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Getting started as a contributor
How to write an article
  1. Pick something current?
  2. Use two independent sources?
  3. Read your sources before writing the story in your own words?. Do choose a unique title? before you start.
  4. Follow Wikinews' structure? for articles, answering as many of who what when where why and how? as you can; summarised in a short, two- or three-sentence opening paragraph. Once complete, your article must be three or more paragraphs.
  5. If you need help, you can add {{helpme}} to your talkpage, along with a question, or alternatively, just ask?

  • Use this tab to enter your title and get a basic article template.
    [RECOMMENDED. Starts your article through the semi-automated {{develop}}—>{{review}}—>{{publish}} collaboration process.]

 Welcome, Ajp491! Thank you for joining Wikinews; we'd love for you to stick around and get more involved. To help you get started we have an essay that will guide you through the process of writing your first full article. There are many other things you can do on the project, but its lifeblood is new, current, stories written neutrally.
As you get more involved, you will need to look into key project policies and other discussions you can participate in; so, keep this message on this page and refer to the other links in it when you want to learn more, or have any problems.

Wikipedia's puzzle-globe logo, © Wikimedia Foundation
Wikipedia's puzzle-globe logo, © Wikimedia Foundation
  Used to contributing to Wikipedia? See here.
All Wikimedia projects have rules. Here are ours.

Listed here are the official policies of the project, you may be referred to some of them if your early attempts at writing articles don't follow them. Don't let this discourage you, we all had to start somewhere.

The rules and guides laid out here are intended to keep content to high standards and meet certain rules the Wikimedia Foundation applies to all projects. It may seem like a lot to read, but you do not have to go through it all in one sitting, or know them all before you can start contributing.

Remember, you should enjoy contributing to the project. If you're really stuck come chat with the regulars. There's usually someone in chat who will be happy to help, but they may not respond instantly.

The core policies
Places to go, people to meet

Wiki projects work because a sense of community forms around the project. Although writing news is far more individualistic than contributing to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, people often need minor help with things like spelling and copyediting. If a story isn't too old you might be able to expand it, or if it is disputed you may be able to find some more sources and rescue it before it is listed for deletion.

There are always discussions going on about how the site could be improved, and your input is of value. Check the links here to see where you can give input to the running of the Wikinews project.

Find help and get involved
Write your first article for Wikinews!

Use the following box to help you create your first article. Simply type in a title to your story and press "Create page". Then start typing text to your story into the new box that will come up. When you're done, press "save page". That's all there is to it!



It is recommended you read the article guide before starting. Also make sure to check the list of recently created articles to see if your story hasn't already been reported upon.


-- 00:47, 3 August 2011 (UTC)

Submitting articles edit

Hi. I notice you created the page Zimbabwe media under censorship threats, with no sources, no date, etc. This suggests a misunderstanding of how our site works. See the above {{Howdy}} template, or perhaps WN:Writing an article or even WN:Article wizard. --Pi zero (talk) 13:58, 9 November 2011 (UTC)Reply

Wikimedians to the Games edit

Hi. :) As you're an Australian contributor, I thought you might be interested in Wikimedians to the Games, which is an opportunity to cover the Paralympic Games as a member of the press. As you've experience writing Wikinews articles, this should give you a leg up. :) --LauraHale (talk) 08:32, 31 December 2011 (UTC)Reply

Hi. See review comments. --Pi zero (talk) 01:25, 6 May 2013 (UTC)Reply

Some thoughts on the current form of the article, here. (It's not practical for me to do a full review atm, as it's 00:20 where I am.) --Pi zero (talk) 04:23, 11 June 2013 (UTC)Reply

Julian Assange reveals contact with NSA whistleblower edit

I have reviewed Julian Assange reveals contact with NSA whistleblower and left comments at Talk:Julian Assange reveals contact with NSA whistleblower. Please address these comments as soon as possible and resubmit. If you have any questions, please comment on the talk page and ask. --LauraHale (talk) 11:50, 12 June 2013 (UTC)Reply

Julian Assange reveals contact with NSA whistleblower edit

I have reviewed Julian Assange reveals contact with NSA whistleblower and left feedback on Talk:Julian Assange reveals contact with NSA whistleblower. Please do not resubmit the article until you address the feedback from the review prior to this. I noticed there was no infobox, no interwiki links, no picture, grammatical problems that had not been addressed that were specifically mentioned in the review. These need addressing. --LauraHale (talk) 19:37, 12 June 2013 (UTC)Reply

Please do not resubmit... edit

... until you dealt with everything. And after you have removed all the external links, after you have fixed the grammatical error pointed out to you originally, after you have credited the photographer, after you have gone through and found all the relevant existing categories, then comment on article talk page and indicate you have read the style guide, and fixed all these problems. It isn't worth anyone's time doing a full review when it clearly is not ready and the reporter does not want to put the work into getting it publishable. --LauraHale (talk) 09:30, 13 June 2013 (UTC)Reply

Thank you for your contribution edit

Hello. Your article "Julian Assange reveals contact with NSA whistleblower" has been deemed abandoned, but is still viewable at User:Ajp491/Julian Assange reveals contact with NSA whistleblower. Reviewer comments can be read at User talk:Ajp491/Julian Assange reveals contact with NSA whistleblower.

Thank you for your contribution. Remember that most articles from new contributors are not published and so there is no need to be discouraged. Just read Wikinews:Writing an article and follow the guidelines there and your next article will likely be published. Thanks again for your interest.--William S. Saturn (talk) 05:26, 20 June 2013 (UTC)Reply

Your article edit

Welcome to Wikinews! Thanks for creating UN says 93,000 confirmed deaths in the Syrian war. Unfortunately, it had to be deleted as an abandoned article. I really hope that you choose to continue contributing to Wikinews. Wikinews' content guide and guide to writing an article are useful resources for writers. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me or at the assistance page. Your article has been moved to your userspace and can be found at User:Ajp491/UN says 93,000 confirmed deaths in the Syrian war for future reference. —Mikemoral♪♫ 14:16, 25 June 2013 (UTC)Reply

F.B.I. Agents Deemed Justified In 150 Shootings edit

Hi. Thanks for creating F.B.I. Agents Deemed Justified In 150 Shootings. Unfortunately, it has been deleted as an abandoned article. Not every article succeeds; we look forward to your continued contribution to Wikinews. Wikinews' content guide and guide to writing an article are useful resources for writers. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me or at the assistance page. Your article has been moved to your userspace and can be found at User:Ajp491/F.B.I. Agents Deemed Justified In 150 Shootings for future reference. —Mikemoral♪♫ 20:26, 28 June 2013 (UTC)Reply