Editorial Guidelines
Municipal World welcomes contributed articles from individuals working in the municipal sector or aligned to the field. Submissions may be considered for our online feature articles, print/digital editions, or special themed publications. If you would like to submit an article to considered, it must be exclusive to Municipal World, and must be on a topic that is important for municipal governments in Canada.
Below are some basic editorial guidelines for articles submitted. Article proposals or submissions may be sent by email to the Editor, and should include a one-sentence author bio at the top or bottom of the submission. (If you wish to send something in response to an article that appeared in our print/digital edition, click here for information about submitting a letter to the editor.)
Because of the large volume of inquiries we receive, we have to pass on some material of value and interest. And, some material (related to a product or service, for example, if you are a vendor) will also be considered more appropriate for sponsored content.
Subject Matter
The scope of potential topics for article submissions is very wide; submissions can focus on any subject area that will be of interest to senior municipal administrators and local government elected officials and in Canada. We do have several “theme” issues throughout the year, which may be relevant for something you are contemplating. Contact the Editor for more information.
Length
In general, submit the article in the length required to cover the topic. Most articles published in Municipal World are in the range of 1,200 to 2,000 words. As a rule of thumb, 1,400-1,800 words is ideal. However, exceptions can be made at the editor’s discretion to accommodate longer or shorter articles. Our best advice: brevity enhances the prospect of publication.
Style
Our preferred style is streamlined and straightforward, to minimize legal and technical jargon, and to spell out all acronyms on the first reference. Use the simplest word that makes the point. For example: “use” instead of “utilize”; “rain” instead of “precipitation event.” Articles should be as specific as possible, and use active voice, rather than passive voice. Articles written in the first person (e.g., using “I” or “we” throughout) are generally inappropriate.
It is Municipal World policy to delete any commercial or promotional references within submitted articles. Accuracy is also imperative; any vague, unsubstantiated statements will be edited out.
Do not include the names of individuals unless they are quoted and add credibility to the story. Eliminate any information that is not directly related to the subject matter or present it in a separate sidebar. Do not include personal opinions and organizational position statements. Rather, present convincing documentation to prove the point.
Author Notes
Municipal World generally identifies authors by names, title, and company or professional affiliation. A colour photo of the author (where available) and short bio (40-50 words), will be included.
Where deemed necessary by the editor as a result of substantial revisions, a final version of your article may be emailed for your factual check to assure accuracy. Any inquiries received about your article after publication will be forwarded to you, and any comments about the article received from readers may be published in a subsequent issue of Municipal World.
You will automatically be mailed two copies of the issue in which your article appears. Additional quantities may be ordered in advance of printing for a fee. A digital reprint of your article, as it appears in Municipal World, will also be made available for purchase.
The editor ultimately decides upon the content of the publication, including your article, and reserves the right to reject any submission, or to edit your submission for length, content that may have been covered in a previous article, inappropriate information for the interest of our readership, or style. You will be advised if your article is more suitable for sponsored content.
Photos
Photographs submitted must be submitted digitally by email, Dropbox, or other arrangement approved by the editor. Digital photos must be in a high resolution format (300 dpi), suitable for print. Photos that have previously been screened for print, as in a brochure, are not acceptable. Please include short suggested captions with all photographs and illustrations.
Format
Please submit your manuscript electronically. We accept files from most common word processing programs. Please do not submit articles in PDF format. Please send the article by email as an attachment.
With the exception of bold and italics, all formatting codes must be omitted. For example: remove any codes for centering; tabs; footnotes (instead, use superscript numbers in the copy and place the unformatted footnote references at the end of the article); graphic lines; underlining; style and font changes; etc.
Upcoming editorial deadlines
| To be considered for the: | Copy to be received by: |
| December 2023 issue
January 2024 issue February 2024 issue March 2024 issue April 2024 issue May 2024 issue June 2024 issue July 2024 issue August 2024 issue September 2024 issue October 2024 issue November 2024 issue December 2024 issue |
Friday, September 1, 2023
Friday, October 6, 2023 Friday, November 3, 2023 Friday, December 1, 2023 Friday, December 29, 2023 Friday, February 2, 2024 Friday, March 1, 2024 Thursday, March 28, 2024 Friday, May 3, 2024 Friday, May 31, 2024 Friday, June 28, 2024 Friday, August 2, 2024 Friday, August 30, 2024 |
Please note that these Editorial Deadlines are subject to change. For certainty, it is recommended that you contact the Editor prior to the deadlines. Municipal World may reject an article for any reason, including but not limited to articles that are predominantly personal, private, political, polarizing, or commercial in nature.
Publication scheduling
As topics for each issue are selected on a “what’s hot” basis, we cannot guarantee a definite date for publication of articles. Periodically, we schedule special feature issues. For example human resources, heritage, technology, environment, or economic development. These factors also determine our selection of articles.