How to Write a Sitrep The Basics

How to Write a Sitrep: The Basics Sitreps should be fewer than 100 words, preferably fewer than 75. Ideally one or two brief, readable but informative sentences. Look at the Web site for a zillion examples. Focus on one event or situation. Don’t discuss the issue in depth or provide much background -- just provide a five-second summary of it. The most important thing is to get the facts right. Double and triple check names, dates, numbers, titles, measurements, etc. Don’t plagiarize, but don’t be awkward. Usually you will be summarizing or rewording information from a media or HUMINT source. Use your own words, but write in a journalistic style. (See the Web site for examples.) Start with the most interesting/relevant info -- convey the core facts in the first part of the first sentence. NOT like this: “U.S. President George W. Bush said at a press conference Aug. 12 in Washington, D.C., that on Sept. 1 the United States will invade Iran.” After reading 20 words in, we still don’t know what the sitrep is about! Write this instead: “The United States will invade Iran on Sept. 1, U.S. President George W. Bush said Aug. 12.” [The press conference is irrelevant.] Read over your sitrep before you submit it. Does it make sense? Did you leave out a word or make an embarrassing typo? (Yes, there is a hall of shame.) Is it too wordy or confusing? If so, fix it. MS Word is your friend! Always use spell check, grammar check and word count. How to Write a Sitrep: What to Include Just the facts. A sitrep is NOT an analysis or a forecast. Include only most important/relevant info. Avoid quotes! If you must quote, only “two or three words,” not a whole sentence. Summarize or paraphrase what the person said. Answer the basic news questions: What happened? When? Where? Who was involved/Who said it? So What? When: Give the date - and focus on what happened TODAY. Avoid future tense: Not “will” but “is scheduled to” -- say what can be confirmed. Use absolute times, not relative ones: “April,” not “last month.” Where: Always include the country. For events, give the place – if you have it (not necessary for statements). Who: Give title and full name on first reference. Not “President Bush” but “U.S. President George W. Bush.” Don’t name spokespeople or minor bureaucrats. Also, there’s no need to cite AFP/AP/CNN unless they have an exclusive story. Do cite foreign papers, TV, etc. Learn to love “said” -- avoid “announced,” “claimed,” etc. So What: Make sure the info is actually important. YOU at least should understand why it’s a sitrep. If you don’t, figure it out (or ask an analyst) before you send it on. However, don’t include analysis in the sitrep itself. Read the sitreps on the website, and be familiar with what has already gone up. DO NOT waste your time writing and submitting a sitrep for something that is already on the website! How to Write a Sitrep: Other Tips Probably 80 percent of sitreps fit this formula: [Michael Jackson was acquitted] in [Hollywood, Calif.], [United States], [Barbara Walters] said [June 11]. Don’t be afraid to follow this format - it doesn’t get old. A tip to avoid plagiarizing: Flip sentences around when rewording them, and change some of the words (especially verbs). For example, if the source material says “A bomb exploded in Baghdad, killing three people,” you can change it to “Three people died when a bomb detonated in Baghdad.” Or vice versa. Date format guidelines: Abbreviate some months when they are part of a specific date: Jan. 15 April 15 July 15 Oct. 15 Feb. 15 May 15 Aug. 15 Nov. 15 March 15 June 15 Sept. 15 Dec. 15 …but don’t abbreviate when talking about the month: The war ended in October 1919. January 2008 will be the coldest month ever. … and use “on” only when the previous word is capitalized: I went to Peru on Oct. 21 to catch a llama. I went to Peru to catch a llama Oct. 21. Look on the Web site to see whether your sitreps were re-written from the version you sent to the writers. If so, try to learn from the changes. Try to emulate what’s posted on the site - it is not always perfect, but it is pretty good most of the time. If you have any questions about why something was changed, or about how to write sitreps or analyses, please feel free to ask one of the writers or send an email to writers@stratfor.com. Thanks!