In LISTSERV, how do I set up a moderated list?

A moderated LISTSERV list requires a human editor or moderator to approve messages before they are posted to the list.

Note: To complete the steps in this document, you must edit the list header; see On my LISTSERV list, how can I modify the list header?

To set up a moderated list, follow these steps:

1. Set your Send keyword to: Send= Editor,Hold,Confirm

   This setting causes LISTSERV to send all postings to the moderator and hold them for a period of time (usually seven days) until the moderator confirms the message with the OK mechanism. For more information about the Send keyword, see On my LISTSERV list, what does the Send keyword do, and what are the possible settings?

2. Add an editor to your list. An editor is allowed to send postings to the list without going through a moderator. To add an editor, add the following to your list's header (substitute a real email address for the one in the example): Editor= username@email.domain
3. Add a moderator. A moderator is a person to whom messages are sent first; once the moderator approves these messages, they are posted to the list. By default, the moderator is set to be the owner. To add a moderator, add the following to your list's header (substitute a real email address for the one in the example): Moderator= username@email.domain

Note: An editor is not required to be a moderator, but a moderator should always be listed as an editor.

Moderators using Pine with the bounce option enabled can use the bounce command to forward approved postings to the list. See In Pine, how do I bounce mail?

For more information on moderated LISTSERV lists, see the following section of the List Owner's Manual for LISTSERV:

Also see:

• In LISTSERV, how do I set or change a personal password?
• On my LISTSERV list, how can I add a keyword to the subject line of each message?
• What information is stored in a LISTSERV list header file?
• In LISTSERV, what is the OK mechanism?
• At IU, where can I find a list of useful LISTSERV commands?