Great articles come in all shapes and sizes. And while there’s no single formula for writing a great contribution to The Policymaker, here are our top five tips for turning your research and ideas into a high-quality written product.

1. Think (and write) like a policymaker

Our foremost audience is policymakers: politicians and public servants who hold the purse strings and the power to make decisions. Articles should be written for this well-informed, but often time poor and non-expert, audience. Avoid academic or niche sectoral jargon. Focus more on insights and recommendations than methods and background.

Ask yourself: “What is the pithy insight, piece of evidence or policy idea that will help a minister or a senior executive address the challenges in their portfolio?”. Research and recommendations should be framed in an accessible way that reflects the practical considerations of governing.

It’s good to be bold, ambitious and innovative – but balance this with pragmatism and realism.

It can help to think through what it would mean for government and other stakeholders to implement your recommendations. What levels of government are responsible? Which departments, agencies or other actors should be involved? What might be the risks, opportunities and trade-offs (including budgetary) in following your proposed course of action?

2. Engage with the policy context

Part of thinking like a policymaker is understanding how your research and recommendations fit within the existing policy landscape. Are there existing national, state or local policy responses or strategies? If so, how do your ideas fit within or respond to them? Are you seeking to change existing policy, fill a gap or shift how government approaches the issue?

By situating your writing in its policy context, you can show decision-makers how your proposal can complement or build on existing work. We welcome and encourage ideas that call for a paradigm shift – but presenting them as incremental improvements can lower the cognitive burden to their adoption.

3. Propositional: focus on policy ideas, recommendations & future directions

Our one strict editorial rule at The Policymaker is that every article must contain a new policy idea, recommendation or proposed direction. On what this looks like, we’re flexible.

It can be as simple as a straightforward change in policy, or as complex as a ten-step plan to be implemented over a decade by an entirely new agency – and anywhere in between. It could even be a reframing of how government should understand or approach a challenge.

This means that you should go beyond simply “admiring” the problem to also put forward some kind of positive reform to change the status quo for the better. Make the case for how government can be a leader in your chosen policy domain

4. Tangible examples

Where possible, point to other places or jurisdictions that might have adopted a similar idea. For each example or case study, ask why the policy was implemented, what its context was, and how it might be improved in the future. Moving beyond theory and abstraction to comparable examples will show policymakers that your idea is feasible and with precedent, lowering their risk aversion to considering it.

Remember, policymakers take seriously their duties to responsibly use public resources, so they want reassurance that your idea can work.

At the same time, though, identifying ways to remedy shortcomings in any existing examples can help position your recommendation as way for Australian governments to make world-leading reforms.

5. Keep it snappy!

Short usually means sweet. Your article should be long enough to explain the challenge and your proposed policy solution, but simple and short enough to be read during a coffee break or on the morning commute. Think of your article on The Policymaker as an entrée – if it’s tasty enough, then your reader will want mains and dessert (your full, in-depth research)!

We find 800 to 1,200 words usually hits the mark.

Ready to start writing?

Our submission guidelines are a great place to start, as is reading some of our back catalogue of articles. You can also reach us at thepolicymaker@jmi.org.au if you want to discuss an idea for an article or ask a question.

Happy writing!

Hugh Piper edits The Policymaker.

Image credit: arturmarciniecphotos