Welcome, Blog contributor. Here are some guidelines:
Thank you for contributing to The Express Tribune's Blogs. To ensure your piece reaches our readers effectively, please follow these guidelines:
Submission Requirements: Your post should be between 600-800 words. Please submit your piece as a Word document or in the body of an email to blog@tribune.com.pk. Please do not email any other of our addresses.
Original thoughts: All submissions must be written by you, the contributor. We do not accept AI-generated content or pieces substantially written by AI tools. Your unique voice, perspective, and analysis are what make your contribution valuable to our readers.
Adding value to the conversation: If you're writing about a topic in the news cycle or otherwise, remember that subject experts have likely already weighed in. Your piece must add genuine value to the conversation rather than simply repeating well-known positions or arguments. A tip: do a quick online search to check whether someone has already made your point. The Express Tribune's Blogs are a space for meaningful debate, fresh perspectives, and original analysis. Ask yourself: what am I bringing to this discussion that hasn't been said?
Art requirement: Please provide an image, photograph, or artwork that best suits or exemplifies the point you're making in your blog. All images must include proper attribution and source information. If you're using stock photography, creative commons images, or artwork, ensure you have the right to use it and provide the source/credit line. Original photographs are encouraged. We reserve the right to use our own art to adhere to house style and aesthetics.
Writing style: Write in a conversational yet informed tone. Our readers appreciate accessible writing that doesn't sacrifice depth or nuance. While academic rigor is valuable, overly academic writing is best suited to proven subject experts. If you're writing in a technical or scholarly style, your bio should demonstrate you're uniquely qualified to comment on the matter. Use the first person where appropriate, but avoid making the piece entirely about personal experience unless that's the angle you're pursuing.
Byline and bio: Please provide a detailed bio (and professional social handles) that helps us understand your qualifications and expertise on the topic you're addressing. Instead of a single sentence, give us enough information to establish why you're uniquely positioned to comment on this issue. Include relevant credentials, professional experience, research background, or lived experience that informs your perspective (e.g., "Dr. Maria Khan is an associate professor of urban planning at NKST with 15 years of experience researching Karachi's infrastructure development" or "Ahmed Khan has worked as a climate policy advisor for three Pakistani NGOs and holds an MPhil in Environmental Sciences from Islamabad University").
Accuracy and attribution: Fact-check all claims, statistics, and quotes and provide citations or hyperlinks for data and references. If you're responding to news or another article, link to the original source.
Exclusivity: Your submission must be original and not published elsewhere. If you have submitted your blog to other news organizations or websites, we strongly recommend you inform us. If we discover that we have published a blog that appears elsewhere, we will unfortunately be required to take it down. Please bear this in mind before submitting simultaneously to multiple publications.
We discourage: inflammatory language, personal attacks, or content that could be considered hate speech. While we welcome strong opinions, arguments should be substantive rather than abusive.
Our responsibility to you: We receive a flood of submissions each day and try to publish as many as possible, but given the volume, there may be delays in publication. Rest assured, someone from our editorial team will reach out to inform you whether your work is being considered or has been rejected. We appreciate your patience as we review all submissions carefully. All submissions go through an editorial review. We may edit for clarity, length, or house style.
We look forward to your contribution.
