News Contributor Guidelines
CLAT News Contributor Guidelines
Welcome to the SATHEE CLAT News Contributor Guidelines. This document outlines the standards, expectations, and best practices for contributing news content to our platform.
Table of Contents
- Mission and Values
- Content Standards
- Writing Guidelines
- Formatting Requirements
- Editorial Process
- Legal and Ethical Considerations
- Technical Guidelines
- Quality Assurance
- Contributor Benefits
- Contact and Support
Mission and Values
Our Mission
To provide CLAT aspirants with accurate, timely, and valuable news and information that helps them in their preparation journey and legal education.
Core Values
- Accuracy; All content must be factually correct and well-researched
- Relevance; Content must be directly relevant to CLAT preparation and legal education
- Quality; High standards of writing, clarity, and presentation
- Timeliness; Current and up-to-date information
- Accessibility; Content must be accessible to all users
- Integrity; Ethical journalism practices and transparency
Content Standards
Content Categories
1. Official News and Announcements
- CLAT official announcements
- NLU and other law university updates
- Exam schedule changes
- Admission process updates
- Official notifications from conducting bodies
2. Legal Education News
- Changes in legal education policy
- New law schools and programs
- Faculty appointments
- Academic research and publications
- Educational conferences and seminars
3. Career and Industry News
- Job opportunities in legal sector
- Law firm updates
- Corporate legal department news
- Legal tech developments
- Internship and placement opportunities
4. Analysis and Opinion
- Legal analysis of current events
- Educational policy commentary
- Career guidance articles
- Study strategy recommendations
- Industry insights and trends
5. Student Success Stories
- CLAT toppers interviews
- Successful alumni profiles
- Career transition stories
- Preparation journey experiences
- Academic achievements
Content Requirements
Must Include:
- Clear Headline; Descriptive, accurate, and engaging
- Byline; Author name and credentials
- Publication Date; Current and accurate
- Source Attribution; All sources must be properly cited
- Contact Information; For reader queries and feedback
Must Not Include:
- Unverified Claims; All information must be fact-checked
- Personal Opinions as Facts; Distinguish between facts and opinions
- Unauthorized Legal Advice; Clear disclaimer for legal content
- Misleading Information; No clickbait or sensationalism
- Confidential Information; Respect privacy and confidentiality
Writing Guidelines
Headline Standards
- Length: 5-15 words maximum
- Clarity; Must clearly indicate the content
- Accuracy; Headline must accurately reflect content
- SEO; Include relevant keywords naturally
- No Clickbait; Avoid sensationalism and misleading phrases
Content Structure
- Introduction (1-2 paragraphs)
- Main point of the article
- Why it matters to CLAT aspirants
- Brief background context
- Main Body (3-8 paragraphs)
- Detailed information
- Supporting facts and evidence
- Quotes from relevant sources
- Examples and case studies
- Conclusion (1-2 paragraphs)
- Summary of key points
- Implications for readers
- Call to action or next steps
Writing Style
- Tone; Professional, informative, and encouraging
- Language; Clear, concise, and accessible
- Audience; CLAT aspirants (primarily 12th grade to graduate level)
- Complexity; Avoid overly technical jargon
- Perspective; Student-focused and practical
Word Count Guidelines
- News Briefs: 200-500 words
- Standard Articles: 500-1500 words
- In-depth Analysis: 1500-3000 words
- Interviews: 800-2000 words
- Opinion Pieces: 600-1200 words
Formatting Requirements
Article Structure
---
title: "Article Title"
author: "Author Name"
category: "News|Analysis|Opinion|Career|Education"
tags: ["clat", "legal-education", "exam-preparation"]
featured: false
draft: false
---
Article content here...
Required Elements
- Title; Clear, descriptive, and SEO-friendly
- Date; Publication date in ISO format
- Author; Contributor name and credentials
- Category; Appropriate content category
- Tags; Relevant keywords for discoverability
- Featured; Mark if article should be featured
Content Formatting
- Headings; Use appropriate heading levels (H2, H3, H4)
- Lists; Use bullet points or numbered lists where appropriate
- Quotes; Use blockquotes for quoted content
- Links; Include relevant and helpful links
- Images; High-quality, relevant images with alt text
Image Guidelines
- Resolution; Minimum 1200px width for featured images
- Format; JPG, PNG, or WebP
- Size; Compressed for web (under 500KB)
- Alt Text; Descriptive alt text for accessibility
- Copyright; Only use images with proper permissions
Editorial Process
Submission Process
- Content Creation; Create content following these guidelines
- Self-Review; Check against quality standards
- Submission; Submit via editorial dashboard or email
- Initial Review; Editorial team review for compliance
- Fact-Checking; Verification of facts and sources
- Editing; Language, style, and structure editing
- Final Review; Quality and compliance check
- Publication; Content goes live on the platform
Review Timeline
- Initial Review: 2-3 business days
- Fact-Checking: 1-2 business days
- Editing: 2-3 business days
- Final Review: 1 business day
- Total Timeline: 6-9 business days
Editorial Feedback
- Constructive; Provide specific, actionable feedback
- Timely; Respond within agreed timelines
- Respectful; Professional and courteous communication
- Collaborative; Work together to improve content
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Copyright and Attribution
- Original Content; All content must be original
- Proper Attribution; Credit all sources and references
- Fair Use; Respect copyright and fair use principles
- Permissions; Obtain necessary permissions for third-party content
Legal Content Disclaimer
*Disclaimer; This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult qualified legal professionals for specific legal matters.*
Confidentiality
- No Confidential Information; Do not share confidential data
- Privacy Protection; Respect individual privacy rights
- Source Protection; Protect confidential sources when necessary
Conflicts of Interest
- Disclosure; Disclose any potential conflicts of interest
- Objectivity; Maintain professional objectivity
- Transparency; Be transparent about relationships and affiliations
Technical Guidelines
SEO Best Practices
- Keywords; Include relevant CLAT and legal education keywords
- Meta Description; Compelling meta description (150-160 characters)
- URL Structure; Clean, descriptive URLs
- Internal Links; Link to relevant internal content
- External Links; Authoritative external sources
Accessibility Standards
- Alt Text; Descriptive alt text for all images
- Headings; Proper heading structure (H1, H2, H3)
- Links; Descriptive link text (no “click here”)
- Contrast; Sufficient color contrast for readability
- Language; Simple, clear language appropriate for audience
Mobile Optimization
- Responsive Design; Content must display well on mobile devices
- Loading Speed; Optimize images and content for fast loading
- Navigation; Easy navigation on small screens
- Readability; Appropriate font sizes and spacing
Quality Assurance
Content Quality Checklist
- Title is clear and descriptive
- Introduction sets context and importance
- Main content is well-structured and informative
- Conclusion summarizes key points
- All facts are verified and sourced
- Language is appropriate for audience
- Content is free from errors
- Formatting follows guidelines
- SEO elements are optimized
- Accessibility standards are met
Technical Checklist
- Markdown formatting is correct
- Images are optimized and have alt text
- Links are working and relevant
- Metadata is complete and accurate
- Content displays properly on mobile
- Loading speed is acceptable
- No broken elements or errors
Review Process
- Self-Assessment; Use checklists for quality assurance
- Peer Review; Optional peer review for complex topics
- Editorial Review; Professional editorial review
- Technical Review; Technical aspects and formatting
- Final Approval; Sign-off before publication
Contributor Benefits
Recognition
- Author Byline; Prominent attribution for published content
- Author Profile; Dedicated contributor profile page
- Expert Status; Recognition as subject matter expert
- Portfolio Building; Published content for professional portfolio
Professional Development
- Writing Experience; Opportunity to develop writing skills
- Subject Matter Expertise; Deepen knowledge in specific areas
- Networking; Connect with legal education community
- Publication Record; Build publication history
Community Impact
- Student Support; Help CLAT aspirants succeed
- Knowledge Sharing; Contribute to legal education
- Community Building; Support the CLAT community
- Educational Impact; Make a positive difference
Compensation
- Recognition; Platform recognition and acknowledgment
- Certificates; Contributor certificates and badges
- Networking; Access to exclusive events and workshops
- Recommendations; Professional recommendations for quality contributors
Contact and Support
Editorial Team
- Email; editorial@sathee-clat. org
- Phone: +91-XXXXXXXXXX
- Office Hours; Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM IST
Contributor Support
- Technical Support; tech-support@sathee-clat. org
- Content Guidelines; guidelines@sathee-clat. org
- Editorial Queries; editorial@sathee-clat. org
Communication Channels
- Email; Primary communication method
- Community Forum; Discussion and feedback
- Social Media; Updates and announcements
- Workshops; Regular contributor workshops and training
Emergency Contact
- Urgent Issues; urgent@sathee-clat. org
- Legal Concerns; legal@sathee-clat. org
- Technical Issues; tech-emergency@sathee-clat. org
Frequently Asked Questions
Q; How do I become a contributor?
A: Submit a sample article and contributor application through our editorial dashboard or via email.
Q; What topics are most needed?
A: Current CLAT updates, exam preparation strategies, career guidance, and legal education trends.
Q; How long does the review process take?
A: Typically 6-9 business days from submission to publication.
Q; Can I republish content from other platforms?
A: No, all content must be original and exclusive to SATHEE CLAT.
Q; What if I need to make changes after publication?
A: Contact the editorial team for post-publication updates and corrections.
Q; How often should I contribute?
A: There’s no minimum requirement, but regular contributors receive additional recognition.
Resources and Tools
Writing Resources
- [Style Guide](./style-guide. md)
- [SEO Guidelines](./seo-guidelines. md)
- [Image Guidelines](./image-guidelines. md)
- [Formatting Templates](./templates. md)
Technical Resources
- [Markdown Guide](./markdown-guide. md)
- [Image Optimization](./image-optimization. md)
- [SEO Tools](./seo-tools. md)
- [Accessibility Guide](./accessibility. md)
Educational Resources
Updates and Revisions
Last Updated
- Date; January 4, 2025
- Version: 1.0
- Next Review; April 4, 2025
Revision History
- **v1.0 **; Initial release with comprehensive guidelines
- **v0.9 **; Beta version with basic guidelines
- **v0.8 **; Draft version for internal review
Acknowledgments
These guidelines were developed with input from legal education experts, CLAT toppers, experienced content creators, and the SATHEE team. We thank all contributors for their valuable insights and suggestions.
Document Status; Active Review Frequency; Quarterly Owner; Editorial Team Contact; editorial@sathee-clat. org
For questions, suggestions, or clarifications regarding these guidelines, please contact the editorial team at editorial@sathee-clat. org.
BETA
