Analyst Publishing Guide

This guide is here to help analysts prepare and publish their work effectively on PolicyCON. We want your policy reviews to shine and reach the right audience. Whether you’re new to writing or a seasoned author, the following tips and best practices will ensure your content meets our quality standards and connects with readers:

• Plan Before You Write: Start by identifying the key message or insight of your analysis. What do you want readers to take away? It might help to outline your article with main points before fleshing it out. Make sure you have a solid grasp of the policy or document you’re reviewing – read it carefully, and maybe jot down pros, cons, and questions it raises for you. A little planning goes a long way in keeping your writing focused and clear.
• Use Clear Titles and Introductions: Your article’s title should be concise and informative. A good format is something like “PolicyName: Key Insight or Question.” For example, “New Agriculture Bill: A Farmer’s Perspective on Food Prices.” Avoid overly technical titles – remember, not everyone will know acronyms or jargon. In the introduction paragraph, clearly state what policy you’re discussing and why it matters. This hooks the reader and gives context immediately.
• Keep it Structured: Break up your content into sections with subheadings if it’s longer than a few paragraphs. Online readers appreciate being able to scan. You might have sections like “Background,” “Impacts on X,” “Impacts on Y,” “Recommendations,” etc., depending on your topic. Use bullet points or numbered lists for enumerating multiple ideas or steps – as we’re doing in this guide. Structure makes your analysis digestible and less intimidating, especially if the policy itself is complex.
• Write in Plain Language: We cannot emphasise this enough – write as if you’re explaining to an intelligent friend who is not an expert in that specific policy. Avoid unnecessary jargon. If you must use a technical term, explain it briefly (perhaps in parentheses). For instance, if mentioning “quantitative easing,” you might add “(a central bank process of adding money to the economy).” Use short sentences where possible and active voice (e.g., “The council proposed a plan” instead of “A plan was proposed by the council”). An accessible review will reach and resonate with more people.
• Maintain an Objective Tone, but Include Your Voice: There’s a balance to strike. PolicyCON readers expect analysis, not just opinionated rants. So present facts and multiple angles fairly – but don’t shy away from giving your take. It’s good to say, “In my view, this policy overlooks rural communities,” as long as you’ve explained the basis for that view. Use evidence and reasoning to support your conclusions. Essentially, be analytical but let your unique perspective come through.
• Length and Depth: Aim for a length that covers the topic without overwhelming. There’s no strict word count, but somewhere around 800-1500 words is a useful range for most policy reviews. This is enough to provide depth and context, but short enough to keep readers engaged. If your piece is running very long (say 3000 words), consider splitting it into two parts or a series. Conversely, if it’s extremely short (like 200 words), you likely need to add more substance – perhaps by elaborating on implications or providing examples.
• Cite Sources and Provide Links: If you reference a report, statistic, or any external fact, cite it. You can do this by adding a hyperlink in-text (for example: “According to a 2024 WHO report on healthcare...”) or by listing sources at the end. Proper citations build trust. They also allow interested readers to follow up and read more. Additionally, if you mention stakeholders or organisations, linking to their official pages or the policy document itself can be helpful.
• Respect Copyrights and Fair Use: When including content that isn’t yours – like an excerpt from a policy document, an image, or a chart – ensure you have the right to use it. Quoting a brief section of a public policy for commentary is generally fine (and falls under fair use/fair dealing), but don’t copy large chunks verbatim. If an image or graph helps your analysis, use ones that are public domain or under a licence that allows reuse (or create your own). Always give appropriate credit in the caption or text.
• Edit and Proofread: Before hitting publish, take a moment to review your work. Check for typos, clarity, and tone. Reading your article aloud or having a colleague/friend review it can catch things you might miss. Ensure that acronyms are explained, and that the piece flows logically from point to point. A polished article shows readers that you’ve put care into your work, which makes them more likely to value it.
• Use the Platform Tools: The PolicyCON editor has features to make your article visually clear. Use heading styles for your section titles (instead of just bolding text or all-caps – proper headings help with readability and accessibility). Use the bullet and numbering functions for lists instead of manually typing symbols, so they format neatly. You can also insert horizontal lines or block quotes if you’re excerpting a bit of text from a policy. These tools enhance the presentation of your analysis.
• Choose Relevant Tags/Categories: When finalising your post, you might have the option to tag it with keywords or place it in categories (e.g., “Healthcare”, “Asia”, “Education Policy”). Do use these, as they help match your content with readers interested in those topics. It also helps your analysis show up in searches both on PolicyCON and via search engines. Pick a handful of tags that truly relate to your article’s content.
• After Publishing – Share It: Once your piece is live, don’t hesitate to share it outside the platform. You can post the link on your social media or send it to colleagues who might find it interesting. This isn’t a requirement, but it can increase your readership and impact. PolicyCON is a community, and we grow when our members help spread the word about insightful content.

By following this publishing guide, you’ll create articles that are not only informative and engaging but also professional and polished. The aim is to uphold a high standard so that PolicyCON remains a trusted source of policy insights. Remember, the editorial team is here to support you – if you’re ever unsure about something (be it formatting, appropriateness of content, etc.), just reach out. Happy publishing!