Announcement to WDM Readers Worldwide
February 24, 2025
At Warsame Digital Media (WDM), our voice is our power. Today, we’re proud to share our official Tone of Voice Guidelines—a blueprint for how we communicate, inform, and inspire as a mission-aligned, impact-driven, and community-centric platform. These principles ensure every headline, story, and interaction reflects our unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and Somali voices everywhere.
OUR CORE TONE PRINCIPLES
- FEARLESS & UNCOMPROMISING
Bold, principled, and unafraid to challenge power.
Example: “We expose corruption, not cater to it.”
We don’t use passive language, vague statements, or hedging. - ENLIGHTENING & ANALYTICAL
Intellectual yet accessible, offering depth without jargon.
Example: “To understand Somalia’s future, we must confront its past.”
We avoid overly academic phrasing or superficial takes. - EMPOWERING & HOPEFUL
We Inspire action and foster resilience.
Example: “Change begins when voices like yours are amplified.”
We avoid cynicism or defeatist language. - AUTHENTIC & COMMUNITY-FOCUSED
We are grounded in Somali realities, prioritizing local voices.
Example: “This isn’t just our story—it’s yours.”
We avoid generic or detached perspectives. - URGENT & PURPOSEFUL
We convey immediacy without sensationalism.
Example: “The truth can’t wait—and neither can we.”
We avoid alarmism or clickbait tactics.
PUTTING TONE INTO ACTION
Headlines & Social Media
- “Corruption Exposed: How WDM Uncovered the Truth Behind the Scandal.”
- We avoid such things as “You Won’t Believe What Happened Next!” (sensationalized).
Stories & Editorials
- We humanize data
- We don’t overwhelm with dry facts
Audience Engagement
- We invite dialogue: “What solutions do YOU want to see? Share your voice.”
- We don’t dismiss criticism like: “If you don’t like it, go elsewhere.”
OUR LANGUAGE & STYLE
- Vocabulary: We use active verbs like “expose,” “challenge,” “amplify”—and Somali terms (heer for clan, shaqo for work) to honor cultural authenticity.
- Structure: We use short, impactful paragraphs for digital clarity.
- Visuals: We pair text with imagery of resilience—protest art, grassroots activists, real images, and historical archives.
WHO WE ARE
WDM is the “Guardian-Observer hybrid with a Somali heartbeat”:
We have the passion of a local activist newsletter.
FINAL CHECKS BEFORE WE PUBLISH
- Does this align with WDM’s mission to inform and empower?
- Is the tone respectful yet unyielding in pursuing truth?
- Will it resonate with Somali locals and the global diaspora?
WHY THIS TONE WORKS FOR WDM
It balances authority with approachability, ensuring credibility without elitism. It reflects Somali realities while engaging global allies. Most importantly, it fuels our role as disruptors in a media landscape too often constrained by fear or bias.
Join us in amplifying fearless, authentic, and urgent storytelling. Together, we rise.
— The Warsame Digital Media Team
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 