The writing guide is intended to explain what we like, and why we consider it important.
How do I know if my idea is newsworthy?
Ask yourself: Does my article introduce any new ideas or information? Does it address a known issue from a new angle, or does it highlight something that deserves attention but has gone unnoticed or neglected? If your answer to these questions is “yes”, your idea is probably of interest to the OT. Before writing and submitting an article, it’s a good idea to browse through our archives and see whether we have published a similar piece before. Remember: We are interested in new content and new ideas and tend to drop articles that are repetitive or overly general.
The OT also features thematically focused spreads. If your article addresses an issue that fits with our thematic focus for any given issue, it is likely to be interesting to us.
What kind of piece is my submission?
Keep in mind that journalism consists of many different types of articles: News reports, narrative features, original reporting, interviews, opinion articles, essays, satire, and many more. Before beginning to write, ask yourself: What topic am I trying to address, and what kind of article does it require? Sometimes, a topic might best be addressed through a fact-driven article while at other times it might be better to write a personal narrative. Some writers also have a specific style that suits them well. Whatever you decide: Embrace it, and stick with it. It is often better to have an article that does one thing well than to have an article that attempts to be many things at once.
News pieces should be between 200 – 400 words and need to establish all the key facts in the first couple of sentences. We are keen to receive reports on demos, events, political developments, et cetera. Features can be anything from 300 – 1500 words, but we publish few pieces over 1000 words. If in doubt, ask. Word counts can vary quite a bit between different issues and articles.
How should I pick a topic and write about it?
The most important thing: Know your topic! Read, talk to people, gather information, educate yourself. Think about newsworthiness and style. What new ideas are you adding, and what is the best way to convey them?
When you start writing, be specific. It’s often better to focus on a few aspects of a topic in detail than to remain at the level of generalities. For example, instead of writing that the banking system is failing, write an article about the problems of fractional reserve banking (actually, don’t! We already covered that one.) Please don’t write an all-encompassing analysis of the Occupy movement.
Be aware of the limits of your argument and evidence. Your article will often improve significantly if you are conscious of the frame and scope of what you are writing. Don’t make claims that cannot be substantiated by the evidence you present. Also, don’t try to cram too many ideas into a single article. Focus on one or two themes only.
Show, don’t tell. Instead of saying “the banking industry is unethical and corrupt”, tell us some facts which illustrate the point, and let the reader come to the conclusion themselves.
Don’t write “I …”. Unless you are central to the issue, leave yourself out.
Don’t discriminate unfairly against others. The OT is no place for hate and intolerance.
Don’t make your article too time-sensitive. If you send us a piece, it will sometimes not be published for several weeks. When writing, avoid phrases like “last Saturday” or “next week..”, or we will edit them out. If you want to write about time-sensitive issues, contact us about publishing a news brief online.
Avoid repetition.
Avoid repetition.
Avoid irony, sarcasm and cheap gimmicks, unless your article is supposed to be a satire piece. Humour is often hard to translate into writing and, more often than not, fails when printed.
We encourage submissions that offer genuinely new perspectives. Speak your mind, and don’t just rely on quotes from others. We are interested in your own opinion and analysis.