If you are a queue editor, it's really important that you read this document created by senior editor Rady Ananda. Thanks, Rady, for doing an extraordinary job. ~ Rob Kall
We're looking for consistency in our image, but writers submit their work in all kinds of formatting. Some people are visually impaired and have trouble seeing what they submit in anything less than 12 pt. Sometimes, people produce their work on a blog site that does not allow them to change the font or size, and then copy that work into the OEN Article Textbox. So, they will always submit it differently than what we want. We understand this. As web editors, you need to know how to change the formatting to adhere to OpEdNews preferences (see asterisked items below).
First, highlight all the contents of the article box (make sure your cursor is inside the article text box - hit CTRL A). Then select the correct size, font face, or color.
But sometimes, this doesn't work. There are two other ways to fix the formatting: using Notepad, or using HTML code. If you can't fix the font size or face, don't accept the article. Just make the edits you can make and leave the article for someone who can fix the font size and face.
Fixing the formatting using Notepad. (Windows users will find Notepad after hitting START, Programs, Accessories.) Copy and paste the article into Notepad. If the article has any embedded links, also copy it into your regular word document. Fix the formatting while in Notepad, then delete everything in the Article Textbox. Copy and paste all from Notepad into the Article Textbox.
Copy the links from your Word document into the correct place in the Article Textbox. Long URLs must be embedded (see below).
Fixing the formatting with HTML. As a web editor, knowing HTML basics is a great skill to have; here's a free online tutorial. Once you understand how HTML works, you may find this cheat sheet handy - scroll down to the HTML Tags Chart. HTML code p inserts two lines and HTML code div inserts a single line (each HTML code must be enclosed in the less-than and greater-than signs).
This is what OpEdNews wants for all articles (as with any set of rules, there will be exceptions that require a judgment call):
** Font face: Verdana 10 pt (size 2) non-bolded black type, single space, left justified.
** No indentation at the beginning of a paragraph.
** First letter caps on article titles - no ALL CAPS titles. There will be exceptions, e.g. if the news is BREAKING: or EXCLUSIVE: followed by regular 1st letter cap rules -- or, if it's some outrageously important news, like OBAMA WINS. See Chicago Manual of Style for headline capitalization rules if you are unsure. (In the 15th edition, it's Rule 8.167, including the other rules it references.)
** EMBED LONG LINKS:
To embed URLs using OEN's system:
Here's the short explanation by Managing Editor, Amanda Lang: If you highlight a "word/title/phrase" in OEN Populum editor, then click on the "link" button in the editor, a box will appear enabling you to paste the URL address in the box. Hit INSERT and you have a highlighted link that is functional.
Here are detailed, step-by-step instructions:
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).