Welcome to Wikinews

A nice cup of coffee for you while you get started

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! 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.


Welcome, and thanks edit

Thanks for confirming your attendance and the accuracy of the presser on the cycling team. Look to be some pretty good photos in there.

As a FYI for any future events: if you're chatting with involved parties, it's always worthwhile having a notebook; or, if you've a mobile that can record audio, capturing what's said. Sometimes you can catch really interesting remarks that make articles stand out, or even take the story down a completely different road.

I think the 'peeved Paralympians' article came completely out of unexpected remarks. Had a recording of the conversation been captured and mined for quotes, I believe the article could've been even better, perhaps even getting the FA status Laura hoped it might achieve. A salutory lesson that, as a journalist, you have to 'expect the unexpected' (without becoming The Spanish Inquisition). --Brian McNeil / talk 08:41, 13 June 2012 (UTC)Reply

I took a notebook, as I always use one to record the names and details of the subjects. I wasn't intending to interview anyone, though - I probably should have, but at the time I was thinking Wikipedia, rather than Wikinews, so I didn't think I could use anything I heard directly, which shows a bad bias on my part. The discussions I did have were mostly be way of making people comfortable for the photos. I promise to get it right next time. :) (Actually, I was thinking I might grab a digital recorder as well if I do this again, as they don't cost too much now and would help).
It was interesting from my end - I don't generally photograph events, (although I've done a few, as anyone with a semi-decent camera seems to get asked), instead doing more studio work and a bit of sports photography (which I hope to do more of when I buy the new lens). But I was very happy with the picture of Jayme. If I do this again, I might put a bit more focus on portraits, as I tend to forget how much I enjoy doing them with the 50mm. - Bilby (talk) 11:37, 13 June 2012 (UTC)Reply
So a photographer at heart. Wikinews' Original Reporting may give you more scope for written content. --Brian McNeil / talk 11:53, 13 June 2012 (UTC)Reply
Yes, I'll have to do more here. :) I get invited to things on and off, so hopefully I can find something that would be of use. - Bilby (talk) 12:06, 13 June 2012 (UTC)Reply