Are you going to a rally or a protest? Maybe a really cool union conference? Bring a notebook! We’ll work with you to write a first-hand account of what happened.

Before you go to the event

If you plan on covering an event for our website, please contact us at communications@une-sen.org. It’s always best to plan ahead and, by giving us a head’s up, you’ll be helping us make sure we set aside time for your story. We also want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to participate, so let’s work together to share the mic equally.

Make sure you set aside some time to write after the event, when your memory is freshest. Remember: for news to be newsworthy, it has to be timely.

Once you get your story to us, it has to go through a number of steps, so try to get it to us within one or two days. We should be posting these types of stories within a week of the event, at the most!

What you should bring
A notepad and a few pencils. These are a reporter’s best friend. Jot down some ideas, things that struck you, names of people who spoke. Even better: try to write down some great quotes – and who said them.
Your mobile phone. A mobile phone, nowadays, is a portable camera and recording device. Use the recorder to capture what a speaker said. Use your camera so you can remember that what that witty slogan was on someone’s protest sign.

What you should look out for
Reporting on events is a lot like telling a joke – except the punch line comes first. Always look for something striking, an image that sticks with you, and words that keep resonating with you long after the event.
 Look for people you know! What do they think about what’s going on? Do they mind sharing their thoughts with you? If they’re another UNE member, even better!

Writing your story
Journalists have made peace with the fact that, as a civilization, we increasingly seem to suffer from a short attention span. That’s why your story should have fewer than 300 words. It’s also why journalists start off with the most important information – if your reader gets interrupted halfway through,  they still leave with the most important bits.

First things first, forget about the chronology. As mentioned earlier, you always start a news story with the punch line. In other words, figure out what the most important or striking event is, and start with that. Another great way to start a story is with a really insightful quote that draws the reader in.

The following paragraphs can go into more detail; where did the event take place, what’s the context of the event, how many people were there, etc. What did people say?

Avoid the urge to see how the event was reported in the media. Copying and pasting gets more tempting that way; we prefer that you use your own words. If you find stumble upon a quote or a paragraph you just can’t give up, let us know where you found it and we’ll help you adequately source it. 

Typically, journalists stay away from using the dreaded word “I”, as if they’re an invisible observer. That’s fine for the Globe and Mail, but we want to know what you think and what you saw. So use that pronoun anytime you like!

But hey! We don’t expect you to be writing Pulitzer-prize winning stories just yet. Remember that we’re here to help you through this important step. Call us or send us an email!

What happens next?
Editing! We’ll go through your article and make a few changes to improve the readability. We try really hard not to substitute our voice for yours, but sometimes a few changes can make a world of difference and really bring your article to life. No matter what, you get to give it your stamp of approval before it goes online. We’re working together!

And then?
Then, your article gets published and you get to bask in the glory of having shared your story with our members! We post your article on our website and promote it through our social media platforms. Finally, remember that it’s always a treat to visit your article every so often because our members will likely leave comments for you to read.