Guidelines for freelance writers

Newcity is Chicago's news and arts weekly, with a peak print circulation of 70,000, and a combined print/web (www.newcitychicago.com) of several hundred thousand. We encourage writers to submit unsolicited story ideas either in the form of a one-page query letter with clips or by mailing in or e-mailing a manuscript. In either case, you must enclose a SASE if you want us to respond and/or you want your unpublished manuscript back.

Please don't call and ask us what we want. Read the paper and you can tell what kind of stories we like. We hesitate to say that a particular topic is or is not appropriate for Newcity, but we are willing to describe a few of the attributes of our stories. In general we are looking for timely, magazine-style stories about Chicago, about its culture both high and low, or about almost any topic of interest to the urban dweller. We like stories about politics, the arts, and virtually all aspects of social affairs and social policy. We love a sense of humor; we want our readers to have fun with us. We rarely publish stories about international or national affairs. We add regular columns and cartoons at a very slow pace, but welcome their patient submission.

We want scoops, but we don't want them written in the style of a daily newspaper. We want voice and perspective, but we don't want opinion. While we prefer articles about things no one else has addressed, we also look for stories about things everyone else has covered, as long as we get it in a singular style or from an unconventional perspective. When others use a microscope, we prefer a telescope; and vice versa. 

Length: Features run 1,000-3,500 words, front-of-book pieces run 250-400 words, arts section stories run 350 or 800 words and most reviews run 150 words. If you do not want us to cut your prose, adhere to the assigned length. 

Assignments: New contributors to Newcity rarely work "on assignment," meaning that we are neither committed to publish nor pay a kill fee even if we respond with interest to your query or manuscript. We do work on assignment with the established, regular contributors to Newcity listed in our staff box and pay at least a 25 percent kill fee on unused, assigned articles. 

Query Letters: We welcome and often prefer well-articulated query letters that explain the premise and approach to a topic that you propose. While you save us both time by starting with a query, our go-ahead should not be misconstrued as an assignment—publication is still speculative until we see your manuscript. Please do not waste our time with a proposal to review a movie, play, record, book or anything that we could assign to a regular contributor. If you can do better than our regular, prove it. 

Editing philosophy: We consider Newcity a writer's publication. Please do not hesitate to raise questions or concerns with any member of our editorial staff. 

Rights: We buy First North American Serial Rights and non-exclusive Web publishing rights, unless an exception is specifically arranged prior to publication. 

Payment: Fees for articles range from $15 to $400, depending on length. Payments range from 30 to 120 days.  

Expenses: We generally do not pay expenses in addition to our basic article rates. Exceptions must be specifically approved in advance and submitted within one month of publication. 

Artwork: We'll take care of it, although we're open to hearing your ideas. If you are furnished artwork in the course of working on a story, please turn it in when you deliver your manuscript, if not before. 

Libel insurance: Our libel insurance covers Newcity; it does not cover freelance contributors. 

Technical specs: Manuscripts should be accompanied by a list of all sources that includes names and phone numbers to be used for fact-checking and art purposes, although the ultimate responsibility for correct spelling of names, especially, in any article remains with the writer. All copy should be double-spaced and include the writer's name, address, social security number and phone number in the left-hand corner of the first page. We use the "Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual." No copy should be underlined or italicized (except foreign words) and all titles (books, films, albums, etc.) should be in quotes. Editors reserve the right to cut and edit all copy for length, style and clarity. 

We prefer that stories and queries be submitted via e-mail to Brian Hieggelke, editor (brian@newcity.com); drop the work into the body of your message. Stories may also be submitted by mail, but a response on these submissions is not guaranteed. Due to volume, fax submissions pose particular problems for us, so please check before sending via facsimile (312/243-8802). The paper goes to press Tuesday and is dated the following Thursday. Our production schedule and small staff demand that all copy be in the office on or before its deadline. Failure to meet the deadline may mean not getting published and not getting paid. (Updated 7/2002)

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