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, Stephenwanjau! 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.


-- 17:27, 7 October 2011 (UTC)

Tuju dismisses calls for talks with the MRC edit

Hi. The article in its current form is not ready for publication. See the review comments. --Pi zero (talk) 04:06, 25 May 2012 (UTC)Reply

KANU's Illegal transfer of 6.5m Kenyan shillings edit

Unfortunately, this isn't fresh anymore. --Pi zero (talk) 02:52, 29 May 2012 (UTC)Reply

It is still here in Kenya, in fact it was on the TV broadcast this morning. stephenWanjau Talk to Me. Email Me. 03:05, 29 May 2012 (UTC)Reply

Blast in Mombasa edit

Hi. Though not-ready for publication, I tried to provide feedback in my review comments on a variety of points. See also the detailed history of edits during review. --Pi zero (talk) 13:12, 26 June 2012 (UTC)Reply

Ghana President Mills dies aged 68 edit

This isn't far from publishable. It has an unverified fact and should be filled out a little. See my review comments and the detailed history of edits during review. --Pi zero (talk) 19:26, 24 July 2012 (UTC)Reply

Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi dies at 57‎ edit

Hi. I reviewed Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi dies at 57‎. I made some copy edits to bring it into more compliance with the style guide. It should be a relatively easy fix to get it passed: Mention how old he was when he died and mention in there some where the human rights issues. If that is done, it should be good to go. --LauraHale (talk) 12:29, 22 August 2012 (UTC)Reply

Workshop edit

Timing for tomorrow's workshop is set for 2pm (1300 UTC).

Sorry time announced so late, but our Australian visitors for the Paralympics have been incommunicado, and airborne. --Brian McNeil / talk 17:46, 25 August 2012 (UTC)Reply