Becoming a PolicyCON Analyst

1. Sign Up on the Platform: Begin by creating a PolicyCON account. Click on the “Sign Up” or “Join as Analyst” option on our website and fill in the basic details like your name, email, and a password. Make sure to verify your email address via the confirmation link we send you. Once verified, you’re officially part of the platform.
2. Complete Your Profile: After registering, set up your analyst profile. This is your introduction to readers. Upload a profile picture (if you’re comfortable with that) and write a short bio. Mention your background and what policy areas you’re passionate about. For example, you might note “Cocoa farmer’s son turned policy analyst, focused on agricultural and trade policies.” A clear bio helps readers understand your perspective and establishes credibility.
3. Read the Guidelines: Before diving into writing, take a moment to read our key resources for new analysts – the Analyst Publishing Guide, Analyst Bias Explained, and Writing Impactful Policy Reviews pages. These will give you a sense of our content standards and tips for success. We emphasise plain language, respectful debate, and fact-based analysis. Familiarising yourself with these will help you align with the PolicyCON style from the get-go.
4. Choose Your First Policy Topic: Decide on a policy or issue you want to review. It could be anything from a recent law passed in your country, a proposed government initiative, a company policy that’s making news, or an international treaty. Ideally, pick a topic you know well or feel strongly about – your insight will be richer that way. If you need inspiration, check out the platform to see current discussions or any “Calls for Analysis” we might have for hot topics
5. Write Your Analysis: Go to the PolicyCON editor (accessible via a “New Post” or “Write” button in your dashboard) and start drafting your review. Introduce the policy in simple terms, explain the context (why it matters), and then provide your analysis and viewpoints. Organise your thoughts clearly; you can use headings or bullet points if it helps structure the piece. Remember to write in a human-friendly tone – imagine explaining the issue to a colleague over coffee. Save your draft as needed; you don’t have to publish until you’re ready.
6. Support Your Points: Strengthen your analysis by backing up claims. If you mention statistics or facts, provide a citation or link (our editor allows hyperlinks). If you share a personal anecdote, that’s great context – just clarify it’s from your experience. You can also embed images or charts if they’re relevant and you have the right to use them (for example, a chart from an open data source to illustrate a trend). Clear evidence or examples make your review more compelling and trustworthy.
7. Submit and Revise: When you’ve finished writing, it’s time to publish. New analysts’ first pieces may go into a submission queue for our editorial team to review. This check is mostly to ensure the content is readable, appropriate, and in line with our guidelines. If we have suggestions (say, to clarify a point or fix a formatting issue), we’ll get back to you quickly so you can revise. Once approved, your article will be published on PolicyCON for all subscribers to read. As you become an established analyst, you’ll be able to publish directly with minimal oversight.
8. Engage with Readers: After publication, keep an eye on your article’s comments section. Subscribers may leave thoughts or questions. Engaging with them can be rewarding – it turns your article into a conversation. Reply to questions, provide further insight if asked, or even politely debate if someone offers a counterpoint. This interaction not only enriches the discussion but can also increase your following on the platform, as readers appreciate responsive analysts.
9. Explore and Expand: Once you’ve got one article under your belt, consider what’s next. You might write follow-up pieces on the same topic if it evolves, or explore a completely different issue. You could also start a PolicyCON newsletter if you plan to write regularly on a theme (see Introduction to Writing Newsletters for more on that). There’s no limit to how many topics you can cover – some analysts are generalists, others carve out a niche. Find what suits you.
10. Keep Learning and Contributing: Becoming an analyst is a continual learning experience. Pay attention to feedback from readers and editors. Over time, you’ll get a sense of what resonates best. Perhaps you’ll discover that your strength is simplifying very technical policies, or maybe your comparative international pieces get the most interest. Use those insights to improve. Additionally, engage with the analyst community – reading others’ analyses can spark ideas or show different techniques. We often say on PolicyCON, the more you put in, the more you get out. Write with passion and integrity, and you’ll find a receptive audience.

And that’s the journey to becoming a PolicyCON analyst. We strive to make it an accessible and enriching process. You’re not just joining a platform; you’re joining a community of people dedicated to sharing knowledge and shaping policy conversations. We can’t wait to see the perspective you bring. Good luck, and happy writing!