Contributor onboarding
Make one reviewable post.
This is the shortest path for a new contributor: create or sign in, set the public name, draft one small post, credit the media, and submit it for review.
First post path
Do this in order.
Stop after these steps are done. The deeper templates, profile extras, and layout experiments can wait until one draft is easy to review.
Get into WordPress
Create an account with a verified @du.edu email address. Returning contributors can use sign in or password reset.
Set the public name
Open Users → Profile. Set the display name you want published. Bio and profile image are optional.
Start one post
Open Posts → Add New. If WordPress shows a welcome box, close it. Add a plain title, a short intro, and the main text, embed, image, or clip.
Make it checkable
Add source links, media credit, alt text when there is an image, one category, and a few tags. Short clips are fine when they are credited and site-ready.
Submit for review
Use Submit for Review in WordPress. Do not email a separate version unless an editor asks for it.
First Session
Only these screens matter.
If a tutorial sends you into themes, plugins, settings, or site design, stop. Contributors only need the writing and media screens; the editor welcome box can be closed.
Contributor access
- Create and revise your own draft posts.
- Upload images and short media that you have permission to use.
- Embed outside video or audio when the file is large or long.
- Keep the byline text-only, or add a bio/image when you want more public context.
- Submit work for editorial review before anything goes live.
If something seems blocked, send the editor the draft link and a short note about what you were trying to do.
Contributor video track
Only learn the parts needed to make a post.
Do not take a full WordPress course before contributing. Watch these only when you are blocked on writing, blocks, media, or review. Skip themes, plugins, settings, menus, templates, and site design.
Create a post
Use this for the basic path: Dashboard, Posts, Add New, title, body, and post settings. Ignore anything about publishing directly.
Intro to Publishing with the Block Editor
Watch this if the editor itself is confusing. Focus on paragraphs, headings, images, embeds, and moving blocks.
Using the Media Library
Use this for uploads, alt text, image details, and deciding when a larger video should be embedded instead of uploaded.
Submit for review
For this site, contributors make Posts and submit drafts for review. If a tutorial says Publish, use Submit for Review instead.
Review bar
A small post is enough.
A strong contributor draft does not need to be huge. It needs one clear promise, a source trail, media context, and enough metadata for readers to find it later.
One useful claim.
The title and first paragraph should say what the piece helps readers understand, make, compare, or notice.
Sources readers can check.
Link readings, videos, datasets, project artifacts, or public references near the claims they support.
Credits and context.
Use images, screenshots, embeds, charts, maps, or clips that you have permission to use, then explain why they belong.
Excerpt, column, tags.
Add a short deck, one column, and useful topic tags so the post can be found after publication.