Wikinews isn’t a news site run by professionals. It’s run by people like you-volunteers who care about truth, accuracy, and free access to information. But right now, it’s struggling to find new writers. The same ten people are reporting on global events, while hundreds of potential contributors sit on the sidelines, unsure how to start or if their voice even matters. The problem isn’t lack of interest. It’s lack of clear direction.
Why People Don’t Join Wikinews
Most people who discover Wikinews think it’s just Wikipedia’s news cousin. They assume it’s a wiki where anyone can edit headlines. They don’t realize it’s a real news organization with original reporting, strict neutrality rules, and a citation policy that rivals Reuters. When they find out the bar is higher than they expected, they walk away.
Others see the interface and feel overwhelmed. The editing tools look like code. The discussion pages are full of jargon. There’s no ‘Welcome’ button. No tutorial. No one says, ‘Hey, you’re good at writing-want to cover local city council meetings?’
And then there’s the perception problem. If you Google ‘Wikinews,’ the first results are Wikipedia pages explaining what it is-not actual news stories. No one sees the impact. No one sees the bylines. No one knows that a high school student in Jakarta broke the story on a factory collapse that later made international headlines.
What Makes a Great Wikinews Volunteer
You don’t need a journalism degree. You don’t need to be a published author. You just need three things: curiosity, reliability, and a willingness to follow rules.
Curiosity means asking ‘why’ instead of accepting headlines. It means checking sources, not just copying press releases. Reliability means showing up. If you say you’ll file a report by Friday, you do it-even if it’s just 300 words. And following rules? That’s non-negotiable. Wikinews doesn’t allow opinion. It doesn’t allow speculation. It requires primary sources. If you can’t cite a government report, an official statement, or a verified eyewitness, you don’t write the story.
These aren’t hard skills. They’re habits. And they’re habits anyone can learn-with the right guidance.
Where to Find New Volunteers
Stop waiting for people to stumble on Wikinews. Go where they already are.
- University journalism clubs-Many students want real-world experience but can’t land internships. Offer them a byline, training, and a portfolio piece. A student in Ohio wrote a 1,200-word piece on campus food insecurity. It got cited by a local newspaper. That’s the kind of win that spreads.
- Reddit communities-Subreddits like r/Journalism, r/News, r/AskReddit, and even r/LocalNews have thousands of active users. Post a simple thread: ‘Want to get your first byline? Here’s how.’ Link to the Wikinews New Contributor Guide. Answer questions. Be patient.
- Local libraries and community centers-They host free tech workshops. Ask if you can do a 20-minute demo on ‘How to Report the News for Free Online.’ Bring a printed checklist. Show them how to turn a city council meeting note into a real article.
- Wikipedia editors-They already know how wikis work. Many have been editing for years. They just don’t know Wikinews exists. Send them a personal message: ‘You’re great at sourcing. Have you considered writing original news?’
Don’t just post links. Post invitations. Make it personal. Say: ‘We need people like you.’
How to Onboard Them-Without Overwhelming Them
Once someone says yes, don’t dump them into the deep end.
Here’s what works:
- Assign a mentor. Not a bureaucrat. Not a moderator. Someone who’s been writing for six months and still remembers what it was like to be new. They reply to questions within 24 hours.
- Give them a starter task. ‘Write a 400-word report on your town’s library budget vote.’ Not ‘Write a breaking news piece on the UN climate summit.’ Start small. Build confidence.
- Use a simple template. A fill-in-the-blank format: ‘What happened? Who said it? Where’s the source? What’s next?’
- Publicly thank them. Not just in the article. Post it on the community noticeboard. Tag them. Say: ‘Great work, Alex. This is exactly the kind of reporting we need.’
One new contributor in Brazil wrote her first story on a local water shortage. Her mentor spent 45 minutes helping her find the municipal report. The article got 2,000 views in a week. She told her friends. Two of them joined. That’s how growth happens.
What Doesn’t Work
Don’t send automated welcome emails that say ‘Welcome to Wikinews! Please read our 12-page policy guide.’ No one reads it.
Don’t demand perfection on the first try. A new writer might misattribute a quote. They might forget to cite a source. That’s not failure-it’s a teaching moment. Fix it. Show them how. Then move on.
Don’t make them wait weeks for feedback. If someone submits a draft and hears nothing for 10 days, they assume they’re not wanted. Response time matters more than polish.
Make the Work Visible
People stay when they feel their work matters.
Wikinews stories get picked up by blogs, universities, and even mainstream media. But that’s rarely shared.
Create a monthly ‘Featured Story’ spotlight. Highlight one article. Show where it was cited. Show the writer’s photo and bio. Post it on Twitter, Mastodon, and Facebook. Use the hashtag #WikinewsReporter.
When a volunteer sees their name linked to a story that made it into a university syllabus or was quoted in a documentary, they don’t just stick around-they bring others.
The Real Goal: A Network, Not a Website
Wikinews isn’t just a platform. It’s a global network of citizen journalists. Every story is a thread. Every volunteer is a node.
Right now, the network is thin. Most activity comes from North America and Western Europe. But there are thousands of people in Nigeria, India, Colombia, and Vietnam who want to report on their communities-but don’t know how to connect.
Translation matters. The New Contributor Guide should be available in at least five major languages. Not just English. Not just Spanish. Arabic, Hindi, Bengali, Portuguese. Make it easy for someone in Lagos to find the same help a student in Toronto finds.
And when someone writes a story about a protest in Manila or a drought in Kenya, don’t just publish it. Amplify it. Tag local activists. Link to regional news outlets. Make sure the world sees it.
That’s how you build trust. That’s how you build a movement.
Start Today-One Person at a Time
You don’t need a campaign. You don’t need funding. You just need to reach out.
Find one person today. A friend who writes a blog. A classmate who posts on Twitter. A coworker who always asks smart questions. Send them this: ‘Hey, I think you’d be great at Wikinews. It’s free, it’s real, and no one’s getting paid. But your voice could help someone halfway around the world understand what’s happening.’
That’s all it takes.
Do I need journalism experience to write for Wikinews?
No. Wikinews welcomes anyone who can write clearly, verify facts, and follow basic reporting standards. Many top contributors started with no experience. What matters is your ability to stick to the truth, cite sources, and be reliable-not your resume.
Can I write about my own city or community?
Yes. In fact, local reporting is one of Wikinews’ biggest strengths. Most major news outlets ignore small towns and neighborhoods. Wikinews thrives on stories others overlook-a school board decision, a new public transit route, a local business closing. Your community’s news matters.
How long does it take to get a story published?
If you follow the guidelines, most stories are reviewed within 48 hours. Some take longer if they’re complex or need translation. But if you submit a clear, sourced, neutral report, you’ll usually see it live in under two days. Don’t wait for perfection-submit early and improve as you go.
Is Wikinews really independent? Can I trust it?
Yes. Wikinews has no advertisers, no corporate owners, and no political sponsors. Every article must be based on primary sources-official documents, interviews, or verified reports. No opinion. No speculation. No sponsored content. It’s one of the few news platforms where neutrality isn’t a slogan-it’s the rule.
What if I make a mistake in my article?
Mistakes happen. That’s why Wikinews has a transparent editing system. If you get a fact wrong, someone will flag it. You’ll get a polite message explaining the issue. You can fix it yourself, or a volunteer editor will help. The system is designed to improve writing, not punish it. Everyone learns.
Next Steps for New Contributors
If you’re reading this and thinking, ‘I want to try,’ here’s your next move:
- Go to en.wikinews.org and click ‘Create account’-it’s free and takes less than a minute.
- Visit the New Contributors Guide. Read the first three sections only.
- Find a local event happening this week-a town hall, a protest, a school board meeting. Attend it. Take notes.
- Write a 300-word report using the template: ‘What happened? Who said it? Where’s the source?’
- Submit it to the ‘Articles for creation’ queue. Then wait for feedback.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start.
