GUIDELINES FOR CITIZEN JOURNALISTS
These guidelines may be followed by Citizen Journalists (CJs) covering the election campaign.
Don’t shy away from writing:
- You may have always dreamed if writing and seeing your name published but have shied away thinking that you are not a trained writer or journalist.
- You can never imagine your write-ups to find place in even the rag-tag newspapers of your area. But the desire to write and see your name published somewhere is there.
- Don’t lose heart. Merinews invites you to realize your long cherished dream.
- Find out the tips to be a writer. You may find that you won’t stop smiling.
Tips for writing:
- Here’s a secret – to write clearly you need to think clearly. Once you have done that, writing is as easy as cake walk.
- Find out the areas close to your heart. What affects you the most? Is it the beggar on the street corner, shoe-shine boy, vanishing playgrounds and parks in your city, insecurity of girls and women to move about freely, growing criminalisation, corruption, education system, relationship… in fact you may write on just about anything under the son.
- It’s easier to write on subjects that you feel passionate about.
- Gather your thoughts. The best way to harness the mind is to sit quietly for sometime and allow your thoughts on the subject to flow.
- Keep a pen and paper (note book or diary) ready with you.
- Don’t worry if you find that no sentences are flowing. It may be words, phrases, quotes, something you read somewhere that you recall. Note these down.
- Now start asking yourself questions, the five W’s (Who, What, Where, When & Why) and one H (How). For example, if you are thinking about hunger, your answers might be ‘the poor’ (Who), find out its definition (Google, dictionary, books, etc) to get an answer for ‘What is hunger?’ Next question could be ‘Where?’ (Your answers could range from African countries, Third World countries, India, your state, a locality / slum). Treat other questions similarly.
- Always decide the pitch of the story - a poor beggar (individual) to a community (Mushars – a low tribe that eats rats and are untouchables). It could also be a neighbourhood slum, your city, etc. But, it’s best to keep your pitch small – beggar boy or the nearby slum.
- Note down whatever comes to your mind.
- Organise your notes.
- Next, do research and homework in the subject. Talk to people who know about this topic. Surf the Net.
- Make notes.
- When you feel that you have sufficient matter to write 10 pages, just get down to writing a page or two (not more)
- You may write in white heat, in one big flow (that’s the best), but if it’s laboured, ask yourself why am I writing this. Ask if your next sentence is providing any new information, if not, don’t write.
- Keep your sentences short and simple. One way of doing is to imagine that you are writing for a child who is in class IV. You may address it to some young child you know (read Jawaharlal Nehru’s letters to his daughter Indira Gandhi).
- Don’t try to impress your readers with big and difficult words. You will lose the flow and make a laughing stock of yourself.
- Well, if you still have problem and think that you cannot write one-page, then write about 150 words.
- Write in short, crisp sentences and small paragraphs (two or three lines)
- Remember one thing, writing is all about practice
- Assign a couple of hours everyday to writing something
- A good attempt could be to start writing your diary, in an interesting way
- In seven to 10 days, you will notice the change. But you MUST BE VERY REGULAR.
Cover the current parliamentary / assembly election:
- Election in our country is like a Big Tamasha. It offers many colours, moods, scandals, masalas
- There is no dearth of subjects, if you keep your eyes and ears open
- Read two or three newspapers thoroughly
- Make notes while reading
- If there is something interesting, write about it, in simple language (your own language, don’t copy a word)
- Don’t look at the article(s) while writing, no matter how strong the temptation
- If you are happy with your work, honestly, send it to us
- You may just write a few sentences and SMS it to us (25 to 100 words), if you see something startling, interesting
- It could be some interesting / odd thing that you may have noticed about your Neta and may like to share it with us
- You may write short pieces (150 words to 300 words)
- You may also click pictures and send it with captions to us
- And if you can write anything in 400 words or more, then you may be sure that you are allowing the dormant writer within you to wake up
What can you write about?
Any issue that affects you:
EDUCATION - SOCIAL SECURITY - GOVERNANCE - CORRUPTION - RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI)
HUMAN RIGHTS - TERRORISM - COMMUNALISM - MAFIA RULE - CRIMINALIZATION OF POLITICS
MONEY AND POLITICS - WOMEN’S RIGHTS - BONDED LABOUR - CHILD TRAFFICKING - HEALTH SERVICES - POLICE & CRIME
The options are endless (the list is suggestive, not exhaustive)
You may also send us Snippets(Just In)– small write ups in 100 words or more about the election.
You may also send us 10 words or more, if there is a major Breaking Story in your area.
ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD BE FEATURED ON ‘MERINEWS – ELECTION 2009’ PAGE
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Write today. Write about the issues that concern you.
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