Sapan News

We cover and connect Southasia, the Indian Ocean, and diaspora

Writer Guidelines

Do you have a story idea or an experience you’d like to share with a global Southasian audience? 

As a syndicated service aimed at bridge-building, countering stereotypes and fostering understanding across borders particularly the Southasia region and diaspora, Sapan News welcomes reports, analyses, opinion, interviews and features that contribute to these values.

First-hand experiences, especially cross-border interactions relying on observations work better than opinion. Observations that involve the senses make for more engaging writing – the sights, smells, sounds, etc, around people, places, food, shopping, interactions. 

Email editorial@sapannews.com with a clear subject line, such as ‘Story idea / article for Sapan News‘.

Please email your pitch as in-line text, not an attachment or Google doc. Be sure to include:

  1. Date
  2. Your proposed story topic
  3. A suggested headline.
  4. A brief summary of the story, with a hook – what makes it relevant
  5. Proposed writing format (feature, interview, investigative report, opinion, etc).
  6. The sources you’d interview or quote to back up your claims. You’ll want to talk to at least 2-3 diverse human sources (not all from the same background or company). You may also quote research papers and articles but please make sure to include some human voices. 
  7. Your full name, contact details, and what makes you the right person to tell this story. 

Guidelines and process:

After we approve your pitch, please submit your story as a Word document or a Google doc. File name > yourname-topic.doc

  • Do not format the piece. We send plain text to various publications that have their own styles. 
  • ATTACH photos (don’t embed).

NOTE: The first time you write for us, you will need to fill in this form (one-time)

Your story draft should include:

  1. Your name, date and word count on top.
  2. A draft headline and a one-line description of your story.
  3. Word count; ideally between 600 to 1000 words. We can work with you to tighten the text.
  4. Brief author bio: 1-2 line author bio saying what you do and where you live. Email address optional.
  5. Author photo (attach, don’t embed): Headshot in which your eyes are visible.
    • Photo filename should be YourName.jpeg
  6. Images: A list of photos if you are sending any, with captions and credits.
    • We will need at least one photo or image in landscape format for the lead image.
    • Please ATTACH photos, do not embed in text.
    • Format: jpeg, max size 600 kb.
    • Filename: Topic-PhotoCredit.jpeg
    • LIST captions below your text that explain what each picture is about, plus photo credit e.g.
      • Delhi-1-Photo by ABC.jpeg – Caption: Actor Shahrukh Khan at street fair in Delhi, May 2016. Photo by ABC
      • Karachi-2-Photo by XYZ.jpeg – Caption: Outfits for all: At a shopping mall in Karachi, Dec. 2014. Photo by XYZ
  7. Include a list of hyperlinks, below the article text. Editors need to check hyperlinks and want to avoid embedded links in case they click something that may cause issues. This is how it would look: 
  8. Add context: Add a word or two about anyone or any entity you mention.
  9. Translate all non-English words to English for the benefit of our global audience.
  10. Provide references for publications quoted – title, publisher, year of publication, in parentheses, no footnotes.

*All visuals must be copyright compliant, as in, you must have the right to use them. If obtaining visuals from the internet, ensure you get material that has Creative Commons licensing.

Remember to:

  • Include the basics: who, what, when, why, how.
  • Do your research and gather as much information as possible before you start writing. You may not use it all, but it will inform the writing and give it depth.
  • Focus on observation and facts, not opinion. If you want to include an opinion, quote someone – an expert and/or those affected. 
  • Include brief, direct quotes in the piece.
  • Human stories (anecdotes) and dialogue (direct quotes) are more engaging than dry analysis and facts.
  • Use active language and short sentences. 
  • Focus on issues, not personalities. No sloganeering, hyperbole, platitudes, stereotyping, name-calling or personal attacks.

Remember that we serve a global audience. 

  • All terms and people need to be explained. When mentioning anything/anyone for the first time, add a couple of words about who/what they are.
  • Numbers need to be simplified
  • Use USD for currency, in brackets after the local amount if needed.

The editing process:

Each article typically goes through 2–3 drafts before we send out a final version to various publications.

Articles we send out are published with these additional end credits:

This is a Sapan News syndicated feature available to use with credit to Sapan News.

Note on Southasia as one word: Following the lead of Himal Southasian, Sapan uses ‘Southasia’ as one word, “seeking to restore some of the historical unity of our common living space, without wishing any violence on the existing nation states”. Writing Sapan like this rather than all caps makes it a word that means ‘dream’.

Compensation:

Sapan News would like to thank all those who have volunteered their time and skills since we started in 2021, and those continue to volunteer as part of their commitment for the larger cause of a more connected and peaceful Southasia.

We are excited that we can now offer an honorarium of $50 per article towards news gathering expenses, thanks to donations from hundreds of individuals and matching funds from NewsMatch. We will continue to accept articles on a voluntary basis.

All our articles remain free to read and available to republish as syndicated features with due credit.

Thank you, and we look forward to working with you.

Editors
Sapan News