General Submission Guidelines

RP&E-General Guidelines — PRINT AND AUDIO SUBMISSIONS (Updated Feb 1, 2012)

Most published articles are a result of assignments given directly to prospective authors.  We do consider completed manuscripts and accept simultaneous submissions but our interests are very specific and each issue of the journal has specific topical focal points.  After reading the information below please contact the editors for more information about upcoming topics.

Assignments are made on a rolling basis approximately 3-4 weeks after assignment date.   Articles are assigned and accepted on a continuing basis so the earlier a query or article proposal is submitted the better change it has of acceptance

TOPICS
RP&E is looking for articles that take a forward look at key movement organizing efforts for: environmental justice, climate justice, transportation justice, racial justice, gender justice as well as place and regionalism. We are seeking writers, photographers and radio producers for ongoing relationships from around the country for key beats. Organizing among low-income people and in communities of color is, as always, the key focus.

SCOPE
We will be maintaining our focus on metropolitan areas (broadly defined) inside the United States, with perhaps a case study or two reflecting best practices internationally. We want to include some macro analysis that looks at the global economic system and envisions alternatives to the current order. We also will continue to cover our core interests in: transportation, jobs, housing, environmental health, and land use

TIMING
Since RP&E publishes in print 2 times a year we seek to anticipate upcoming events, major convenings, elections, etc. with stories pegged to the current events but which will remain relevant and continue to interest and inform readers on a long term basis.

LENGTH & FORMAT
We accept articles ranging from 500-2000 words. We accept short profiles (word lengths of 500), case studies (1000 words), and analysis and reviews of movements and national trends (1500 - 2000 words). We also accept audio submissions in .wav and .mp3 format for podcast and broadcast use on Radio RP&E.  Please get in touch with the editor for more details.

STYLE
In general we prefer articles that include quotations from participants in addition to citations and quotations from experts. Our readership is extremely diverse, from grassroots activists to academics to progressive policymakers and we seek articles that are readable, accessible and useful for at least two out three of these groups.  For recent examples, please view previous RP&E issues online at http://urbanhabitat.org/rpe. We publish a range of editorial material: some articles/features/photos created to appeal to a general progressive minded audience; some articles for policy makers who have to actually write legislation or draft regulations to advance equity; and some articles for activists interested in the elements in an organizing campaign to mobilize grassroots support for social change.   We intend to provide the overall movement forces with facts, policies, strategies, case studies etc which can be used to advance the struggle for equality.

RIGHTS/PAYMENT
We can offer honorariums to authors or sponsoring organizations for writing and photography. Honorariums range from $50-$250 but typically are between $100 and $150. We usually distribute the text of the articles under a "creative commons" license where writers get credit and their work can't be changed, but ask people to request specific permission for photos. The copyright remains with the creator. We prefer original work but also accept reprints and adaptations of previously published material.

We can offer modest honorariums for writing and photography payable to either the author(s) or to a sponsoring non-profit or community organization.

MANUSCRIPT/FILE FORMAT
Please include: approximate word count, proposed article title, author byline, a brief biography of the author(s) and related credits. We prefer numbered endnotes in the following order: Author Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Journal/Book Title. Year of Publication, Volume, Issue, Page Number.

We can accept .doc rtf or plain text files. (NOT.docx) We don’t accept paper submissions accept by advance arrangement. If the submission is in “Word” we prefer single spaced documents with paragraph spacing set to one line; single space between sentences; one carriage return between paragraphs.

CONTACT INFORMATION
All information above is subject to change. Please write to B. Jesse Clarke editor (AT) urbanhabitat.org for additional details or to submit queries, proposals, outlines or complete articles.