Please note that you should create an account and once you login, you will be able to submit a profile. 

Guidelines for Submissions

A note on writing for TSJ:

The Student Journals is an innovative platform that allows students to express their opinions. To do this most effectively, one needs to articulate oneself cogently.

Tips:

There are a variety of approaches that writers take to penning their thoughts, so anyone who purports to produce a blueprint of the art is sadly mistaken. Writing is as personal as the way one dresses, speaks or smiles. However, there are a few common hints, tips and suggestions that may prove to be of help to writers old and new. Here are but a few handy guidelines.

1. Make a plan before you write.

It may be a mindmap, a bullet-point summary or the title for each paragraph. It need not, of course, be incredibly long-winded or extensive. But a considered pre-conception of an article before it is fleshed out, more often than not, gives it fluidity, focus and cogency.

2. Do your research.

Given the incredible breadth of the media’s coverage there is today, it’s not unlikely (exposés aside) someone else has forayed into your subject matter. ‘Google’ your topic, have a read about what’s being said by others. If your piece is a commentary on current affairs, unearth if anything has changed since you last heard the news. It’s always useful and informative to see what the tide of opinion is. But do not plagiarise.

3. Links.

In writing your article, we're sure that you'll be searching and scouring the web for more information: allow your readers to see your research. By including sources links within your articles/blogs, you are creating a more interactive space between yourself and your readers. And of course, if a reader doesn't believe what you have said, you can back it up with a link. Furthermore, ensure that all your facts are correct - use credible sources, and make sure that you do not just rely on one website. Think about using books and journals as well; jstor is a very useful tool for students - make the most of it. If you’re using Microsoft Word, highlight the relevant piece of your article and hit CTL + K (Command + K for Macs). Then insert the relevant hyperlink. This will take the reader to the source of your information.

4. Grammar and punctuation

Hardly nothing is worse that reading an article that is awash with grammatical errors. Ensure that you check and recheck your article for any mistakes. If you aren’t sure about point of spelling, grammar or punctuation, flag it up for the editors to check-up. Reading a big block of text is perhaps worse than grammatical errors. It makes an article hard to digest, difficult to follow and incredibly cumbersome. Even if you are having a bit of a rant, use paragraphs.

5. Inform

Fill in your profile - by doing this, you are allowing users to know a little more about you as well as to gain a better understanding of your personality. Not only this, but since we hope that national newspapers are trawling the site, it gives you an opportunity to present yourself to them and also to allow them to get in touch with you.

Further guidelines

− The length for any article is usually around 700 words: certainly no more than 1000. If you can express yourself in a more concise manner, always do so. If you feel that your article needs to extend beyond this, please contact the Editorial team.

− The subject matter should be news – topical stories or events occurring within the previous fortnight. While this is not an absolute cut-off, we would not normally report anything more than several weeks old. Ideally, the reason why an item is newsworthy should be apparent from the opening paragraph.

− The editors have the final word.

− Do let us know if you have any suggestions for the article’s headline, by-line and accompanying picture. If you are bereft of inspiration, fear not: the editors will come up with something in your stead.

- Have a read of this article for journalists on tips for self-editing. 

− If you’ve never written before, drop us an email ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

General textual style points:

− Numbering is not usually used – but may be appropriate in cases.

− Numbers in text should appear as follows:
     − One to nine in words
     − 10 and above in figures
     − If a sentence starts with a number it should be expressed as a word
     − A series of numbers should not adopt the one-to-nine rule midstream, therefore: eight, nine, ten, eleven – not eight, nine, 10, 11.

− Dates should appear as e.g. 10 January

− Use double quotation marks. Single quotation marks should be used only for quotations within quotations.

− Words and phrases in a foreign language should be italicised.

− Use currency symbols and not SWIFT codes, ie US$ not USD.

− Four-figure numbers should carry a comma as a separator (1,211), not a full point as in continental style (1.211).

If you have any questions please contact ali.gokal[at]thestudentjournals.co.uk.