Analysis and Commentary Writing for Canadian Publishers

Our Four-Step Analysis and Commentary Process

1. 01

   Topic Brief and Research Question

   You describe the policy question, regulatory development, or political event you want analyzed. We confirm that the topic is within our area of competence, identify the key documents and data sources that bear on it, and write a two-paragraph research question statement you approve before work begins. This step takes less than 24 hours and is included in the engagement fee — it ensures we write the article you actually need, not the article we assumed you needed.

2. 02

   Source Gathering and Documentation

   We identify and review the primary documents: committee reports and testimony, departmental studies, PBO analyses, Statistics Canada releases, court decisions, regulatory filings, Hansard excerpts, and comparable international evidence where relevant. We also seek comment from two or three domain experts — academics, former officials, or practitioners — and document their views. All sources are logged in a citation document delivered with the final article.

3. 03

   Drafting to Your Voice and Format

   We write the first draft in the format you specify: explanatory analysis, op-ed-style commentary, Q&A, or structured briefing note. Word count is agreed in advance — typically 800-1,200 words for a single article, though shorter and longer formats are available. We adapt to your house style guide if you provide one, or apply standard Canadian Press style if not. The draft includes an inline citations layer (hyperlinked or footnoted, your preference) and a separate source list.

4. 04

   Revision and Final Delivery

   Three rounds of revisions are included. Revisions may include changes to framing, tone, emphasis, word count, or the incorporation of new information that has emerged since the first draft. We deliver the final article in .docx and clean HTML, with a separate citation document and, for series packages, a series editorial plan that maps the remaining articles against the agreed topic arc.

Who This Service Is For

• Digital and print publishers that want regular analytical depth on federal policy without maintaining a full-time policy desk
• Industry associations and chambers of commerce seeking credible, sourced commentary on legislation or regulation affecting their sector
• Think tanks and policy institutes that need an accessible, journalism-style translation of their research for general-audience publications
• Academic institutions publishing journals or magazines for non-specialist readerships
• Foundations funding policy journalism who need contract writing capacity to support their grantees' output
• Corporate communications teams that want externally commissioned, independently written analysis on regulatory or competitive topics (disclosed under your branded publication, not misrepresented as independent editorial)

How It Works

After the initial contact and topic brief, we send a written scope-of-work document within one business day. The document specifies the article topic, target word count, key sources we plan to draw on, the format, the delivery date, and the fee. The 40% deposit is invoiced on scope approval; the balance on delivery. For series packages (four articles), we deliver a series editorial plan at the outset and the articles on a rolling schedule agreed in advance — typically one article per two weeks, or one per week for time-sensitive topics. All articles in a series share a consistent sourcing standard and citation format.

What to Prepare Before We Start

• A clear statement of the policy question, decision, or development you want analyzed
• Target word count and any format preferences (straight analysis, commentary, Q&A, explainer, etc.)
• Your house style guide, if you have one, or the style guide you follow (CP Style, AP, Chicago, in-house)
• Any competing coverage or existing treatment of the topic you want us to respond to or build on
• Intended publication date, including whether the article is tied to a news hook or policy calendar event
• Attribution instructions: byline policy, disclosure language for commissioned analysis, any restrictions on our identification of Flatoutserver as the drafting organization

Deliverables and Formats

• Final article in .docx (track changes enabled for your editorial review) and clean HTML
• Inline citations or footnotes in your preferred format (hyperlinked, endnotes, or Chicago-style footnotes)
• Separate source citation document listing all referenced materials with URLs or document identifiers
• For series packages: series editorial plan mapping all four articles, their topics, and their key sources
• Three rounds of editorial revisions included
• 24-month archive access to all drafts and source documents via secure portal

Timeline and Revisions

Timelines run from the confirmed start date (deposit cleared). Three editorial revision rounds are included; additional rounds are billed at $150 per hour.

• Single analysis article (800-1,200 words) — 1-2 business days: Research, drafting, and delivery of one article on a well-defined policy question with clear primary sources.
• Series of 4 articles — 4-8 weeks: Four interconnected analysis pieces on a defined theme, delivered on a rolling schedule. Includes a series editorial plan. A single engagement with a cohesive argumentative arc is strongly encouraged over four independent single-article commissions, as it produces a more authoritative body of work.

What Is NOT Included

• Legal advice or legal opinions on the matters analyzed (articles describe the law and its effects; they do not constitute legal counsel)
• Translation into French (available as a separate engagement)
• Original data analysis beyond standard documentary research (see our Data Journalism service for quantitative analysis)
• Placement or syndication of the finished article — we write it; publishing is your responsibility
• Ghostwriting services where our involvement is contractually required to be undisclosed to the publication's editor (we require that editorial leadership of the publication be aware of the commissioning relationship)
• Advocacy writing explicitly promoting a policy outcome (we write analysis and evidence-based commentary, not lobbying materials)

How Pricing Works

All prices in Canadian dollars. HST 13% (Ontario) applies. Net 30 B2B; net 15 otherwise. 40% deposit required to commence work. Free cancellation 72 hours before agreed start; cancellations within 72 hours forfeit the deposit. BN: 732918456 RC0001 — HST: 732918456 RT0001.

Longer formats (1,500-2,500 words), academic-style briefings, or faster delivery quoted on request. See Terms of Service.