We're really proud of the fact that our contributor base ranges from first time writers to experienced content producers. And as a small team with a big mission, we're constantly learning how best to manage our editorial process to create a body of content that's enjoyable, accessible, and diverse. We want to be totally transparent with our contributors on how their idea goes from a pitch to a published piece – here's the rundown:
Step 1: Send us a pitch!
If you've got an idea for an article, send us an email to contribute@ecnmy.org with:
- The introductory paragraph to your piece
- Five bullet points outlining the story arch and conclusion of your piece
- Any examples of previous work
- Sources, deadline & rates (we're a charity with limited funds, so ask that you keep this in mind in your proposal!)
More details on this process can be found here.
Step 2: Editing your first draft
If your piece is time-sensitive, we'll aim to get back to you on the same day you send us your first draft, either with an edit, or with some suggestions for changes you can make and re-submit in a second draft.
This doesn’t mean that we think your contribution is rubbish! Whether you’re a seasoned journalist or someone who only started thinking about the economy yesterday, it’s standard practice in ‘the industry’ that your contribution will go through a few stages before being presented to the world. Plus, we're trying to do something that's never been done before, so we're constantly learning what works best – it's an experimental process.
If your piece isn't time-sensitive, we might take a few days to get back to you. If you've not heard from us for a while, give us a nudge - we haven’t forgotten about you, we’ve just got a lot of content to get through and not enough hours in the day!
The Economy voice
All sites and publications try and have a consistent ‘voice’. This refers to the tone and style of all our content, from articles, videos or podcasts. Some try to be funny, others more serious. We want ours to be friendly and playful, at the same time as being straightforward and inquisitive (here's a list of our ten 'golden rules' on tone and style.) As we’re editing, as well as checking that any contributions are fact-checked and well argued, we also want to make sure that we’re speaking in a consistent way. This isn’t because we don’t like your voice – we want your contributions to tell your story – but because our number one priority is creating a simple and accessible experience for the end user.
Step 3: Ready to go
Once the piece is ready to go, we'll get your piece prepped in our content management system and put it up as soon as we can. We may make a few additional tweaks in between your final edit and publication to make sure it suits our tone and style, and is appropriate for a digital audience. Take a look at our editorial policy for more info on how we do this (we know it sounds a bit dull, but it’s short (honest) and pretty easy to read!)
Step 4. It's up!
Once your contribution is published, help us spread the word! Share it on Facebook, tweet it, print out a few copies for your gran... anything you can think of.
Step 5. Your feedback
It’s important that you’re happy with what the final piece looks like. We'll always check with you before making any substantial changes, and will send it to you as soon as it's up. If there's anything you’re really unhappy with, let us know and we’ll work with you to produce something that works for everyone.
Step 6. Got another idea?
Make sure you sign up to our contributor mailout – you’ll get a weekly email from us with what we're looking for that week. Even better, send us your own ideas in the pitch format outlined on the Contribute page. If you're not sure it's 'economics-y' enough, send it anyway and one of our editorial team will talk it through with you.