We’re always looking for students to write and publish what they want to say, and to support you through that process. Join the Slack below to find a topic channel and join the conversation about article ideas and suggestions!
What’s the minimum I need to know for an article?
Details about article length, picture rights and referencing can be found on our helpful resources page.
What should I think about for my article?
The most important thing is to find a topic that you find interesting, and that (hopefully) some other people will be too! Once you have that, everything else takes a backseat - but there are some things you can do or think about that can help frame that idea.
Not everything below will apply to all articles, so trust your instincts first and foremost!
1. Why now?
Why is your article relevant now? What about it means it’s a good time to read what you have to say or to know certain pieces of information. This is a good place to start to understand what the articles should be about.
2. What is the flow of your article?
Where is your article starting and where do you want it to end? The arc of an article is what keeps your article interesting beyond the first few paragraphs. It can be helpful to write down the major bullet points of what you want to cover and play around until you find it flows well from point to point.
3. What information do we not know that would be good to know?
Good articles often give the audience something to think during and after the article is over. You can do that in 2 ways, either by presenting a point of view or or by giving them information they didn’t have before.
This doesn’t mean you have to become an investigative journalist to write an article, a lot of information is readily available online but just requires someone to present it in a good way. If you really want to go that extra mile though - you can always send in a freedom-of-information request - just bear in mind it might take a while to get a response!
4. Who would be good to speak to bring an interesting or different perspective from?
It can help to speak to someone who can provide extra information or opinions to back up or contrast with what you’re saying. Quotes or comments are also useful to substantiate concepts that are less well known. If you’re writing a critical article of a person or institution - it’s also good practice to give them right of reply.