Marquis de Montcalm

Welcome to Wikinews

Getting started as a contributor How to write an article Pick something current? Use two independent sources? Read your sources before writing the story in your own words?. Do choose a unique title? before you start. 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. 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   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 Neutral point of view Cite sources Writing an article Content guide Style guide Reviewing articles

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.

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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.

Hi!

Hi, welcome to Wikinews and thanks for your contributions. Just as a note, I think you'd like to see Wikinews:For Wikipedians and Wikinews:Style guide. I should also note we do not use <ref> tags on Wikinews. Simple attribution in the prose to the person who said it is adequate. Happy editing, —Mikemoral♪♫ 23:55, 16 July 2010 (UTC)

I reviewed another one; I'd like to note, it was completely rewritten. I highly suggest you do read WN:SG. —Mikemoral♪♫ 01:04, 17 July 2010 (UTC)

It appears you have a subscription to the WSJ, therefore I cannot review Toyota, Tesla to develop electric SUV. If you could, please send me the text of the article via email. Thank you, —Mikemoral♪♫ 01:27, 17 July 2010 (UTC)

Quick note: I published both the Toyota one and Sudanese Army claims to have killed 300 Darfur rebels in clashes, which was much better in terms of style than the last ones—good work. Cheers, C628 (talk) 19:44, 17 July 2010 (UTC)

Factual disaster

Please see Talk:Car bomb in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico kills four. —Mikemoral♪♫ 00:25, 17 July 2010 (UTC)

• More importantly, look at the amount of work you made/left for other contributors. It is very important that you familiarise yourself with the Wikinews:Style guide; It makes many references to important treatises on effective use of the English language. Personally, I recommend Strunk's The Elements of Style. The critical difference is, Wikinews uses downstyle for headlines. -- Brian McNeil (alt. account) /^{alt-talk • main talk} 01:29, 17 July 2010 (UTC)