User:LukeSurl/sandbox/ITNguide

Hello!

This is a guide to editors who are new to the process behind In the News and who would like to contribute to this area of Wikipedia. We'll start with a brief introduction to "ITN", then get onto the technical details on how to make a nomination. We'll then talk about the discussion process, and will finish with an overview of

What is In the News?
The template In the News appears on the Main Page of Wikipedia. It contains a collection of blurbs, usually about 5 or 6, discussing recent events. Each blurb will contain at least one bold wikilink, where users can go to find an article which has been updated to reflect the recent event. Below these blurbs is a list of some individuals who have recently died - though sometimes this list is empty.

The state of the template, as of right now, can be seen to the right here →

As well as the template itself, In the News may describe the corner of Wikipedia that maintains the template, and its associated community. Along with the similar (and somewhat overlapping) Portal:Current_events, In the News helps keep Wikipedia up-to-date with important recent events.

Who decides what goes on In the News?
You do!

As it is a main page template, In the News is fully protected so only administrators can directly edit it. However there exists a place for discussion where all editors can nominate, workshop and discuss items: In the news/Candidates. As the news never stops, this is a place of perpetual discussion. Every wikipedian is welcome to contribute to this process. To help the process, certain guidelines and procedures have been established by the community.

How do we decide what goes in In the News?
Items can be nominated by any user. Once this is done, there are two main things to decide:
 * Notability: Is the event of a sufficient level of notability?
 * Article readiness: The article in question must be sufficiently updated so that the main page link will be a useful one.

How to make a nomination

 * Find a story