Tips for writing a good article

From Minnewiki

If you want to write a good, informative article that deserves to be shared on MPR sites or referred to on the air, start right here.

A good article isn't just well-written, it is complete, accurate, and clear of bias. It will cover the basics: who, what, when, where. This merges together into an informative article people can rely on or use as a reference.

• Know your subject. Research it from multiple Web sites and media sources.

• Keep the basics in mind (who, what, when, where) and present it in an easily understood order. Avoid bias - seek the neutral voice. This is about information, not a sales pitch or criticism.

• Open your page with a direct paragraph that covers the most important points, so the reader has a sense of the artist/venue immediately.

• Don't simply copy & paste information, even if the source is in the public domain. Watch the line of plagiarism, comply with copyrights, and cite the sources you've used. Not only does it give credit where it is due, but it supports your research.

• Links to media sources should include the title, the correct location, and should go to the top level of the page rather than directly to the media file. Example: don't link directly to audio without permission from a site. The context is important and the reader is expecting to reach another Web site.

• Images are nice, but too many images are unnecessary and detract from the information. Make sure every image has a correct and informative caption.

• Run a spell check in a word processing program. Take a look at the preview page to make sure everything looks the way you want it to.