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How to write an article about an environmental issue
Spread the word about an environmental issue that’s keeping you awake at night. Write an article about it and get the article published. You’ll learn a lot and educate others, too.
Leave the House
It might be tempting to stay inside and browse the Internet for hours. Sure, the Internet provides great tools, but go to the library, interview people who already know about your cause, do some investigating. Reporters don’t get stories by sitting on their couches…and getting fresh air rules.
Ask
If you do go to the library (don’t laugh, libraries are great), ask questions about books, old news article archives, film archives, etc. There is a lot of information out there about environmental threats; you just have to find it. Ask family and friends what they do and do not know about your cause. Set out to verify or disprove these beliefs.
Info on the Net
If you use the internet to do research, remember to check the sources. The internet can be a great resource for you, but only if the info you’re getting is valid.
Write it Out
Once you have done your research, start writing.
- Who is your audience? Are you writing for people older, younger, your own age? Choose your words and facts based on your audience.
- Captivate people with your first paragraph. Keep this paragraph fun, concise and interesting. You want people to enjoy your writing.
- Most people hear “research report” and are totally uninterested. Don’t call your article this name unless you want to lose readers or impress scholars.
- Sometimes starting your article with a little history is a good thing. Explain how thoughts about your cause have evolved over time.
- Add a picture or photo if possible. This is a good way to really engage your reader. Charts or graphs can also be included as visual references. Pie charts are my favorite, yum.
- Make each new paragraph fresh. Introduce a new concept in each paragraph or tie two concepts together.
- Always spell-check. Spelling mistakes will distract your reader and detract from your point.
- Add some personal accounts. It’s true, personal stories and accounts are more interesting to most readers than facts.
- End your article with a “More Resources” section or a “What you can do to Help” paragraph.
Finished?
Go through your article a few times for grammatical and spelling mistakes before you call it “finished”. Then, think about where you might want to submit your article for publication. Read the list below for some ideas
- Contact your local or school paper
- Email your article to editor@dosomething.org to be reviewed for inclusion in Build Magazine.
- Look for some magazines or newsletters focused on environmental issues. Send your article in.
- Better yet, find a website or blog that focuses on environmental matters and try to post your article there. A couple good ones we found are www.grist.org and http://deepermotive.org/archives/new-uses-of-old-stuff/
- Self publish—i.e., hand out your article around school or in your local park. In this case, make sure your article has resources listed for what people can do to help.