For the first 3 years of Orato’s existence, the previous management intentionally encouraged first-person stories rooted in an intimate and authentic perspective and deliberately offered very few editorial guidelines or oversight when it came to journalistic standards and Web 2.0 approaches to search.
Since its re-launch in May 2009, our new team has worked hard to preserve the spirit of that founding mandate and vision - individuals with particular insight and expertise relating their knowledge and details of witnessed news and information – but we have tried to hone it so that it has greater appeal to the time-pressed reader who has no personal affiliation with the writer, but who is looking for concrete and trustworthy information that is objective and under-reported. Our staff has edited former content (we’re still working through the archives) with an eye to focusing on tangible and verifiable details of relevance to allreaders.
To reflect this subtle evolution, Orato has moved away from the literal use of the “I” voice that is understood and implied when a Correspondent is writing from experience to adopt the more traditional practice of using the 3rd-person voice, still conveying information that is clearly a result of personal investigation, research, participation or tested practice.
So, what we're looking for at Orato is:
Think about your own surf habits and how impatiently you skip from one page to another until you find what you're looking for, ie. articles that are entertaining, relevant, and true. Keep it fresh and useful and put the material out there and trust sophisticated readers to glean what’s relevant to them without overstating your own perspective.
Don't make them take your word for it - give them a reputable reference and resource to supplement what you’ve said (we don't mean Wikipedia) and don’t back into the article – write a strong, tight lead, build your progression of facts logically, and end with authority. Link to sources and other useful pages and use bullets, bold subheadings, short paragraphs and photos, video or audio to keep it interactive.
Article formats include:
As much as it pains you, we are not a site that is here solely for your aggrandizement - we are by the people FOR the people, so don't forget that your audience is made up of strangers (your family and friends would read you anywhere) and you need to make a good impression by giving them the goods sooner rather than later and making it worth their trip. These formats are proven favourites for searchers so think about which one best serves your content.
If you’d like a better sense of what kinds of topics could be covered in these formats in each of our 10 sections, cast a glance over the lists below to see if the subject areas suggest story ideas and are a match to your expertise. Banish writer’s block and as always write from what you know, but for people you don’t.
Business & Career: Personal finance, consumer tips, investment advice, job hunting, business management, workplace culture, budgeting, consumer education, insurance, mortgages, loans, investment, marketing, self-employment, training, professional development, continuing education, human resources, networking, banking, work abroad, e-commerce, entrepreneurs, accounting, advertising, retail, trade, corporate profiles…
Entertainment: Film, book, music, TV, theatre, dance, and art reviews, celebrity interviews, hobby how-to, media and pop culture, comics, writing, galleries, collectibles, radio, sculpture, painting, literary culture, novels, publishing, board games, documentaries, dramas, opera…
Food & Drink: International cuisines, gourmet cooking, recipes, cookbook and restaurant reviews, food trends, nutrition, chef profiles, wine, beer, entertaining, vegetarian meals, baking, desserts, cocktails, beverages, spices, epicurean feasts, gastropubs…
Health & Science: Wellness tips and therapies, medical breakthroughs, environmental activism, space research, details about plants, animals, weather phenomena, fitness, general medicine, pregnancy advice, naturopathy, medicare issues, weight loss, forensics, natural disasters, addiction, asthma, cancer, first aid, biology, allergies, disabilities, eating disorders, anatomy, astronomy, chemistry, genetics, geography, geology, ecology, oceanography, meteorology, climatology, paleontology, physics, zoology…
Home & Family: Parenting, schooling issues, beauty, fashion, home décor, weddings, gardens, pets, green living, household rennovation, interior decorating, scrapbooking, day care, homeschooling, sewing, antiques, knitting, adoption, caregivers, infants, toddlers, kids activities, gifted children, grandparents, special needs kids, work-at-home couples, feng shui…
Self-Help: Personal development, spirituality, time and stress management, dating, pop psychology and tips for life balance including self-esteem, meditation, paranormal, religious studies, advice re gay issues, genealogy, divorce, creativity, dreams, philosophy, behaviour change…
Sports: Leisure and professional games from auto racing to baseball, golf to hockey, soccer to tennis, plus locker room gossip about everything from the Oympics to martial arts, rugby, boxing, volleyball, recreation, boating, sailing, cycling, mountain biking, hiking, camping, skateboarding, climbing, marathons, bowling, billiards, curling, cricket, skating, gymnastics, horse racing, Paralympics, wrestling…
Tech & Games: Geek gadgets and computer how-to, planes, trains and automobiles, and online video and news for surfers and seekers of the newest in digital audio, video, online games, computer accessories, software, cars, auto repair, internet, mobile phones, motorcycles, architecture, webmaster resources, podcasting…
Travel: budget vacations, island getaways, family adventures, ecotravel, spas, hotel reviews and destination guides for globetrotters who want every kind of experience from historical tours to luxury accommodations, wildlife viewing to urban secrets.
World Affairs: global politics, crime, poverty, war, race issues, Aboriginal rights, and news that makes the world go round from activism and global summits, to the longer view that takes in anthropology, archaeology, and country histories.
Still not sure you’ve got a handle on us? Give it a go and our editors will steer you in the right direction if you’re a bit off course. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.