A Peek Behind the Curtain: The Creation of an Article

Written by Daniel MacGregor

Thumbnail Photo by Ashley West Edwards on Unsplash

If you are reading this article, you are probably familiar with The Journal at some level (though if this is your first article, welcome to Saint Mary's student newspaper, run by and for students). A lot of unseen work goes into forging each piece, as, unlike fiction, non-fiction journalism cannot be based solely on one's imagination. So, for the sake of those with interest in The Journal or joining the world of journalism through other means, let's go through the process. Buckle up while we break the fourth wall and peek behind the curtain at the journey of an online newspaper article, from start to finish.

Part One: The Idea

Writing is often seen as the most important aspect of creating an article, but this step requires a subject to be written on before any words can be typed. Though this idea varies depending on the writer, the general process is the same. Contributors write most of The Journal’s articles, all of whom write for a dedicated column. These contributors are students at the university who regularly contribute articles to The Journal. In addition, each contributor is responsible for writing regular articles on a roughly monthly basis. The type of column influences the ideas we bring to the table; as an Arts & Culture contributor's ideas will differ significantly from those of an Athletics contributor, though the process is similar. We search for the topics that interest readers, that have actual substance to write about, and which can be done in time to meet submission deadlines. Furthermore, the topic has to have some sort of connection to Saint Mary’s University or the larger student experience. For instance, as an Arts & Culture contributor, I search for ideas based on what artistic events occur in Halifax. Given this, Eventbrite is my best friend. Still, the Alumni contributor would watch more closely what Alumni events the university is hosting. The next step is to pitch the idea to the Executive Editor and await approval.

Part Two: The Research

Still not at the actual writing, because once the idea has been approved, it is necessary to find the information to be included in the article. In general, articles can be put into one of three broad categories: research-based, interview-based, and fieldwork (though in practice, all three categories can be mixed and matched). For example, the article on 12 important days of international recognition was a research-based article, written by combing through related online sources, monographs, and event pages. The second type of article involves conducting an interview; this interviewee could be someone directly involved or featured in the article, an expert on the topic, or someone indirectly involved. For example, the article on SMU alumna Elfinesh Zewde was based on an interview with Zewde. Finally, the article exploring Georges Island was based on a firsthand exploration of the island. Articles are best done when all three formats are combined, though time constraints can be a limiting factor, not to mention the Journals staff are all students as well.

Part Three: The Writing

Now for the part where words hit the page. This part can be the most intimidating of the whole process due to the pressure of actually writing. Given that the end product is judged on the quality of writing, which when combined with a general feeling of self-doubt and the pressure of having to craft an article every month, can lead to some stress. While it is necessary to write a well-rounded and informative article that meets the Journal standards, it is  also important not to go on a lengthy rant. A maximum word count ensures that readers and editors are not forced to read novella length articles. Additionally, there is the often-futile attempt to avoid minor grammatical errors, and the necessity to be as factually accurate as possible in each article. As grim as the writing process may sound, it is also the most rewarding, because this is where the ideas and research carefully constructed and gathered by the contributor start to take shape.

Part Three and a Half: Photos

This part can vary depending on the publication, but for The Journal, the contributor has to find at least two photos to go along with each article. These photos could be provided by an interviewee, taken by the contributor while in the field, or in most cases, acquired from a free use platform such as Unsplash, which has a plethora of context appropriate pictures, like a pen resting on a notepad. The most important aspect of this half step is to ensure you do not use copyrighted photos without permission, because no one wants to deal with that legal problem.

Step Four: Editing

Contrary to popular belief, the journalistic world is not solely occupied by contributors. Before anything gets published, it is taken through the gauntlet of editor oversight, usually involving multiple editing rounds by multiple editors. Contributors, like all people, are prone to make mistakes or overlook minor things. At this step, the editors correct and give suggestions for everything within the article. For example, if a sentence does not make sense, the editor could add or remove words, or rearrange the whole sentence. After the editors have made their suggestions and the suggested corrections have been made by the contributor, it is time for the final step.

Step Five: Publication

The publication cycle involves contributors supplying an article once a month (at the minimum). In theory, the contributors have two weeks to write an article, then two weeks for the editing process to occur, then the article is published for the world to read.

And that was the trip an article takes from being an idea inside the contributor's mind, all the way to the publication stage. It is sometimes difficult, but ultimately, the opportunity to write for the SMU community is highly rewarding. If you are interested in writing for The Journal, we are currently hiring contributors for our Lifestyle, Athletics, and SMUSA columns.

Claire Keenan