Every professional publication is governed by the concept of newsworthiness. At The Script, we define quality not just by the subject, but by its relevance to our global community. A high-quality submission balances creative insight with the rigid standards of professional journalism.
The tension of relevance
Editorial clarity involves choosing what serves the reader over what serves the author. In our specialized vehicle, the fundamental question is: What is the impact of this content on the ITAA community as a whole?
Impact over proximity
In global journalism, Proximity is relative. An event in one country is "local" to those members but "distant" to others. To bridge this gap, an article must prioritize Impact—the universal lesson—over the mere fact that an event occurred.
Three categories of submissions
To help you evaluate your work, we classify drafts into three editorial tiers:
1. The promotional report (Rejected)
Example: “The Successful TA Workshop in Sunnyvale.”
- The Content: A report on a paid event where the organizers charge for attendance. The text is filled with excessive praise ("The most amazing experience," "A perfect day") but provides no actual data, techniques, or insights.
- The Submission: The images provided are "artworks"—digital flyers or posters with text overlaid—rather than raw photographs.
- Editorial Verdict: This is a promotion, not an article. It lacks critical distance and professional utility. The Script does not publish content that serves primarily as free advertising for paid events.
2. The transformable case study (Editable for approval)
Example: “Teaching the 101 to children: A workshop report.”
- The Content: This starts as a report on a specific event. However, it becomes a quality article when the author shifts the focus from the event to the methodology.
- Editorial Verdict: If the article explains how children assimilate the Parent-Adult-Child model, it becomes a valuable case study. The specific event then serves as empirical evidence for a global argument.
3. The professional analysis (The gold standard)
Example: “Addressing burnout through Script Analysis.”
- The Content: This addresses a global issue using specific TA frameworks. It is informative from the first paragraph and adheres to the Author Playbook.
- Editorial Verdict: This is a perfect article because it is Timeless and Universal, providing immediate professional value to all readers.
Alternate platforms for community highlights
If your content falls into the "Promotional Report" category, it doesn't mean it isn't important—it simply means The Script is not the right home for it. Social highlights and local celebrations make excellent social media posts.
Social media requirements
To increase the chances of your community news being featured on our Instagram or Facebook:
- High-quality photos: Send original, clear photos from the event.
- Format: Prefer vertical photos taken directly from your phone.
- No "artworks": Do not send flyers, posters, or photos with text and logos edited onto them. We require the raw image to ensure a professional digital presentation.
Writing with professional distance
A quality article avoids the "Critical Parent" ego state—generalizations, moralizing, or judging. Instead, it employs the Adult ego state: clear, objective, and verifiable.
The rule of verifiability
In professional journalism, if a statement cannot be confirmed, it should not be published.
- Subjective (Avoid): “The workshop was the most successful event in our history, and everyone loved it.”
- Objective (Prefer): “The workshop was attended by 40 participants, 80% of whom reported a significant increase in their understanding of TA theory.”
