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Editorial Guidelines for Writers
Editorial Guidelines for Writers
Paralegal Today is the leading independent magazine
geared toward the needs of the rapidly expanding paralegal profession.
Paralegal Today offers information pertaining to paralegals on legal
practices and developments, practical advice and "how-to"
articles to help its readers achieve career goals, coverage of national
regulation and licensure efforts, news, trends, professional event
happenings, colorful and informative pieces on unique areas and
persons in the profession and sound advice for becoming more efficient
in the workplace. Writers must keep this readership in mind. Articles
are accepted on assignment only, therefore we strongly recommend
initial query letters. Before any article is accepted, writers must
receive an assignment letter from an editor.
We accept the following types
of articles:
News & Trends: Send a query letter
first. Submissions should be timely, investigative and written in
straight news style. A list of cited sources (including source name,
title, phone number and e-mail address) is required. Photos are
greatly appreciated. Most stories are between 600 and 1200 words
in length, unless otherwise directed by an editor.
Features: Send a query letter first. We seek material
that offers our readers new insights into the various aspects of
the paralegal profession, with an emphasis on providing practical
information in an easy-to-read, "how-to" format. Stories
on paralegals involved with high profile cases should show us the
"what’s involved, how’s-it-done" angle through interviews
with the featured paralegals. Features range in size from approximately
1,500 to 3,000 words, including sidebars. Payments for features
are decided on a case-by-case basis determined by the article’s
newsworthiness, content, length, author’s track record and other
factors. Agreed-upon compensation includes the article and all attachments
(charts, sidebars, etc.) and revisions unless otherwise specified
upon negotiation.
Other Columns:
My Specialty and Legal Teams: We
feature paralegals working in unique practice areas in our “My Specialty”
column and great paralegal-attorney teams in our “Legal Teams” column.
If you would like to be featured in a future issue of Paralegal
Today or want to suggest a paralegal or team to be featured, please
contact us at skane@conexionmedia.com.
Since these columns are written in-house, we do not offer compensation
for My Specialty or Legal Teams.
Association Notes and Association Spotlight: We
publish upcoming events of local and national paralegal associations
in Association Notes at no charge. If you would like to promote
your association’s event, please forward a summary of 100 words
or less to skane@conexionmedia.com.
Your summary should include the name of your association and the
date(s), name, location and cost of the event(s). It should also
mention how many CLE credits (if any) are offered and a contact
number and/or e-mail.
Copyright
All materials offered for publication should be submitted with the
understanding that they are complete, original materials and are
offered to Conexion International Media, Inc. (publisher of Paralegal
Today) for all rights, including Web rights, marketing purposes
and reprint permission. All work submitted must be the original
property of the writer and must not have appeared in another publication
in print or online.
Instructions:
All articles should be written in Associated Press (AP) style, spell-checked
and edited by the writer for grammar and errors. A list of cited
sources (including source name, title, phone number and e-mail address)
is required.
Keep sentences brief and to the point. Paralegal Today uses the
active voice in all articles. Please do not double space between
sentences. Text should be broken up with subheads as needed. Writers
are encouraged to supply sample headlines and should place their
bylines on both the hardcopy and the electronic version of their
articles. The editor has sole discretion on whether or not a byline
will be used on the final published version of any article submitted,
and where such byline or other credits, if given, might be placed
in relation to the text.
All submitted materials are subject to editing. Due to time and
space considerations, along with editorial discretion, Paralegal
Today reserves the right to determine whether and when submitted
material is published. We also reserve the right to return for edit
or reject any story that we deem, in our sole discretion, unacceptable
for publication, as well as the right to edit any article as we
see fit, including but not limited to length, content and style.
• Kill fees are used both for the protection of the
magazine and the protection of the writer. A standard kill fee for
articles is between $25 and $50. Kill fees for all other written
material — materials other than news articles — are determined on
a case-by-case basis at the editor’s discretion. These fees are
paid in instances when the material submitted does not meet the
assignment goals, lacks sufficient quality for our audience or,
in rare cases, when the editors determine that publication of the
material would be detrimental to the magazine.
• Footnotes are not used; incorporate these into the text.
• Tables/Charts do not need to be produced in table form. Writers
may simply type these clearly, with tabs, and provide a hard copy
example of what the finished table/chart should look like.
• Writers must obtain written (via fax, mail or e-mail) permission
for use of copyrighted material (i.e. charts from surveys, etc.).
Graphics are always desirable, and in some cases necessary (i.e.
representations of forms, photographs of interview subjects, etc.).
Writers should also remember to adhere to the policy of Fair Use
when quoting from published materials.
• Writers are responsible for confirming all facts in stories prior
to submission. Verifying questionable quotes, names, facts and figures
is essential. However, in order to maintain Paralegal Today’s journalistic
and editorial integrity, third parties who are not a part of the
freelance agreement should not be provided with copies of the stories
under assignment. Providing copies of unpublished articles is a
violation of Paralegal Today’s editorial and freelance policies
and significantly complicates the publishing process.
• Materials should be sent by e-mail as a Microsoft Word attachment.
• Submit a brief biographical sketch (50 words maximum) with your
manuscript. Include your current position (attorney, paralegal,
freelance writer), company or other professional organization (if
any), field of expertise, etc. (No hobbies, family members, etc.,
unless they pertain to your subject or your expertise.) If you are
writing a column or a feature, please include a high-resolution
jpg photo of yourself (preferably a headshot).
• Names, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and mailing addresses
of all sources quoted in articles must be provided for editorial
fact-checking purposes. If information is obtained from written
material or Web sites, please include a copy (or e-mail attachment/link)
of the material or Web address for proofreading purposes.
• Due to the nature of the material and the need to turn copy around
quickly, deadlines are strictly enforced.
Please e-mail queries to:
skane@conexionmedia.com
Or mail to:
Paralegal Today
Editorial Department
118 Steiner Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
Tel: 412-653-2262
We look forward to working with you.
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