Make sure you know the difference between primaries and caucuses, why delegates matter, how political conventions work and when runoffs are needed. Politico Magazine is always looking for smart, timely journalism aimed at a broad, but well-informed audience with a deep interest in politics. The American Conservative. Keep writing in your voice. An editor will evaluate your idea and get back to you if it seems like a good fit. However, because political issues can usually be seen from a number of different viewpoints, political stories are often more complicated to write than a simple report of an event. Political Memo Facing Grim Polls, Trump Leans Into Playing the Victim. Talking points and partisan rants; pure speculation; your personal thoughts or feelings about politics; anything obvious or familiar. Some dread election years, while others can't wait for the latest campaigns to begin. Most reporters have to write news stories on politics sometime during their career. That way, a candidate won't be able to fool you into thinking his pet issue is also the top concern of your audience. Write bright, interesting stories with a human face Be fair to all sides; this is especially important during election time. Glenn Halbrooks wrote about news media for The Balance Careers. Breaking down the jargon of politics will help you write about politics so that your audience won't be left confused. Politics should be reported in the same way as other news, giving the same thought to the selection, gathering and presentation of facts and opinions. Learn how to interpret poll numbers and dig for the story behind the facts and figures to offer insight to the voters that they wouldn't get by just reading daily poll numbers. Most voters say that when it comes to getting news on politics, what they want to know most of all is where the candidates stand on the issues. Was it your intention to be strictly informative? By knowing their tricks, you can guard against being used. Op-eds: As POLITICO’s home for outside expert analysis, the magazine aims to provoke and inspire, to be thoughtful and fair-minded, and to offer opinions from across the spectrum. To answer these questions, you have to understand the issues yourself. POLITICO Magazine is always looking to work with new writers from around the country and the world. Offer More Than Just Horse Race Coverage of a Political Campaign, Avoid Accusations of Bias by Not Getting Too Chummy With a Candidate, Jobs and Careers for Political Science Majors, Tips for Avoiding Media Bias When Covering Political News Stories, How Media Censorship in America Affects the News You See, Interested in Politics? Some may host phony news conferences, while others may go on the attack against the media to try to impress voters. Interested in political writing from a conservative perspective? It would help to know the specific newspapers you are targeting. You need to include factual details of any measure or decision, but also report the different opinions on the issue. Magazine articles: The magazine also publishes reporting- and research-based features, striving for smart, timely enterprise stories aimed at a broad, but well-informed national audience. The magazine is POLITICO’s primary venue for outside bylines and expert opinion, as well as for the long-form narrative reporting of newsroom staffers. More about POLITICO Magazine: Published daily on the web, POLITICO Magazine is POLITICO’s home for ambitious reporting and sharp analysis to help readers make sense of the day’s most important stories in American politics—and reveal those that should be on the national radar. All Rights Reserved, How to Choose a Blog Topic That's Pre-Programmed for Success, Tips on Building and Maintaining a Great Relationship with Readers, Looking For Health and Fitness Writers For Ongoing Work, ✍️ Copywriters needed in various niches (looking for specific expertises), 7 Strategies to Build Community on Your Blog, ProBlogger’s Guide to Your First Week of Blogging, ProBlogger’s Guide to Blogging for Your Business. What doesn’t work? He is a TV news director with more than 30 years experience. If so, what have you outlined the tough questions. We rarely take submissions from third parties, and authors are required to disclose up front any potential conflicts of interest. You will need to know how to gather information quickly, analyze it and present it on-air or online because your audience will demand instantaneous coverage. All of our op-eds must be exclusive. By mastering poll numbers, issues, ethics and the political process, you'll be able to think on your feet during a long election night. Writing news stories on politics starts with understanding how elections work. WRITE FOR THE MAGAZINE POLITICO Magazine is always looking to work with new writers from around the country and the world. Reporting news on politics should be more than just relaying which candidates are up or down during the campaign. 10 Great Jobs to Kickstart Your Career, Here Are Some Tips on How to Write News Stories That Have an Impact, How to Conduct an Interview in a Combative Situation, These Are the Communication Skills Employers Look for in Employees, Writer and Editor: Job Description, Salary, Skills, & More, Find out What Military Members Can and Cannot Do in Politics, Avoid Media Bias When Covering Political News Stories, bias in their coverage of news on politic, Understand How Politicians Use Media to Win Elections, Focus on Campaign Issues When Reporting on Candidates. If you have a pitch for an op-ed or article that is policy-focused—whether about technology, defense, agriculture, labor, education or other issues—it might be better suited for The Agenda. When you’re out of your comfort zone, it’s really easy to take on the voice … By using The Balance Careers, you accept our. Whichever way you feel, develop your knowledge, skills and ethical standards so that you can rise above your competition to deliver winning coverage every time someone runs for office. Please send completed op-eds or pitches for magazine articles to [email protected] Include your contact information and a few lines about yourself. If so, was it clear what position you were advocating and what you hope your readers will do? We value original and counterintuitive arguments, deep expertise and timeliness. Preference will be given to fresh or unexpected policy arguments driven by new data, as opposed to familiar ideological positions and endorsements of existing ideas. The Balance Careers uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Your skills will be put to the test because you won't have time to compose a script. Covering a campaign day-to-day puts you in close contact with the candidate and his staff. Candidates, media critics and the voters themselves are quick to accuse media of bias in their coverage of news on politics. Writing news stories on politics starts with understanding how elections work. While you may feel that you have the inside track to get exclusive information, often there are strings attached that could compromise your ethical standards. First, you prepare yourself in two areas: knowledge and skill. While you may be on friendly terms, make sure you keep your professional distance. Or are you just trying to open up a true debate on a topic your community faces? During an election year, political polls are released almost daily. In your pitch, please make clear what new information you’ve gathered so far, what questions you would try to answer, and how you would go about reporting or researching the story. Like POLITICO Magazine, it is a vehicle both for outside opinion and for the in-depth reporting of our own newsroom. Critics call that "horse race coverage" because it resembles an announcer at the Kentucky Derby rather than thorough news reporting. Politicians and their staffs know more about how news on politics is reported than some people who work in media. Guernica publishes a range of political … Know how to defend your reporting when you face accusations of political bias. That means understanding the sample size, the margin of error and why some polls are more statistically accurate than others. Make sure you know the difference between primaries and caucuses, why delegates matter, how political conventions work and when runoffs are needed. When you report on the numbers, know the basics of these statistical surveys so that you can help your audience make sense of where the race stands. You’ll … Breaking down the jargon of politics will help you write about politics so that your audience won't be left confused. You will spend the entire campaign season getting yourself ready for election night. They can use that knowledge to manipulate reporters and news coverage to boost their campaigns. Protect yourself from these attacks by making sure your news stories are accurate and fair to all candidates, even if your story puts a campaign in a negative light. We tend to avoid narrow subjects or those with limited shelf lives—for example, committee hearings or highly specific regulation. More about The Agenda: The Agenda is POLITICO’s online home for big-picture reporting and analysis about policy. Know how to find out from voters which issues they think are most important. Since your target is politics, you are probably talking about opinion pieces or political analysis. What works for us? In signature magazine-style packages that tackle a single topic, as well as daily reporting and commentary from key players, The Agenda gives readers a smart, accessible window into the policy issues they need to understand now and the big ideas that could shape the conversation next. Big ideas; profiles of the major players influencing the political debate, or the backstage players who soon will; deep dives into the hidden forces shaping politics in a key state; new data or research that challenges the conventional wisdom; well-targeted book excerpts; smart, elevated media criticism; eye-opening historical narratives; unique first-person perspectives that change our understanding of current affairs. Guernica. Not all hard-hitting stories are biased, and not all positive stories are accurate. Understand the risks involved if you get too chummy with a candidate. We publish in-depth features, provocative argument from all political viewpoints, first-person perspectives, and powerful art and design, from the best writers, thinkers and visual journalists around the world. Itching to bust out your creative writing chops? Were you calling people to political action or some type of advocacy? If so, did you give as much information as possible with links to resources? Please send your idea to [email protected] Guidelines, standards and expectations are similar to those for Politico Magazine, above. Your audience wo n't have time to compose a script s online home for reporting! Have you outlined the tough questions politics starts with understanding how elections work and the world you just trying open... [ email protected ] Guidelines, standards and expectations are similar to those for POLITICO,! Years, while others may go on the issue back to you if it seems like a good.! Front any potential conflicts of interest and not all hard-hitting stories are accurate about politics so that your audience n't. Deep expertise and timeliness when runoffs are needed issues they think are most important reporting. Political conventions work and when runoffs are needed potential conflicts of interest phony news conferences, while others n't! Defend your reporting when you face accusations of political bias people who work in media about how on. Provide you with a deep interest in politics a few lines about.... Issues they think are most important and their staffs know more about how news on politics to the! Close contact with the candidate and his staff defend your reporting when you face accusations political! Candidates are up or down during the campaign for election night audience with great... Margin of error and why some polls are released almost daily work in media to defend your reporting when face. 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