Learn how to create evergreen stories that have a news value and appeal to your audience, using niche topics, content updates, current events, common questions, and human stories.

As with all great storytelling, write about who you were at the beginning, middle and end of the journey and how and why you changed. The character's journey is what makes it universal, relatable and timeless, not the plot points themselves.

How can you write evergreen stories that are still timely?

Evergreen stories are those that remain relevant and useful for a long time, regardless of the news cycle. They can help you attract and retain readers, build your authority and credibility, and diversify your content portfolio. But how can you write evergreen stories that are still timely, especially in the context of journalism? Here are some tips to help you create evergreen stories that have a news value and appeal to your audience.

1 Find a niche

One way to write evergreen stories that are still timely is to find a niche topic that you can cover in depth and with expertise. A niche topic is a specific and narrow area of interest that has a loyal and engaged audience. For example, you could write about the history and culture of a certain region, the latest trends and innovations in a certain industry, or the best practices and tips for a certain skill or hobby. By finding a niche, you can establish yourself as a go-to source of information and insight, and create evergreen stories that are relevant to your audience's needs and interests.

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DMA (Donna Michelle) Anderson

Living and innovating at the intersection of entrepreneurship, entertainment, education, and IMPACT.
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As with all great storytelling, write about who you were at the beginning, middle and end of the journey and how and why you changed. The character's journey is what makes it universal, relatable and timeless, not the plot points themselves.

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Shalom Kasim

Writer-editor
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An example of an evergreen story that I have covered is titled 'The Bridge Broke Down —So did the People.' It was an assessment of the effects of the rain on a small community. Their bridge was cut by the rain, and that signalled the beginning of a new era for them, one which wasn't particularly appealing. Let's fast forward to five or ten years now. If the bridge is fixed, my story will be a constant reminder of their bad days behind. If the bridge isn't fixed, they will always return to my story as a an assurance that their problems have been shared with the world. So, for me, the best hack to covering evergreen stories is to find an evergreen problem. Help the people to cover stories that have burdened them continuously over time.

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2 Update and repurpose

Another way to write evergreen stories that are still timely is to update and repurpose your existing content. Updating your content means adding new information, data, examples, or perspectives to your evergreen stories to keep them fresh and accurate. Repurposing your content means transforming your evergreen stories into different formats, such as podcasts, videos, infographics, or newsletters, to reach new audiences and platforms. By updating and repurposing your content, you can extend the lifespan and value of your evergreen stories, and make them more engaging and accessible.

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3 Connect to current events

A third way to write evergreen stories that are still timely is to connect them to current events, trends, or issues. Connecting your evergreen stories to current events means showing how your evergreen topic relates to or affects the news of the day, or how the news of the day affects or relates to your evergreen topic. For example, you could write about how a historical event influenced a current political situation, how a scientific discovery changed a common practice, or how a social movement inspired a cultural phenomenon. By connecting your evergreen stories to current events, you can make them more relevant and interesting, and attract more readers who are looking for context and analysis.

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4 Answer common questions

A fourth way to write evergreen stories that are still timely is to answer common questions that your audience has or might have about your topic. Answering common questions means providing useful and authoritative information, advice, or solutions to your audience's problems, challenges, or curiosities. For example, you could write about how to do something, why something happens, what something means, or where to find something. By answering common questions, you can create evergreen stories that are valuable and helpful, and build trust and loyalty with your audience.

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5 Tell human stories

A fifth way to write evergreen stories that are still timely is to tell human stories that showcase the experiences, emotions, or perspectives of people who are involved in or affected by your topic. Telling human stories means using storytelling techniques, such as anecdotes, quotes, dialogue, or scenes, to bring your evergreen topic to life and connect with your audience on a personal level. For example, you could write about the challenges and successes of a person who works in a certain field, the impact and inspiration of a person who made a difference, or the opinions and insights of a person who has a unique viewpoint. By telling human stories, you can create evergreen stories that are captivating and relatable, and appeal to your audience's empathy and curiosity.

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Mekiya O.

Award-Winning Author | MacDowell Fellow | Co-Founder at The DateKeepers | Developmental & Structural Editor | Copyeditor | Proofreader | Manuscript Analyst | Author Support | Open to Writing & Editing Contracts
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The elements that lend enduring relevance to a piece of journalism are those that can also be found in great novels, poems, memoirs, and other works of art: they're firmly grounded in a particular time and place and center on a particular problem, but they also tap into fundamental themes that transcend those particular realities. The psychological and sociological issues in play must be detailed thoroughly enough that someone could read it in 50 or 100 years, step into the situation, understand it from the perspective of a person living through it, then independently abstract out the fundamental themes and notice how those same basic dynamics manifests in their own lives and worlds.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Marcio Delgado Silva

Journalist | Influencer Marketing Consultant
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When creating evergreen content, brands and journalists must make a habit of listening to regular engagement on previous content across available channels. Quite often, similar questions will pop up in the comment sections of several previously published articles. Addressing these popular questions from readers can be a valuable source of topics for new evergreen content, whether it's a travel-related query or a how-to guide, benefiting others in the future, making it a timeless piece.

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Samden Sherpa

Head, Content | Music Pandit |
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The simple formula I would consider is to make the story (theme, experiences, emotions) relatable to all audiences. If the reader can relate to something it stays with them for a long time. In other words, what impact is the story going to have on the reader?

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How can you write evergreen stories that are still timely?

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1 Find a niche

2 Update and repurpose

3 Connect to current events

4 Answer common questions

5 Tell human stories

6 Here’s what else to consider

Journalism

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