Getting published
News Decoder publishes stories of all forms — articles, podcasts, photo reports, audio recordings and documentaries — and styles. Your submission can be a reported story, a personal reflection essay or an artistic work, such as a poem or musical recording.
Pitch, Report, Draft, Revise is News Decoder’s signature content creation process. No matter the medium, we’ll walk you through these four steps to create a high-quality, balanced and authoritative story that will connect with audiences around the world. Professional journalists follow these steps, too.
Before you start
Read these tips to help you frame and focus your issue, consider your audience and sources, learn how to work effectively with your editor and ultimately get your story published on News Decoder.
AI and the Reporter’s Toolkit
Thinking about using AI to help with your story? AI can be a useful tool in the journalistic process. It shouldn’t write the story for you, but there are some smart ways AI can support your research and reporting, like generating questions or doing a deep dive into data — but always remember to verify results!
Read our Top Tip for more on AI in reporting.
Ethical AI Use
News Decoder has developed Ethical Guidelines for Using AI that focus on transparency, accuracy, verification, fairness and avoiding bias. All authors who create and publish content with News Decoder — both student journalists and professional correspondents — are expected to follow these guidelines:
– Take responsibility for your work.
– Disclose AI use.
– Illustrate, don’t imitate.
– Add information about AI-generated media.
– Verify AI-generated content.
– Watch out for AI bias.
– Be inclusive.
– Only tell real stories.
For more comprehensive information, download our Guide for Students and Guide for Teachers.
Now you’re ready to start your story!
Step 1: Pitch
All stories begin with a pitch, including yours. A pitch captures the gist of your story in 100 words or less. It summarizes both your topic and your research and reporting strategy, and sets a deadline for submitting your first draft.
Step 2: Report
After you submit a pitch, a News Decoder editor will provide you with personalized feedback on your story idea and reporting plan. (Be prepared: you may be asked to submit a revised pitch.) Once you receive a green light from an editor to start reporting, begin gathering the raw materials for your story. Take advantage of our reporting resources to gather compelling information efficiently and effectively.
Step 3: Draft
After you finish conducting research and interviews, you’re ready to begin your first draft. Drafting refers to the art of constructing a story, no matter the medium or style. Read our drafting tips to make your work stand out.
Step 4: Revise
After you submit your first draft, you will work closely with a New Decoder editor, who may ask you to make substantial changes to your story. The revision process is often overlooked, but is the most crucial step in getting your piece published: no story makes it to publication without revision. You and your editor will work as a team to create the strongest story for the audience. Read on to familiarize yourself with the revision process.