A guide for contributors and guest writers
TurDef is an independent defence journalism platform produced in Türkiye and thinking in English. Our readership consists primarily of defence professionals, policymakers, analysts, and industry decision-makers seeking reliable, fact-based reporting and analysis.
TurDef maintains a clear distinction between editorial reporting and external contributions. News articles are produced internally by the TurDef editorial team. External contributors may be invited to submit analytical articles on defence and security topics.
The guidelines below explain the editorial standards expected from contributors.
TurDef publishes exclusively in English.
Articles should be written in clear, professional English suitable for an international defence audience. Writers should avoid colloquial expressions and maintain a precise and analytical tone.
Language conventions:
Example:
Correct
Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence announced…
Avoid
Turkey’s MoD said…
External contributors may submit analytical or feature articles examining developments in defence, security, or the defence industry.
Typical topics include:
Articles should focus on analysis supported by verifiable information, rather than personal opinion or commentary.
Because TurDef is optimised for digital publishing and search visibility, certain technical standards apply.
Headlines should ideally be 50–60 characters long and clearly reflect the core subject of the article.
Example:
Brazil rolls out Latin America’s first assembled Gripen
Avoid vague or overly general headlines.
Authors may also provide a short SEO description.
Requirements:
Example:
Brazil has rolled out the first F-39E Gripen assembled in Latin America, marking a milestone for Embraer and Saab’s fighter production partnership.
Articles should follow a clear analytical structure.
A typical TurDef article includes:
Avoid excessively long paragraphs and overly complex sentences.
Accuracy is fundamental to TurDef.
Writers should rely on verifiable sources such as:
All claims should be clearly attributed.
Example:
According to a statement published by the UK Ministry of Defence…
Unsourced claims should be avoided.
Use precise defence and military terminology whenever possible.
Preferred terms include:
Avoid promotional or marketing language such as:
unless supported by verifiable evidence.
TurDef is committed to independent defence journalism.
Contributions must not function as:
Submissions that appear promotional or insufficiently supported by sources may be edited or declined.
Images may be included when relevant.
Image credits should be provided whenever the photographer or originating institution is known.
Acceptable sources include:
TurDef may remove images if copyright ownership cannot be verified.
All submissions are subject to editorial review.
TurDef editors may:
Final publication decisions remain with the TurDef editorial team.
TurDef does not currently provide financial compensation for contributed articles.
Publication on TurDef offers contributors the opportunity to share analysis with an international professional audience within the defence and security community.
Article proposals or completed drafts may be submitted to the TurDef editorial team.
When submitting an article, please include:
The views and opinions expressed in contributed articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of TurDef.
Authors are solely responsible for the accuracy of the information and arguments presented in their articles. TurDef does not assume liability for opinions, interpretations, or conclusions expressed by external contributors.
TurDef may decline submissions that do not meet editorial standards.
Common reasons for rejection include:
TurDef prioritises analytical depth, factual accuracy, and clarity.
The following conventions ensure consistency across TurDef publications.
TurDef generally follows internationally recognised official country names where applicable.
Examples include:
The use of “Türkiye” reflects the official country name recognised by the United Nations.
Due to the political and legal situation on the island, TurDef applies specific terminology for Cyprus-related references.
TurDef does not use the term “Republic of Cyprus” to refer to the Greek Cypriot administration, as this designation does not represent the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Instead, the following terminology is used:
After first reference, the abbreviations TRNC and GKRY may be used.
TurDef generally follows British spelling for defence terminology.
Use:
Use programme when referring to defence programmes.
Example:
Use program only when referring to software.
Use official institutional names.
Examples:
Use the official spelling used by the company.
Examples:
Do not alter corporate spelling.
Use numerals for quantities and measurements.
Examples:
Large numbers:
Spell out on first reference.
Example:
Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM)
Then use the abbreviation.
When citing social media:
Example:
The company said on X (formerly Twitter).
Use official international designations when referring to aircraft, missiles, and weapon systems.
Correct examples:
Avoid removing hyphens or altering official system names.
Incorrect examples:
Use capitalisation for official institutions and organisations.
Examples:
Do not capitalise generic references.
Examples:
Capitalise official programme names.
Examples:
TurDef articles follow a professional analytical tone appropriate for a specialised defence audience.
Articles should be:
Avoid emotional or sensational language unless clearly supported by facts and context.
The purpose of TurDef writing is to inform and analyse, not to promote or advocate.