• Why and how an agency is listed;
• Who is allowed to update a listing; and
• Under what circumstance a listing will be removed.

Why and how an agency is listed
A listing is created for an agency when details of that agency are posted via our online form, submitted either by one of our users, a researcher, or by the agency in question. This will be cleared for inclusion on the site for the benefit of subscribers usually within two working days, subject to checking, and providing it reaches our minimum listing requirements, which are as follows:

• the existence of the agency is independently verifiable;
• the name of the agency is provided;
• at least one genre is ticked under "material published";
• at least one valid means of contact is provided
• a description of the agency and / or its policies is included; and
• the listing is truthful in every respect.

If these minimum requirements are not met the listing will either not be posted or we will, where possible / appropriate, conduct research to bring the listing up to the minimum required level.

firstwriter.com may at its discretion omit, add, or edit material in a listing if it is felt to be in the interest of the database.

Who is allowed to update a listing
Where listings have been posted by a user we will accept additional information from any other user who uses the online form to suggest alterations. Where listings have been submitted or updated by the agency in question we will generally preserve the information as the agency intended. In this situation the listing can only be amended by the agency, unless additional information is deemed important to be included by firstwriter.com. Agencies may request the removal of incorrect information, however firstwriter.com reserves the right to retain any information which remains correct.

Agencies can suggest amendments to their listing at any time by using the online form. If the information does not meet the minimum requirements then the listing will not be amended and will remain open to public alteration.

Under what circumstances a listing will be removed
Listings are never removed from firstwriter.com, but will be marked as inactive (and thereby removed from normal searches) if we receive independently verifiable information that the agency has ceased to operate as an agency, and under no other circumstances. Agencies should be aware that if listings are removed due to false notifications of closure from the agency in question the likelihood is that the agency's details will be posted again by a user typically within 4 to 6 weeks. We therefore advise agencies to instead make their own suggestions for the content of the listing by using the online form, thereby gaining greater control over the content of the listing and preventing further alteration by the public.