User talk:Ecpiandy

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Getting started as a contributor How to write an article Pick something current? Use two independent sources? Read your sources before writing the story in your own words?. Do choose a unique title? before you start. 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. 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, TBrandley! 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   Used to contributing to Wikipedia? See here.

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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.

-- 23:16, 16 December 2011 (UTC)

Your recent article

I just reviewed your recent article about TV show cancellations. I'm really glad that you've picked that topic to write about, because no one else on Wikinews seems to care about it (except me!;)). However, there are some issues with your article:

1) First and foremost, this article cannot be published due to the fact that it's old news. News, by its very nature, must be new. Different publications and websites have different rules regarding just how new something must be for them to consider it news, but here on Wikinews our news can't be more than 3 days old. Realistically, due to the time it takes to write an article and then get reviewed, if the news in question is more than 24 hours old it probably won't get through the writing, reviewing, and publication process in time to be published. Your article is about an event that's several months old, so it can't be published.

2) Articles must adhere to the following restrictions:

• They must answer the 5 Ws and 1H as well as they can (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How)
• Who, What, Where should be answered in the title,
• Who, What, Where, When should be answered in the opening sentence whenever possible. If not, definiately in the first paragraph,
• How and Why should make up most of the rest of the article,
• Articles must be at least 3 short paragraphs long.

3) If an article isn't original reporting (you investigating and interviewing people yourself, etc), it needs to have to least two independent sources.

Example:

July 7, 2012 Person-X (who) was killed (what) in Y-ville (where) yesterday afternoon (when). Blahblahblah a couple sentences of details blahblahblah. The police believe weapon-Z (how) was used to kill him. Theft (why) is thought to be the motive. Blahblahblah a couple sentences of details blahblahblah. This is the 3rd murder in the greater Y-ville area in the past 6 months. Blahblahblah various bits of background info blahblahblah. Sources (in the appropriate format with a linky and stuff): Associated Press Reuters

That is an example of the most basic article type accepted. As you grow more proficent in writing, you'll probably want to add in images, quotes from people, and maybe even your own investigative reporting! But for now, that's the minimum that is expected. (Note that sometimes the "why" of an article isn't applicable. Often if is, but sometimes an article just doesn't have a "why". Use your own judgement, or ask for help if you can't figure it out.)

Thanks for writing for Wikinews! And don't worry about your first article failing review. That happens to almost everyone. — Gopher65_talk 17:16, 8 July 2012 (UTC)

Television show article

I was impressed by what appears to be some of your first efforts at writing here. Excellent try!! That article wasn't ready for publication, but you appeared to've put some concerted effort into writing it. Stick with it!! I don't like to see novice contributors here get their feelings hurt and then run away forever......I've been there myself, but I just kept coming back. There's a certain style of writing here, which you'll have to learn. If you're persistent, you'll get it. Let me know if I can help in any way. Bddpaux (talk) 21:16, 8 July 2012 (UTC)