GovWire

First, search GOV.UK for any similar announcements. You should match the title style of previous publications if you can. You must also follow the style guide when writing for GOV.UK.

Title

Statistics release titles must:

• be unique
• be under 65 characters
• describe the statistics in the release in plain English
• include the coverage and time the statistics relate to
• not include the word statistics - its already on the page
• be in sentence case
• be optimised for search (frontload the most important information)
• use a colon instead of hyphens or dashes and a comma if you need a second separator
• not contain jargon or technical language
• not include abbreviations or acronyms (unless well known, for example, UK, VAT or EU)

Summary

The summary gives more information about the statistics, and will show in most search engine results. It should:

• be under 160 characters (including spaces)
• explain what the release is about in plain English (no jargon)
• be a unique description specific to the release
• not repeat the title
• begin with the most important words (not This release provides)
• end with a full stop
• explain any acronyms used in the title

Remember, when a release title or summary is displayed in the release calendar or search engine results, users need to see whether its what they want.All text needs to be checked by the author and another person before it is published.

1. Select the Statistics announcements tab in Whitehall publisher.

2. Click the Create announcement link.

3. Choose a statistics type. Only select the Accredited Official Statistics option if your statistics have been awarded the accredited official statistics badge by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).

4. Complete the Title and Summary fields.

5. Add any relevant organisations.

6. Select Exact date (confirmed) if youre sure of the release date or select a provisional date.

7. Have someone review your work to check its correct before you publish it.

8. Click Publish announcement - it will publish on GOV.UK immediately.

9. To add topic tagging, select the Add tag under the Topic taxonomy tags heading.

Once a statistics announcement is published, youll see two options under the heading Connected document:

• Create new document (best option)
• Add existing document (less good option)

When the statistics publication publishes, the announcement will disappear from the release calendar.

Publication style points

Body text should:

• follow the style guide
• describe what the statistics are about and their purpose
• be clear, concise and written in plain English
• provide context if there are statistics with similar titles
• not repeat the title and summary
• not summarise what the publication says

Create a new document

1. Click Create new document. This will automatically create a statistics publication page for your statistics document. The publication type, title, summary and topic fields will be filled in automatically for you.

2. Fill in the body text. This should tell users what the release is about. It should also say whether the method or classification of the statistics has changed since the last publication.

3. Click Save so you can attach the file containing the statistics.

Add an existing document

1. If the draft of the statistics publication is already in Whitehall publisher, select Add existing document.

2. When a search box appears, type in the title of the publication and select it from the list of results. This will link the 2 pages together.

When your publication document is ready and saved, click Submit for 2nd eyes. This will allow another editor to review your document.

If theyre happy with the page, they can publish it immediately, or schedule it to be published on a specific date.