A news story should be fewer than 500 words. Check your facts. If you have statistics, make sure they add up. If you have dates, make sure you have the right day of the week with the right date of the month. If you don't know if a certain term should be capitalized or not, be sure and see the U of C Style Guide .
Artwork helps attract readers.
But please, anything but passport photos or corporate-style handshaking photos, also known as grip and grins. Submission deadlines are at noon on the Wednesday before the next publication date. Remember that space is competitive. If your article does not come out in the next week's Gazette, don't worry. Perhaps the paper was too full.