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Do you feel winning a Pulitzer prize is your destiny? Fancy yourself as the next Henri Cartier-Bresson? Or are you just an angry, angry person who wants the world to know all about your gripes?

Whether you want to be a writer, photographer, columnist or cartoonist, we want to hear from you! It doesn't have to be anything regular; if you've got an idea for a feature or just want to get something off your chest, then that's cool too!

To find out more or to answer any queries you may have, contact us Alternatively, we hold editorial meetings at Huntley Street, UCL, every month; email the editor, or check your university email to find out when we next meet.

Experience isn't necessary, so feel free to contact us if you want to join the most vibrant medical student publication around!

 
The Medical Student guide to news journalism:

Still not convinced you've got what it takes? Here's our guide on how to write a news story.

 
Structure:
  • Start with the result tell the whole story in the first paragraph.
  • The introduction should be a max of 27 words.
  • Remember all the angles: Who, what, where, when, why and how?
  • Add info as you build the article add chunks of information bit by bit as the story builds.
  • The reader wasn't there don't assume they know anything about it. Explain everything clearly.
Planning:
  • Plan your research Think round all sides of a story and then look for information to back up all those sides. Get a quote or stat for each aspect of a story.
  • Decide on your angle If you have a press release with a lot of crap in it, but a few interesting points, concentrate on them and ignore the rest. Focus on the interesting points and expand on them.
  • Find related information what would a reader want to know that is not mentioned in the main story? Other sources of info can be linked to the main point(s).
Research:
  • Interviews the best way to find out background info on a story is by talking to somebody concerned, who has relevant knowledge.
  • Permission ASK IF A PERSON IS HAPPY TO BE QUOTED. Sabbatical officers are often weird people. In fact, more often than not they're completely loopy. Just look at your president. Anyway, many are keen to stay anonymous and that will have to be honoured ask if you can say something like a sabbatical officer from Barts or something like that.
  • A good way of making sure you quote someone correctly is by emailing questions and getting them to write a reply. Give them a deadline, politely.
  • Double check any one person's opinion; there are two sides to every story. If you print somebody's views on another person, you must speak to them too.
  • If your article depends heavily on a fact, TRIPLE check it.

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