Contribute

Thank you for expressing interest in writing for The Brant Advocate. In order to meet the mandate we have set out for our publication, we have outlined a set of specifications for submissions.

Content Requirements

• Submissions must tell a story about the community that has not been told in any other forum or publication (save our partner, the Sputnik). 

• Submissions cannot be a promotion of an event, business or organization [this includes adding dates and promotions]. However, mentioning an event, business or organization in the context of a story is more than welcome.

• Each piece must be written from a personal standpoint; a story must be authored by no more than two people unless prior approved by our editorial board. 

• Submissions cannot attack, discredit, or ridicule the work of any individual, business or organization. A detailed argument against a particular issue however, is welcome. 

• Submissions should be 600-1000 words in length to be considered for publication in the print edition. Any increase or decrease of this word count will only be accepted through prior consultation with the editorial board. 

• Submissions must present clear thoughts, ideas or arguments, and must be written with proper spelling and grammar. 

• Press/Media/Advertorial releases are not acceptable content. 

Submissions should include…

• A copy of the story, in .doc, .docx .wpd, and .pdf. or paste a version in the email itself. 

• 1-3 high resolution photos that can be used with the story.

• A high resolution headshot of yourself – necessary for publication in the print edition.

• Online media contact information – Twitter handle is preferred, but an e-mail address is also accepted. Note: this information will be published.

The Advocate Reserves the Right to…

• Edit your piece to meet the editorial guidelines for the publication without jeopardizing the integrity of your submission.

• Promote you and your piece on our website, as well as through social media. When your story is published online, we encourage you to share the story through your social media networks.

Other Important Notes

• The submission deadline for consideration in the following month’s edition of The Advocate is the 15th of each month.

• Submitting an article DOES NOT guarantee that it will be published, in the same month or otherwise. Stories that meet the standards of publication will be printed in the Advocate at our discretion.   

If you have any additional questions, please e-mail us at contact@brantadvocate.com

Writing for the Brant Advocate – Technical Guidelines 

The following information is to provide you with an understanding of the style and format that we expect from the submissions that we receive for publication in the Brant Advocate. We want you to know the best way to compose your story to ensure that it meets your ultimate goal: having it published in a future edition of the Brant Advocate.

Document Format

• Use .doc, .docx , .wpd, and .pdf .

• If these formats are not available to you, please copy and paste the entire text of your story within the body of an email.

Font Choice/Size

• Please type your article in Times New Roman, size 12 for easier editing and formatting.

Slang and Emphasis

• Do not use ‘ or “ for emphasis or slang.

• If you are using a word in an unfamiliar context, use italics.

• To emphasize a word in your story, use either italics or bold.

• Quotation marks should not be used for anything other than a quote.

Spacing  

• At the end of each sentence, place a single space after the period. At the end of each paragraph, leave an extra single space in between.

Spelling

• For any word that has both a Canadian and an American spelling, use the Canadian spelling.

Punctuation

• The punctuation you use should be based on readability.

• Your story should be easy to read, and the punctuation you use should help the reader, not hinder them.

• Use dashes, ellipses, semi-colons, and colons only when appropriate.

Language/Word Choice

• Our readers are from all ages and all walks of life. Unless you are using scientific language, the language you use should be simple and understandable.