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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! 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.


WN:AUDIO edit

Great to see someone keen to pick this up; I've a feeling it will be a really good way to get to grips with house style before you try contributing articles.

I will warn that most people who've tried this suffer from burn-out within a few months; if you can recruit others to spread the work it may stay active longer.

Lots of past discussion on audio - I've probably seen most of the good ideas (which hit the burnout/critical mass problems).

Any questions, ask. --Brian McNeil / talk 19:06, 28 March 2011 (UTC)Reply

I think I am here to stay, If there is any updates to the style of which I am to contribute, please let me know. 19:08, 28 March 2011 (UTC)
I don't follow...? Phearson (talk) 19:21, 28 March 2011 (UTC)Reply
Seeing, and going through the process of recording articles that've passed review, will mean you look at your own contributions to see if they seem to meet the same criteria (even if you have not studied such). Does that make more sense to you? --Brian McNeil / talk 20:38, 28 March 2011 (UTC)Reply
Ah! Now I see! Yes, I can see how making audio recs. could help me see MoS, Thank you! Phearson (talk) 20:49, 28 March 2011 (UTC)Reply
  • Great! And as a, forgive the expression, 'newbie', if you can distill this discussion to a few short sentences - likely once you've found a story you want to cover - that would be great. We always seem to ask this of new contributors too late; they've passed a critical threshold and can't readily help others onto the ladder. In wracking my brains over this I've often thought people who've done work on Wikipedia should look at shooting for publish here as if asking for a first GA review on enWP, but that seems like a quite daunting target to set. Likewise, pointing people at our WN:FA content. We really need an 'outsider's' take on that to encourage people to persist, and so on... --Brian McNeil / talk 21:28, 28 March 2011 (UTC)Reply
Sounds French. Phearson (talk) 01:36, 29 March 2011 (UTC)Reply
Yes, it does. But the word is in fact indigenous (Mapudungun) Diego Grez return fire 01:38, 29 March 2011 (UTC)Reply
I'm glad to see someone making use of the {{Audio box 2}} template. Kamnet and I (and a few others) spent a great deal of time working on various incarnations of that template, and then it hardly got used. Note that if for some reason you ever need a more modifiable version of the Audio box template, you can use {{Audio box}}. It works exactly the same way as the Audio box 2 template, but with far more parameters for you to adjust, if you deem it necessary. Gopher65talk 01:47, 29 March 2011 (UTC)Reply
Wow, thanks. Could you also update the cheat sheet please? Phearson (talk) 01:54, 29 March 2011 (UTC)Reply
Done. I started doing that before I read your comment, heh. Gopher65talk 02:06, 29 March 2011 (UTC)Reply
Oops, forgot to update the cheatsheet while I was updating the various help sections. So *now* I'm done;). Gopher65talk 14:53, 29 March 2011 (UTC)Reply

Divorce article edit

Just to let you know, there's no revision that occurred on 19:30 today, because it hasn't occured yet. Did you mean 15:30? --Patrick M (TUFKAAP) (talk) 20:10, 28 March 2011 (UTC)Reply

Corrected to last major which was peer review. Phearson (talk) 20:32, 28 March 2011 (UTC)Reply

Earth Hour recording edit

Thank you for that. You have a very pleasant accent and I enjoyed listening to it. Thanks! Mattisse (talk) 23:31, 28 March 2011 (UTC)Reply

You're welcome! If you want any more done, please contact me. Phearson (talk) 23:33, 28 March 2011 (UTC)Reply

Your contributions edit

Thank you for your enthusiasm and contributions! It's not often we get new editors with this much energy. I've just published one of your articles. You might want to check the (very minor) corrections I made: specifically, use of the date= parameter in the {{source}} template and avoiding using all caps for the author= parameter (for some reason, the template will automatically make it lowercase anyway). Thanks! Tempodivalse [talk] 18:35, 29 March 2011 (UTC)Reply

Thanks much! Phearson (talk) 18:45, 29 March 2011 (UTC)Reply

Us prez audio edit

I noticed you added the audio template, but it doesn't look like the file is uploaded? Bawolff 18:35, 31 March 2011 (UTC)Reply

Working on it... might be a glitch... Phearson (talk) 18:40, 31 March 2011 (UTC)Reply

Yellow Arrows asks for help edit

I noticed [1] your comment on my deleted story, in which you stated the point of view, "Mercy Delete! - Fails NPOV." Because of your emotional remark, I read WN:NPOV. Also, years ago I read it's equivalent on English Wikipedia more than once. While I think I have been following the policy all along, I'm writing to say I try to write objectively and follow the other policies and am surprized at people who claim my writing is less than adequate. However good my writing, I am aware that not getting blocked is mercy, considering the nature of power.--Chuck Marean (talk) 17:51, 7 April 2011 (UTC)Reply

I didn't delete it. I requested deletion, it appeared to be a publicity PR release. Phearson (talk) 17:56, 7 April 2011 (UTC)Reply

Get reviewer edit

Mind if I nominate you for the rights? (in case you haven't already done so...) :) Diego Grez return fire 23:52, 9 April 2011 (UTC)Reply

I will accept your nomination. Phearson (talk) 03:21, 10 April 2011 (UTC)Reply
Okay, done. WN:RFP#Phearson (talk · contribs – Edit rights) Diego Grez return fire 21:39, 10 April 2011 (UTC)Reply

Accreditation request edit

Your accreditation request was a success. Please contact user:Brian McNeil for your wikinewsie e-mail address. Diego Grez return fire 21:29, 10 April 2011 (UTC)Reply

Reviewer Promotion edit

I have promoted you to the Wikinews:Reviewer class, entrusting you with the ability to mark revisions of articles as sighted (review). Please take a moment to read:

You are welcome to use {{User Wikinews reviewer}}.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask for help on my talk page, and thank you for contributing to Wikinews!

Diego Grez return fire 13:27, 12 April 2011 (UTC)Reply

Belated congratulations on making reviewer.
Another page that may be useful: WN:Tips on reviewing articles, noting the rule of thumb at #How much to do and —especially useful because it collects a lot of info that's scattered all over the project, with links to where most of it comes from— #Checklist. --Pi zero (talk) 05:17, 16 April 2011 (UTC)Reply

Talk:Li Na,Chinese are priding for you! edit

Talk page of deleted article, mind me deleting that? Gryllida (% talk) 05:44, 5 June 2011 (UTC)Reply

I was reviewing it. But go ahead, I think that it fit the CSD criteria. Phearson (talk) 05:45, 5 June 2011 (UTC)Reply

Thanks, someone else deleted the story as it's "no context, not news". Done. Gryllida (% talk) 05:59, 5 June 2011 (UTC)Reply

French ban on FB, Twitter edit

Thanks for reviewing the article! I really appreciate it Ragettho (talk) 06:39, 5 June 2011 (UTC)Reply

Rule of thumb edit

Not quite sure how to strike the right note on this, since you've been so helpful in pitching in with the review queue, but did want to remind you of the rule of thumb on copyediting, which serves several different purposes at once. --Pi zero (talk) 11:41, 5 June 2011 (UTC)Reply

Ah! Here's an approach that might have worked neatly. I could have presented it as a "plug" for the rule of thumb.
(One suspects all sapient species would recognize the common experience of thinking too late of what one ought to have said. :-) --Pi zero (talk) 12:43, 5 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
I am sure what exactly you are trying to get at, as I feel you are being very "tip-toey" around the subject. I am no stranger to direct criticism [2]. I'm guessing that one or more articles I have reviewed were not up to par, and you asking me to be more stringent, and use peer review in a way that matches the same strictness as if I was reviewing a medical essay. Phearson (talk) 15:02, 5 June 2011 (UTC)Reply
I was being direct, or trying to. I meant to encourage you to tune your reviewing habits closer to the rule of thumb — not for any one reason, but for the totality of advantages of the rule of thumb.
"[I]f it should ever happen that nothing else came up during review, always try to find some useful copyedit or other to make before reviewing." Admittedly, we've some very good writers, but there's usually at least some small —useful— thing that can be done. In addition to the advantages mentioned on the Tips page (keeping both reviewer and author(s) on their toes), seeing visible evidence of the review effort is good for community morale, as otherwise, passing review becomes a behind-the-scenes effort whose sheer size can be underappreciated. --Pi zero (talk) 18:52, 12 July 2011 (UTC)Reply

Thanks edit

Hello Phearson. Thanks for reviewing Study shows long-term couples more satisfied with relationships and sex lives. I'm glad that you found no need for copyedits, though I had to correct a slight spelling error shortly after publication. I'm sure it really isn't a big deal, though. Ragettho (talk) 01:26, 13 July 2011 (UTC)Reply

SF shooting edit

I have removed the time as the source I forgot to list (D'oh) is not reliable as it provides self-contradictory facts about the shoot. Regards, Avenue X at Cicero (talk) 17:52, 21 August 2011 (UTC)Reply

Somehow you ended up sighting a version of this unpublished article. Unpublished pages in mainspace mustn't have any sighted version. When this happens, you can view the sighted version, go to the bottom, and there'll be a button there to unaccept it. --Pi zero (talk) 20:05, 22 August 2011 (UTC)Reply

Acknowledged. Phearson (talk) 20:08, 22 August 2011 (UTC)Reply

Did you intend to sight this change? It was made by an IP, and I wondered if you'd included it in your sight by accident. --Pi zero (talk) 21:30, 23 August 2011 (UTC)Reply

No I did not. Apologies. Phearson (talk) 21:34, 23 August 2011 (UTC)Reply

Hello Phearson. Your comments on this article states: '"...cartoon published in the Sierra Express Media insinuating that First Lady Sia Nyama Koroma hands out bribes in return for political support." None of the source provided says this.'

The second source provided in the list (http://news.sl/drwebsite/publish/article_200518497.shtml) contains the sentence: "On Monday 1st August, Sierra Express Media published a cartoon that depicts the First Lady giving money to one Florence Kattah in return for political support." This is towards the bottom of the article.

Per request of editor, I reviewed Verifiability. The cartoon part does exist, I have overlooked it. It does Pass. Please fix the other issues before presenting for review again. Phearson (talk) 01:01, 24 August 2011 (UTC)Reply

EU increases 2012 budget by two per cent edit

Hi. Listening to the audio, it sounds to me like you say "one hundred twenty nine million Euros". But the article (and its BBC source for the info) read one hundred twenty nine billion Euros. --Pi zero (talk) 14:09, 21 November 2011 (UTC)Reply

Audio has been retracted for correction. Phearson (talk) 14:16, 21 November 2011 (UTC)Reply

arson edit

That article contained at least one serious error, which I was about to fix when I discovered it had been published since my last copyedit. I apologize for not using {{under review}}, but you missed this. Could you please review my correction? (I'm going to proceed with looking for other problems in the article, since I was most of the way through my review.) --Pi zero (talk) 03:01, 6 January 2012 (UTC)Reply

I think there were only the two errors remaining (Cocoaguy sighted my fix to the second).
What happened with this? Your publish was only three minutes after two copyedits by Cocoaguy, and one minute before that was a copyedit by me. I've gotta be honest, this looks for all the world like a rubber stamp publication.
It's not at all a rhetorical question; what happened? --Pi zero (talk) 03:25, 6 January 2012 (UTC)Reply
I think its obvious, I passed it without noticing the two errors. Phearson (talk) 03:35, 6 January 2012 (UTC)Reply
(Just noting, for the written record, that our discussion shifted to IRC at this point, and I hope we cleared things up on both sides (including the drawbacks of the phrasing of my original question). Twitchy software seems to have helped catalyze the situation.) --Pi zero (talk) 04:33, 6 January 2012 (UTC)Reply
Something else deeply disturbing about this needs to be pointed out, besides the prospect of an article being published based on a review of a significantly earlier version than the one published: You said the version you were reviewing was from half an hour earlier, and (as I recall) just after submission for review. Assuming it was half an hour (rather than just after submission, which would be an hour and a half), this means you didn't only miss the two errors I corrected post-publish, you also missed several others, including one libel-bait (saying he did it, rather than was alleged to have). --Pi zero (talk) 12:35, 14 January 2012 (UTC)Reply

Rapper Snoop Dogg arrested on cannabis charges edit

Um, hi. I really wrestled with myself on this, but couldn't convince myself, working with the current form of the article, that it's newsworthy. Review comments, detailed edit history. So I left it to you to try to convince me, if you see a way to do so; though willing to believe there is a way, I myself don't visualize it. The most significant fact I noticed in the sources that wasn't in the article was his comments about medical use, but although that would make the article probably one sentence longer, it's not clear to me it would help enough with newsworthiness. --Pi zero (talk) 04:41, 10 January 2012 (UTC)Reply

I see your concerns, but I think there is some inaccuracies and things that are considered subjective. To me, it doesn't really matter how many times one has been to jail for a repeated offense. I didn't see anywhere in the sources that suggested that he was on the drug for medical use (but I'll look again). I'll address other issues via the article page. Phearson (talk) 04:53, 10 January 2012 (UTC)Reply
If it's happened often, then for newsworthiness either there'd have to be something distinctive about this particular incident (doesn't seem to be), or the story would have to make this incident a hook on which to hang a broader story — noting, to those familiar with this artist I don't think the frequency of his drug arrests/convictions would be news (so to speak).
The source passage I recall seeing about medical use mentioned California. --Pi zero (talk) 05:10, 10 January 2012 (UTC)Reply

FR/RFP edit

I have asked several questions of you at the discussion. --Pi zero (talk) 15:48, 14 January 2012 (UTC)Reply

Replied. Phearson (talk) 16:04, 14 January 2012 (UTC)Reply
After being somewhat flummoxed yesterday what to say next in the discussion, after sleeping on it I came up with a remark, which I have posted there. --Pi zero (talk) 15:39, 15 January 2012 (UTC)Reply

User:Wikiwatchcom edit

Thanks for catching this, btw. I recognized the m.o. and submitted a request at WN:CU#Marciano. --Pi zero (talk) 17:53, 14 January 2012 (UTC)Reply

NP. Phearson (talk) 17:55, 14 January 2012 (UTC)Reply

Thanks for the audio addition edit

Thank you for adding the audio to this article!

What did you think of it? -- Cirt (talk) 18:03, 14 September 2012 (UTC)Reply

It was nicely written and very easy to voice. More background though on the subject would have been nice. Phearson (talk) 18:20, 14 September 2012 (UTC)Reply
Okay thanks, will keep that in mind for next time! ;) Thanks again! Cheers, -- Cirt (talk) 18:25, 14 September 2012 (UTC)Reply

Request for reviewing and other assistance edit

Hi. Next week is the start of the IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships and two Wikinewies will be attending to cover the para-alpine skiing ahead of the 2014 Winter Paralympics . This is part of an effort outlined at Wikinews:IPC Alpine Ski World Championships. Immediately following this event, there will be a Meetup in Barcelona where Wikinews, the Paralympics and efforts to similar sport coverage will be discussed. At the moment, there are only two active reviewers on a daily basis. Demonstrating an ability to get reviews for these types of events done quickly is important for Wikinews credibility and gaining access to these types of events. I would really appreciate it if you could sign up on the IPC World Championship page to review, promote articles published during this period, assist in translating these articles into another language or attend the meetup in Barcelona. Thanks. --LauraHale (talk) 09:31, 15 February 2013 (UTC)Reply

Wikinews Writing contest 2013 is here. :) Please sign up to participate? edit

We've created the Wikinews:Writing contest 2013, which will start on April 1 and end on June 1. It is modeled on the successful 2010 contest. It would be a really great time for you, as a Wikinews accredited reporter, to do some original reporting and conduct interviews. People should be around to interview to prevent a backlog, and several reviewers have access to scoop to make it easier to review any original reporting you do. If you are interested in signing up, please do so on Wikinews:Writing contest 2013/entrants. There is at least one prize on offer for the winner along with the opportunity to earn some barn stars as a way of thanking you for your participation. :D --LauraHale (talk) 10:20, 25 March 2013 (UTC)Reply

Wikinews:Inactive Policy edit

Per the proposed inactive policy, yopur account has been nominated to have its privileges reduced. --

I do apologize for my lack of work to wikinews. I have been trying to stay away from the computer to address health concerns. But I will attempt to resume voice work tomorrow. Phearson (talk) 00:41, 17 October 2013 (UTC)Reply

Privileges edit

 
Busy elsewhere? We understand, but this is a notice of privilege expiry!

Note! Your privileges on English Wikinews have been reduced.

Under the Privilege expiry policy (enacted October 13, 2012) the rights held by your user account have been reduced due to inactivity, or lack of privilege use. You can view your user rights log here.
Point 4 of the Privilege expiry policy provides for fast-tracking reacquisition of privileges. We all understand that real-life commitments can severely curtail the level of commitment you can give to Wikinews; the privilege reduction is in no way intended as a reflection on your past work, or to imply you are unwelcome. The aim in curtailing privileges is to address security risks, and concern that a long period of inactivity means you may not be up-to-date with current policy and practices.
Per this version of WN:RfP, you may review the public announcement of this change. --Brian McNeil / talk 09:59, 29 October 2013 (UTC)Reply

Audio?? edit

Are you still doing audio? Why won't the audio player 'play' button show up on most of the articles?? Browser problem on my end, maybe?--Bddpaux (talk) 17:26, 26 July 2021 (UTC)Reply

CSS issues. We should ask someone who knows CSS to fix it.
•–• 17:34, 26 July 2021 (UTC)Reply

Just so you know........ edit

....you're always welcome to come back here!--Bddpaux (talk) 23:18, 30 July 2021 (UTC)Reply

Good to see you ... edit

Good to see you checking in. Cheers, SVTCobra 14:35, 15 April 2023 (UTC)Reply

Hi there. I was actually left a message on commons praising me about my enunciation. <.> I have become a musician in my time away. Phearson (talk) 14:39, 15 April 2023 (UTC)Reply
The audio quality was also a lot improved (unsurprisingly since it's been a decade), no doubt due to whatever equipment you have as a musician. Looks like you were mostly active when I was in a period of inactivity. SVTCobra 14:52, 15 April 2023 (UTC)Reply