Write for Talk online magazine

The aims of Talk publication portal

• sharing competence and information
• strengthening the role of experts
• stimulating discussion
• providing information and exerting social impact

From an idea to the readers – in interaction

• When you have an idea for an article, please contact the Editor of the thematic magazine. You can find the contact information on the Instructions & info page.
• Consider the aim and target audiences of your text: who are you writing for and why?
  Make sure that your aim and target audience are suitable for Talk online magazine and the thematic magazine.
• Decide based on the aim and target audience if you write in Finnish or English.
• Decide your viewpoint, define your topic, choose the suitable Talk thematic magazine, and text type.
• Get to know the instructions for Talk story types and consider which story type would best suit your topic.

Please note that if you submit a finished article, the editorial team may decide that it does not meet the magazine’s objectives or appeal to its readers. In this case, the text will not be published unless you make some changes to it. Publishing an article is an interactive process.

Select the suitable story type

The story types make the writing process easier. The staff and students of Turku UAS can find more specific instructions on the story types on the Talk page in Messi.

1. A problem and a solution
2. An expert’s view on change
3. A feature story: Turku UAS offers solutions
4. Podcast, video documentary, other video or audio publication

The article highlights your expertise

• Bear the reader in mind. They might not be familiar with the topic beforehand. Write as an expert and highlight your own competence and experience, provide background information. You can also invite readers to join in a discussion.
• Explain your area of expertise in an accessible way. Avoid jargon, meandering sentence structures, repetition and superlatives. You can utilize bullet points to improve readability.
• Focus on the point. When writing, contemplate e.g. the broader importance of an RDI project or collaboration. Why has a specific project been launched, what kind of needs does it address and what new solutions are being developed? What specific outcomes have resulted from an event or visit – what lessons have been learnt?
• Be specific and provide tangible examples. You can link the topic to a current social phenomenon and contemplate how a specific research finding manifests itself in the reader’s everyday life. Results are more interesting than goals.
• Length depends on the purpose and topic. No specific character limit has been set for the texts. You can, however, check previously published articles for reference. If you have a lot to say about a topic which appeals to the target audience of the magazine, it is possible to agree on e.g. publishing a series of articles.

A clear structure helps the reader

• headline
• an introductory paragraph which acts as a bridge between the headline and the text
• short body text paragraphs – one idea per paragraph, 2–3 sentences only
• engaging subheadings every couple of paragraphs (remember search engine optimization – which words can potential readers use to search information on your topic) and/or
• genuine snapshots fit naturally between the text, embedded videos can also be used
• in the end, include details and a link if the article is linked to a research group’s work
• you can also place a summary of the project details and information on the pictures in a blue box at the end
• a vertical line can be used to separate an info box, so-called sidebar or list of references.

Help for writing in practice

• Plan the content structure of the text: which points will be covered and in what order.
  Consider what kind of new content you will introduce in your text that has not yet been presented in other publications.
• Start writing. Write in clear language that is understandable to your target audience. Do not try to write in a fancy style. Instead, aim at being illustrative and engaging.
• Put one idea in each paragraph.
• If you use abbreviations, explain them at least the first time they appear in your text. Also spell out ”among other things” and ”for example”. Do not use internal abbreviations only used within Turku UAS.
• Try to write in active voice as much as possible instead of passive voice.
• Separate possible quotes in their own paragraphs and enclose them in quotation marks ” ”. This ensures a consistent quotation style in both Finnish and English texts.
• Come up with an illustrative and engaging title and subheadings every couple of paragraphs.
  • In the beginning of the headline, include a so-called focus keyword that best summarizes the content of your article and which can be entered in the online platform of the Talk website for search engines. You can think of the keyword as a Google search term you would most like people to use to find your article. The term should contain at least two words. Also consider how someone searching for the topic would type it into Google.
  • A catchy headline carries and informative and conversational tone – it may include several arguments or questions. A good headline is tangible and includes details that spark interest; often a good title conveys emotion or promises benefits for the reader. The story should always deliver on the promises made in the headline! The editorial team can also help with formulating the headline and subheadings.

Citing sources and referencing practices

The list of references is always placed at the end of the text. Only mention the sources you have referred to in your article. In terms of an article based on a thesis, include a link to the thesis in Theseus.

In the Talk publication portal, we use APA7 referencing style (American Psychological Association, 7th edition). The sources are cited within the text as in-text references and listed in the list of references.

This is how you cite sources in the text in basic cases:

• In-text citation: (Surname, year)
• The page number is indicated if a specific section in a publication is referred to, e.g. (Surname, year, p. xx)
• List of references (in alphabetical order): Surname, E. (Year).  Title of work. Publisher.

Please note:

• The text must indicate which parts represent the author’s own thinking and which parts are based on the source.
• The list of references must contain sufficient details to enable the reader to identify the source used.
• Our employees and students can get to know more specific information on the referencing instructions in the intranet on the page ”Bachelor’s thesis”.

Finally

• Read through your text carefully and check:
  • Have you taken your target audience into account in the content, terminology and genre?
  • Does the text clearly convey your aims?
  • Do you think your text suits the chosen thematic magazine?
  • Does it contain any new information?
  • Does it include enough practical examples of your topic?
  • Make any necessary changes.
• Write a short author biography in the language of the article (max. 1500 characters, incl. spaces). The biography should contain your name and title, the name of the research group or project you represent and your role in it.
• Consider which relevant links for more information could be included at the end of the text (e.g. a project card on the turkuamk.fi website). Remember to mention if the article is a part of a research group’s work. This information is collected in the publication database.
• Find suitable images for the topic with adequate resolution. Check the user rights of the images. Send the images to the editorial team as separate attachments.
• When you think your text is complete, the editor of the thematic magazine will make editing suggestions and ask for necessary changes or more information. The finalized text and images are moved to be submitted to the Talk platform and a suitable publication date is chosen for the article in the publishing calendar.
• How does the text achieve its readers? Share your text with your own networks in different channels and spark discussion on the topic. Follow the discussion and participate actively. You can get more tips from the editorial team.

Enjoy the writing!

License instructions

The publications of Turku University of Applied Sciences (Talk Journal, Talk Reports and Talk Guides & Course Materials) are primarily licensed under the Creative Commons licence CC BY-SA 4.0. For justified reasons, another CC license can also be used. The license is mentioned in connection with each content.