GUIDELINES ON WRITING REPORTS:

UPF.org spreads the news about UPF's national, regional, and global work. We are eager to present your activities persuasively and professionally, so the following guidelines can be helpful in preparing your reports and feature articles for the benefit of the global readership of our website.

Writing for the web requires concision and economy. We are looking for submissions from 500 to 1,500 words. More than simply a report on activities, try to identify the issues that drive your work and give background that will help people around the world understand the impact you are seeking to create. For example, a report of a seminar in Cote d'Ivoire or Kenya about principles of peace and reconciliation can refer to contested presidential elections that led to months of fighting. Include some background about how the violence affected people in the area, two or three relevant points made by the speakers, and comments by people in the audience.

In general, consider the following:

Lead: The first paragraph is the most important and provides the gateway for the reader. Try to be concrete. For example: “Margarita got a used sewing machine for her sixth birthday,” instead of “Child labor is a serious problem in Peru,” or “UPF sponsored a seminar in Lima on June 20 in response to the serious problem of child labor in Peru.” Don't begin with the date of the event.

News Report: The web site is the public face of UPF, and what might be important in an internal report might not be interesting and engaging for the general public. Remember to answer the question, “Why should the reader care?” People from all over the world visit upf.org, and we are looking for content that engages broad interest and concepts or insights that readers may be able to apply in their own work for peace. Remember to answer the basic questions: who, what, where, when, how, and especially why? Spell out abbreviations and use words that the general public can understand.

Tell a story, not just a report: We welcome brief news reports, but when possible give some interesting background and details. Many NGOs report on their work by describing how their activity impacted a specific individual or family. For outstanding examples from Heifer International, click here.

Use quotes: Quotes not only add veracity to a report or feature article but also add rhythm, interest, and an important human element. Again, look for colorful quotes that add originality and insight. Most spoken quotes can be cleaned up to improve the grammar.

Provide context: If you are reporting from Kathmandu or Kampala, add a bit about the local culture and situation. To describe activities without any context suggests a disconnect from the local culture and its people.

These are general guidelines that will not apply in some cases. Don’t worry if you are not a practiced writer; send reports and stories to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We welcome questions.

GUIDELINES ON TAKING PHOTOS

Like reports, the best photos are vivid, focused, properly exposed, and enhance understanding of the topic. Intriguing photos encourage the viewer to read the text. The better the photos you send, the better we can promote your work.

Get close: The closer the better. Clutter causes distraction and loss of impact. Look at print media and the Internet and see for yourself what photos make the most impression. For example, a tight close-up of two people in animated conversation has more visceral impact than a large group of people who aren't interacting with each other.

Be careful about permission: When photographing someone close up, you should ask permission. Individuals should know you are photographing for publication, especially as the web is accessible everywhere. Group scenes or generic street scenes of street life generally don’t require any permission.

Get far away: A panoramic photo of participants in an interreligious peace trip to Jerusalem in front of the Dome of the Rock or Western Wall can be very effective. Include photos that show the “big picture.”

Find unconventional perspectives. Take some photos from the ground level looking up, framed by trees or stone gateways, etc. If the emphasis is on people, choose an angle where the background does not have a lot of distracting details.     

Be careful about lighting: Shadows obscuring the face is one of the most common mistakes. On the other hand, direct sunlight requires caution. Early morning and evening often provide the best lighting conditions. If you are getting shadows in the photos, use the autoflash, even in sunny conditions, to illuminate the subject. However, the flash on most cameras will not light up all the faces in a large indoor audience. Don't take indoor shots of people in front of a sunny window.

Take lots of photos: With a digital camera that’s easy. Then select the best, along with captions if they are not self-explanatory.

Get the beginning, middle, and end: In reporting on a service-learning project, for example, get a panoramic view of the area and then close-ups of what it looked like before, during, and after the activity. An an organization working for peace between people of different cultures, races, and religions, the ideal photos show diverse people working together. Also include photos of related activities, such as briefings, team-building exercises, outings to local places of interest, morning devotions, and cultural programs.

These are general photography guidelines. As with writing, the more you practice the more skilled you will become. We have great resources in our chapters around the world. Let’s inspire one another and the wider public with effective multimedia reports.