SigEp Journal Guidelines

Do's and Dont's
Journal Facts
Key Style Guidelines
Writing Articles
Submitting Photos

Writing Articles

If you have a lead you want to pursue: Develop a core angle and thrust for the story and propose it to the editor. Consider requesting additional contacts or context to broaden the story’s appeal for our national audience.

Writing your articles:  Write a headline with a precise verb in active voice. “Kansas Puts Punch in Sound Body” rather than “Boxing Workout was Popular.” One exception is the use of a colon format: Fifteen Years of the Balanced Man Program: Creating the Momentum to Dominate.

Try to hit the word count your editor gives you within 20%. If it’s 500 words, your acceptable range is 400-600 words. One single-spaced page of 12-point type with one-inch margins is about 500 words. (This varies a bit with font selection.)

Write your story in inverted pyramid format where you are getting as much energy and information in your lead as possible and organizing your story from most important to least important all the way to the end. Unless you are working on a longer piece, more than a page, you do not have room to create suspense. You may, however, create excitement with your very first word. Also, if your story needs to be cut for space, it will be easier to leave out the content you have determined is least important.

Reviews: If you are writing about a single person, be sure he has reviewed the story before you send it to the editor. You do not need reviews unless someone is quoted or written about extensively. Provide the editor with contact information for these key subjects in case last-minute follow-up is required.

Check out www.newsroom101.com. This was a terrific skill-builder and helped me dust off and polish my editing skills and be more humbled by the need for several proof readers!