Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Joining the team and writing different types of articles
• Part 2 of 3: Doing research, interviewing and gathering facts
• Part 3 of 3: Writing the article
• Tips

Writing an article for your school newspaper can be exciting and rewarding, especially when you see your name in block letters! If you haven't contributed to the school paper yet, you may want to try talking to the editor about submitting some test papers first. To write an article, you need to decide what type of article you want to write, check adherence to the guidelines, research your topic, interview sources, and write in the correct newspaper format.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Joining the team and writing different types of articles

1. Apply for a place on the editorial board of the school newspaper. If you are not yet part of the editorial team of the school newspaper, chances are that you will first be able to participate in a trial run to join the team. You will usually be required to submit a number of sample articles to prove that you have sufficient writing and research skills. To find out how this procedure works for your school's newspaper, contact the newspaper staff responsible.
   • Check if there are deadlines for submitting the proof articles, what the editor is looking for in a new member of staff, and if there are meetings where you can find more information.
2. Contact the editors to get an assignment. Once you're on the editorial board, always talk to your editor about getting specific assignments. If you have an idea for an article you want to write, talk to him or her about it and see if it's something you can continue with.
   • If you've been a member for a while, you may have the freedom to choose your own article topics. But until you've gained a little more experience, it's always a good idea to ask for assignments.
3. Write one thematic article to investigate a topic or event in depth. Such articles are generally 1000 words or more, and focus on school policy, governance changes, national legislation that will affect students' lives, and other important situations. When writing a thematic story article, focus on facts and research and include more background information than in other articles.
   • Themed articles are the longest articles in a newspaper, and they often go beyond simple facts around the reasons behind something, such as why an event happened and what it meant for students afterward.
   • An example of a themed article is an article about a new scholarship that is offered for a particular field of study. How it works, who qualifies for it, and facts about the work underlying the scholarship program could make a compelling story.
4. Work on a news article to share information about events or policies. A news article is generally a bit shorter than a theme article, with a size of 750 to 1000 words. Write about information that the students will find interesting or useful, focus on the facts of the story, and provide multiple points of view about the situation. A news article should not focus on personal feelings or opinions.
   • News articles are generally simpler than themed or opinion articles. They convey relevant information in an unbiased manner.
5. Send a editorial piece if you would like to write something about the general opinion. Editorial articles are also called "opinion pieces," and do not contain a byline, which means that your name will not be associated with the article. These pieces are not written in a single first person, are approximately 500 words in length and provide commentary on current, relevant issues.
   • For example, you could write an editorial about school rules, campus events or groups, sports, programs, or teaching methods.
6. Choose to write a column to share your opinion and commit yourself to something. Use the unique first person when writing a column and share your personal thoughts on a variety of topics. For example, you can write an advice column or one about mental health. Columns range from 250 to 750 words.
   • If you want to be a regular columnist for your school newspaper, present a plan to your editor for a series of articles you'd like to work on. For example, you could propose a four-week series about starting a club or practicing self-care.
7. Share an educational article on a specific topic. How to do articles or other educational articles are factual and actionable and can cover many different topics. To keep your articles engaging, make sure to write on topics of interest to students and school life.
   • For example, you could write an article entitled "Top 10 Tips for Less Stress", "Develop Good Study Habits" or "Get in Shape for Summer".
8. Publish reviews to share an objective opinion with the readers. Review something like books, movies, classes, music, and TV shows. Include a brief description of what you are watching and then write about a few objective positives and negatives to help others decide whether to spend their money and time on it.
   • For example, if you write a review about a new film, you can indicate in it what viewer would like the film the most. Maybe it would be great for someone who likes action movies, but not so much fun for someone who prefers comedies.

Part 2 of 3: Doing research, interviewing and gathering facts

1. Before writing an article, check the article submission guidelines. You need to know the minimum and maximum word requirements, deadlines for submitting a design and a final copy, and all other details about style, layout, and production. Some school papers require a minimum number of sources for an article, or you must fact-check your paper before it is approved for editorial work.
   • Talk to your editor, manager or advisor at your faculty for more information.
2. Ask simple questions to gather the basic information for your article. Once you know what you're going to write about, start asking questions. Who, What, What, Where, When, Why, and How are great basic questions to help you get the information you need to write a compelling article. Write down the answers to each of these questions and let them lead you into other areas of research.
   • Who? Find out who was involved - be it students, administrators or other people in your area.
   • What? Write down exactly what you are writing about. Is it an event, a person or an idea? Be as specific as possible.
   • True? Find out where something happened. Is this a topic specific to your school or community, or is it a national topic?
   • When? Write down important dates and times.
   • Why? Identify the reasons behind the topic. Was there a catalyst?
   • How? Connect the rest of your information to determine how an event or topic came about.
3. Interview good sources or witnesses to get quotes. Identify the people you need to talk to and then contact them to arrange an interview. Prepare questions in advance and bring a notebook or recorder so you can take notes. Try to keep the interview in a quiet location, such as a cafe or empty classroom, to make it easier for you and your subject to focus.
   • If you reach out to a person for an interview, let them know who you are and what topic you are writing about, and give them an estimate of how long it will take.
   • When you're done with an interview, take 10 minutes to take additional notes right away. They will still be fresh in your mind and you will be less likely to forget important details.
4. Talk to other students and teachers to get their thoughts on the topic. If you are writing about a topic that affects your peers, ask for their input. Many articles contain quotes from other people, so don't be afraid to do polls or get statements from others.
   • Get permission to use someone's name and words in your article, and write down their quote literally. You can use anonymous sources, but quotes are more compelling if they can be traced back to a specific individual.
5. Review all the information you collect. Even if a reliable source tells you something, you should still check the facts if you can. Of course, opinions cannot be fact-checked. But if someone tells you names, dates, or details that can be verified from another source, take the time to do so.
   • A fact check makes you a more reliable writer and ensures that you take the time to communicate as honestly as possible about a particular topic.
6. Keep an eye on all your research and resources. Whether you're using a notebook, files, or a computer to take notes - develop a consistent article writing system. Write down who said what, where you found a fact and when and on what dates things happened, even your interviews. This will help later if you need to substantiate a claim you have made, or if you need to verify the information in your article.
   • Some journalists dictate notes to themselves or write daily logs of their interviews and research. Find out what works for you and your lifestyle and then stick to it.

Part 3 of 3: Writing the article

1. Use the reverse pyramid style to engage readers. Include the most important details at the beginning of your article and allow them to take up the most space. Each subsequent section may contain general information and background notes, but provides the most compelling information about "who, what, where, when, why, and how" of the story first.
   • Readers will often decide whether to continue reading an article based on the first few sentences.
2. Come up with a catchy headline to entice people to read your article. The headline, or title, should be catchy while conveying the essence of the article in just a few words. Keep the headline short, direct and active. Make sure the tone of the headline matches the tone of the article.
   • Sometimes you will come up with a nice headline before writing the article, but usually you will only know exactly what you want to convey after you have written it. Try to wait until after writing your article to come up with the headline, then make sure it fits the topic at hand.
3. Answer all relevant questions in the first two paragraphs. Don't make each paragraph longer than three or four sentences. Present the information and provide details on the topic in question. Save background information and quotes for the following paragraphs.
   • People who want to learn more about the topic will read on through those first two paragraphs, but people who just want the basics will get their answers without going through the entire article.
4. Write with clear, descriptive language and an engaging tone. Avoid flowery language or superfluous sentences. Be specific and concise and try to make it clear why the topic matters. Use the active voice and an informative tone.
   • For example, instead of saying, `` Director Miller is from rainy Washington state and was a teacher before she served as a director for 15 years, '' you could say something like, `` Director Miller previously lived in Washington and she has more than 15 years of experience in education. '
5. Include quotes that support the content of the article. Where possible, use a quote to convey an opinion (unless you're writing a column) or a guideline. For example, if there is flu in school, include a quote from the school nurse about preventive measures students can take to stay healthy. Quotes should give your article authority and support the facts you present.
   • Always ask for permission to quote someone when interviewing them.
6. Proofread and edit your article before sending it to your editor. Check that your sources are cited correctly, and for grammatical and spelling mistakes. Read your article aloud to listen to difficult sentences or poorly structured paragraphs. You could even have a friend or colleague review your article to see if there are any details you forgot to include.
   • The ability to proofread your own work is an essential part of editorial staff success, and the more you work on it, the better you will become.

Tips

• Be careful what you write to avoid plagiarism from other sources. It is good to use information from others, but make sure you put it in your own words so that it is unique and that you cite sources where necessary.
• If you're having trouble coming up with an idea for an article, ask the editor for an assignment.