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.

Tempo di Valse ♪ 01:11, 23 March 2009 (UTC)Reply

FedEx jet crash lands in Tokyo, burns edit

Is it possible to not word this article identically to the similar article on wikipedia. They are not compatible with each other, and should use a different copy, version, text here from there. SriMesh | talk 01:27, 23 March 2009 (UTC)Reply

I am fairly new here myself, however that is the story about articles between wp and wn. Just as you would paraphrase information from the newspaper articles, for wp do that here on wn as well. SriMesh | talk 01:32, 23 March 2009 (UTC)Reply
You seem to be starting out quite well!! SriMesh | talk 01:39, 23 March 2009 (UTC)Reply
I revised the wp article a bit so they would not be the same as each other. Good luck with your article on WN. As it is a recent crash, I think you can add the template {{Breaking review}} when you are finished developing the article...rather than the template {{Review}}SriMesh | talk 02:01, 23 March 2009 (UTC)Reply
Good job on your first article, I hope you decide to write a few more! SriMesh | talk 23:45, 23 March 2009 (UTC)Reply

User:Tempodivalse/Writing contest edit

Hello! I noticed you're online today. Just wanted to let you know there's an article writing contest that's currently in progress. If you're interested in joining, drop a line at the above link. Thanks! Tempo di Valse ♪ 03:07, 24 March 2009 (UTC)Reply

Oh, okay. Just a suggestion.   Cheers. Tempo di Valse ♪ 03:16, 24 March 2009 (UTC)Reply

Hi, I've reviewed your article U.S. Treasury Chief: "We need the ability to seize firms". I've failed it on peer review because I think it needs more discussion of the case against expanding the Treasury's powers, rather than simply citing Geithner's, Frank's, and Bernanke's arguments in favor. --Killing Vector (talk) 19:19, 24 March 2009 (UTC)Reply

Fargo, North Dakota, prepares for record flooding edit

Read you article, and see you are from that neck of the woods. Are you going to do original reporting and photos? Are you in any danger or will you need to evacuate at all? I hope you don't mind that I popped up a Canadian flood article. It is very scary, especially when you have family and friends dealing with it. Best regards and hope things go well where your are.SriMesh | talk 23:28, 27 March 2009 (UTC)Reply