Style Guide

  • UK not US English (e.g., Colour not Color)
  • Succinct and conversational language
  • Excellent spelling and grammar
  • Active rather than passive sentences (Example).
  • Present tense where possible

Avoid repetition, clichéd phraseology and essay-style language

Article Guidelines

  • Short, humorous, informative or fake-news-spotting ‘sleuth’ pieces: 300-600 words
  • Standard opinion piece: 800-1000 words
  • Interviews, Investigations and Focus Features 1000-1500 words
  • Before writing/submitting, check the website and ‘Pending’ section when logging into your writer account to make sure your article isn’t a replica of another one already published or submitted
  • Hyperlink to your source when using quotes or referencing numbers, statistics and facts
  • Do not insert images – check with the Editor first.
  • TS is for time-sensitive pieces. If your article has a short lifespan, add TS into the heading box in front of your chosen headline

Sources

Two types:

  • Primary Sources (the best): Academic Journals, Official Reports, Websites such as Statista, FullFact, Yougov etc.
  • Secondary Sources (to be used in conjunction with primary source): Other Media Publications, Social Media (Twitter, Facebook etc).

NOTE to Writers!

  • Articles that fail to meet the above criteria will be removed without notice
  • TS pieces will normally be published within two weeks of submission

Non-TS pieces can take up to four weeks following submission

To Upload Articles

Once you are accepted for your first article, you will get a writer’s account, to upload further articles, follow these steps:

  1. Click on Member’s Login at the top of the website.
  2. Once logged in or signed up, using your secure username and password, click on Posts.
  3. Click on Add New.
  4. Write or copy and paste your article onto the main post section – place the title at the top in the separate white box.
  5. Add only from the existing tags and categories – if unsure leave blank and the editor will deal with them.
  6. Set the article to Pending for review, and voila, you’re Done!

Warning!

Once your article is pending or scheduled, DO NOT edit it!!!