To keep the site focused on news, we are asking all Digital Journalists to publish articles only on current affairs, as opposed to creative writing or blog-like posts.
While we will continue to operate an open forum, we are asking for Digital Journalists to follow these new guidelines. We want this site's talented writers to win more attention around the world, and the best way to accomplish that is through reporting on timely news.
Editorial Guidelines: How DJ Should Be Different
There are a number of blog sites and creative writing forums that offer places to publish articles on "Why my job sucks," or "The History of Running Shoes" but that place is not DJ. We are asking all Digital Journalists to stick to news, and make each report about more than just your opinion.
Structuring Your Article
First, write articles by answering the Five W's: Who did what? Why did it happen? What occurred? When did it happen? Where? (And sometimes answer "How" something happened or "How" it is going to impact others).
Starting today, Digital Journal is only permitting news articles — diary entries and Op-Eds that have nothing to do with news are not the direction we want to take on DJ. That means news articles must focus on current affairs reporting. Digital Journalists have a responsibility to focus on the news first, reporting on the facts backed up by embedded links. Any kind of commentary or analysis must be supported by sourced evidence and should be marked as an Opinion post.
We encourage writers to shoot their own photos to accompany editorial. Writers can also find legal photos to use from the Web, but please follow the guidelines found in this
blog post.
In addition, Digital Journalists are encouraged to engage in the standard processes of any journalist, including first-person interviews, accurate
sourcing/linking, statistical evidence, quoting in context and supplemental photography. Also, users should try to be "on the ground" for intriguing news stories that occur in their own hometown (Digital Journalist
Carol Forsloff offers an example of this technique, reporting on a talk about the danger American cities
face when they are surrounded by levees).
So what kind of articles are we trying to stay away from? Posts of creative writing, diary-like entries on the day in the life of a Digital Journalist, watery stories on the origin of the flute, for example — these types of articles do not have a place on a news site.
Maybe you're having trouble thinking of a good idea. Why not try checking out DigitalJournal.com's
Assignment Desk, found at the top of the page when you click POST NEWS. These are stories that need to be covered now, ranging from politics to health to sports.
Make Sure You Know How to Write an Opinion Piece/Op-Ed
An opinion-based article, an op-ed, must still follow journalistic standards. Look in any newspaper and read an op-ed (found on the opposite page of editorials…thus, opposite editorial or op-ed). Journalists always support their opinion with accurate facts and evidence, often using a timely news story to launch into a column focusing on current affairs. These kinds of articles are welcome on DigitalJournal.com, instead of op-eds based solely on someone's opinion about a random topic.
For example: We don't want an article on why the a certain war is a failure, using only personal beliefs as evidence. Instead, an op-ed on this issue should use breaking news as a launching pad to explain a writer's opinion — if you spent time in this war zone you can write about it, or if X number of people are killed in a firefight, you can start your Op-Ed with the news event, then give your opinion backed by sourced facts, statistics, quotes or any other equivalent documentation.
To make sure DigitalJournal.com stays a news site, any article that doesn't uphold these values of news reportage will be deactivated by Digital Journal Staff. Digital Journalists will receive a message if their post is taken down.
As we have stated before, the Digital Journal brand is strong and well-known, and we are continually looking to bring first-rate journalism to the site. We have given you the platform, Digital Journalists, and now you have the responsibility to give readers an accurate assessment of the world's news, as you see it.
We look forward to the cooperation of all users on this matter. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to post them below. Also, check out the
group of tips and tricks for Digital Journalists.
