure credibility in scientific claims.

TEDx Publishing Policy

• TEDx organizers must ensure compliance with TEDx license terms.
• Non-compliance can affect license suitability.
• TED reserves rights over removing or annotating talks.
• Talks may be removed if they contain copyrighted material without licenses.

Fact-Checking Guide

• Empirical claims must be verified to avoid sharing misinformation.
• Check external information such as quotes, statistics, and research findings.
• Personal opinions require evaluation of supporting evidence.

Identifying Issues in Talks

• Look for generalizations, absolutes, and vague references.
• Be cautious with talks promising revolutionary solutions without support.
• Health-related scripts require high scrutiny and peer-reviewed research.

Sources and References

• Avoid unreliable sources with unknown authors or biased agendas.
• References should be primary and authors credible.
• Ensure sources are up-to-date and relevant.

Topics to Avoid or Approach with Caution

• Be skeptical of topics like healing, paranormal phenomena, and denial of climate change.
• Health topics should be shared responsibly, backed by credible research.

Tips for Working with Speakers

• Focus on credibility over impressiveness.
• Insist on fact-checking and source verification.
• Provide specific feedback after script reviews.

Conclusion

• TED and TEDx strive to present responsible and credible content.
• Adherence to guidelines ensures the integrity of shared ideas.