There are four types of commentary on the SIPRI website: expert comments, essays, topical backgrounders and WritePeace blog posts. These offer alternative ways to communicate our ideas and findings, and contribute to ongoing debate, without the formality and investment of a publication.
SIPRI commentary pieces can potentially reach large audiences through social media and our targeted mailings. They can also be freely reprinted by other outlets.
Commentary pieces should be lighter and less academic than our publications normally are. They are also more audience-focused: the style and content should be adapted to the needs, interests and knowledge of the specific target audiences, as well as to the purpose of the commentary piece.
All commentary pieces are subject to some level of peer review or approval process, depending on the seniority of the authors, the sensitivity of the topic, and the availability of relevant expertise.
All commentary pieces need a headline image—usually a photo. Authors should provide suggestions for images or themes. Note that we must have the right to use the image; a Creative Commons license is best. Common image sources are:
All commentary pieces published on the SIPRI website are copy-edited and proofread by the Outreach team. They should always be submitted using the SIPRI Word template.
If you have any questions, or would like to write a commentary piece, please contact Stephanie or Caspar.
You can learn more about each category of SIPRI commentary below.
EXPERT COMMENTS
Expert comments are fast responses to current events. They are mainly targeted at journalists, with the hope that they will be quoted in reporting and analysis.
- Authors: Senior researchers, topic experts.
- Tone: Authoritative, reader-friendly, not too academic.
- Target audience: Media, analysts and policymakers.
- Purpose: To provide media organizations with a timely (preferably within 24 hours), evidence-based assessment of some aspect of a current event where SIPRI has expertise.
- Format: A few paragraphs of concise, punchy text; no footnotes. No complex arguments: key sentences must still work if they are quoted out of context.
- Length: 100–500 words.
- Turnaround time for editorial and production: 4–24 hours.
NB: This timeline assumes text is in good shape and excludes the peer-review process.
- Dissemination: Your expert comment will feature on the front page of the website and your project page; it will be promoted on our social media channels; it will feature in our monthly newsletter; and it will be sent out in a targeted mailing in some cases.
ESSAYS
Essays present in-depth analyses of a timely topic, usually written by a senior researcher.
- Authors: Senior researchers, researchers.
- Tone: Journalistic, analytical, staying close to the facts.
- Target audience: Media, policymakers and public.
- Purpose: Analysis that contributes to an ongoing debate.
- Format: Text with subheadings; hyperlinks to source materials; no footnotes.
- Length: Up to 1800 words.
- Turnaround time for editorial and production: 2–5 days.
NB: This timeline depends on authors’ and editors’ availability. It assumes text is in good shape and excludes the peer-review process.
- Dissemination: Your essay will feature on the front page of the website and your project page; it will be promoted on our social media channels; it will feature in our monthly newsletter; and it will be sent out in a targeted mailing in some cases.
BACKGROUNDERS
Topical backgrounders present useful background information on a timely issue—such as a policy that is being formulated or one that has recently been adopted. They draw chiefly on SIPRI’s existing data and analysis.
- Authors: Senior researchers, researchers
- Tone: Authoritative. The focus is on providing information and expert assessment, rather than opinion and argumentation.
- Target audience: Researchers, policymakers, media and public.
- Purpose: To inform expert and policy discussions, public debate, and media reporting.
- Format: Text with subheadings; in-text hyperlinks for sources and further reading; no footnotes.
- Length: Up to 2500 words.
- Turnaround time for editorial and production: 2–5 days.
NB: This timeline depends on authors’ and editors’ availability. It assumes the text is in good shape, and excludes the peer-review process.
- Dissemination: Your topical backgrounder will feature on the front page of the SIPRI website and your project page; it will be promoted on our social media channels; it will feature in our monthly newsletter; and it will be sent as a targeted mailing in some cases.
BLOG POSTS
Blog posts are shorter, relatively informal types of commentary. It is a flexible format—blog posts could be considered as mini-backgrounders or mini-essays, for example—but it is best suited to presenting a single idea or narrow set of facts. It can build on the results of a study (but focus on a specific part of them), the outcomes of a workshop, or a new idea or opinion.
- Authors: Any SIPRI staff member.
- Tone: Lively, fact-based, argumentative, personal.
- Target audience: Determined case by case—the general public or a specific community of experts, policymakers or practitioners.
- Purpose: To bring a finding or idea based on SIPRI research to the relevant audience.
- Format: Text with subheadings; in-text hyperlinks for sources and further reading; no footnotes.
- Length: 500–1200 words.
- Turnaround time for editorial and production: 2–5 days.
This timeline depends on authors’ and editors’ availability. It assumes the text is in good shape and excludes the peer-review process.
- Dissemination: The blog post will feature on the front page of the website and your project page; it will be promoted on our social media channels; it will feature in our monthly newsletter.
SIPRI in the global conversation initiative
We post online commentary and graphics to coincide with internationally recognised days and anniversaries. The idea is to show SIPRI’s relevance and research to the public and potential funders. The commentary piece doesn’t have to focus on the actual day—it can explore any aspect related to the day or anniversary—but posting it on these days allows us to reach a wider audience.
Here is a list of international UN days. Please contact the Communications team if you’re interested in writing something for this initiative.
