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Studying Magazine Styles
Writing a Magazine Article

Journalist 3 & 2 - Introduction to Journalism and other reporting practices
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Names(s) of editor(s). Frequency of publication. Circulation Demography of readers. Approximate number of manuscripts purchased per issue (if any). Method  of  payment  (flat  rate  for  manuscript, pays per line of copy, pays per word, pays percent of magazine royalties, pays in magazine copies, pays nothing). Rights   purchased   (all   rights;   first   North American   serial   rights;   simultaneous,   second serial (reprint) rights; one-time rights; etc.). Whether by-line is given. Description of material desired. Description of material not desired. Whether photos are desired, and if so, payment rates. Minimum  and  maximum  lengths  of  manuscripts. Lead time for submission of season and holiday material. Whether unsolicited manuscripts are accepted. Whether  previously  published  submissions  are accepted. Whether  simultaneous  submissions  are  accepted. (Some magazines, especially regional ones, will consider   such   submissions   if   the   offered manuscripts   are   not   being   sent   to   other publications in their state or geographical area.) Additional  tips  considered  appropriate  by various magazine editors. You should keep in mind that most magazine editors have very specific ideas about material for their product. Any deviation from their expressed standards is almost certain to result in a manuscript’s rejection. The   editors,   especially   those   of   the   major, nationwide publications, can also be very selective in accepting material. Some will reject, out of hand, any offer  of  material  from  unpublished  writers.  However, the  editors  of  many  other  publications  encourage submissions by “new” writers. This is particularly true of newly created, special interest magazines and many of the literary publications, or ‘little magazines,” as they are sometimes called. For  Navy  journalists  this  preliminary  research  is made much easier by the valuable assistance of the six regional  Navy  Offices  of  Information  (NAVINFOs). NAVINFOs  are field activities of CHINFO. IMPORTANT NOTE:  Manuscripts  written  as  part of your official duties for civilian magazines  must be marketed  by  a  NAVINFO.  You  may  send  your manuscripts to Navy-produced magazines (such as  All Hands)  without   NAVINFO.   involvement,   but   the aforementioned research rules apply. Before  sending  your  manuscript  to  a  NAVINFO, you should call or write that activity, explain your story idea,  then  follow  the  guidance  you  receive.  The NAVINFO will contact those publications most likely to use a particular story and notify you when and if a market  is  found. If the idea has been accepted, you will be notified by  the  NAVINFO.  They  will  then  provide  you information  similar  to  that  contained  in  the  Writer’s Market, mentioned earlier. Your NAVINFO will provide tips on the writing style preferred, advise you on when to submit your material and make suggestions for the length of your manuscript. The NAVINFO will also tell you if a commitment has been made by a magazine’s editor to publish your story or if it is to be submitted on speculation. The  NAVINFO  deals  with  the  various  magazines through correspondence called queries. In this context, a query is a letter from the writer, or in this case, the NAVINFO,  to  a  magazine’s  editor.  The  query  briefly describes a proposed article, and if required, contains up to   three   clips   of   the   writer’s   previously   published articles. A  favorable  response  to  the  query  most  likely of publications have their own styleguide booklets that are sent to potential writers. Early in your research of magazines  or  from  the  information  provided  by  your NAVINFO, you gained a general insight into the style and   editorial   content   of   the   magazine   ultimately selected. Now you need to begin studying that magazine in earnest. If possible, get three or four different issues and  read  them  thoroughly.  Also,  study  the  tips  or styleguide  supplied  by  the  magazine’s  editor  through your  NAVINFO.  Observe  the  character  of  the  language. Note whether it is scholarly or adventurous, technical or will  contain  specific  style  tips  —  a  list  of  do’s  and don’s — on writing for that magazine. A large number 4-10







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