From the beginning, we’ve been a publication with a special appreciation for, and relationship with, writers and artists. The list of Newcity contributors and alumni who’ve influenced and shaped American culture, with words, with images or both, is lengthy and one we’re proud of and constantly seeking to extend. Thirty-plus years in, we’ve evolved into an enterprise equally at home online and in print, but our core values remain unchanged: We believe that what we create, through the combined words and images of our individual contributors, is not only a chronicler and critic of the arts, but has the potential to be a work of art in itself, and to that end we constantly strive. We’re among the last of our kind in Chicago still locally owned, and we take that unique role as a responsibility to be the absolutely very best that our city has to offer.
Each of our individual endeavors has specific needs and characteristics from its contributors—and where relevant, those are outlined below, but certain shared guidelines pertain. Above all, we cherish literary journalism, with equal weight on both words, whether in long-form print stories or in short-form web journalism. We prize creativity and originality in our images.
Words
We encourage writers to submit unsolicited story ideas either in the form of a query letter or by emailing a manuscript. Do not send items through the postal system, and please please don’t call. Email. Please don’t send along a general resume and clips looking for assignments; that’s not how we work.
Read us 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 want scoops, but we don’t want them written in the style of a daily newspaper or a lifestyle web site that breathlessly regurgitates PR copy. We want voice, criticism 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: In print, main features and cover stories run 1,500-5,000 words, but can go up to any length appropriate; arts section features run 750 words. If you do not want us to cut your prose, adhere to the assigned length. On the web, word counts are less relevant, but brevity no less prized. Words still need to count.
Writing for our Web sites: Each web site has a specific content focus, but certain values pertain. While we appreciate the “blogging” voice—longtime Newcity readers certainly notice the resemblance—we’re more interested in reporting than riffing. We’re interested in crafting definitive sources/voices in each of our web sites, so the occasional shout-out to other sources is unavoidable, but we view such posts as supplemental, not our essence. Find a story, review a show, do what no one else is doing.
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.
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 and Web Publishing Rights, unless an exception is specifically arranged prior to publication.
Payment: Stories that run only on our web sites are now paid a small amount, currently $15-$25 each. We pay for stories we run in print, albeit modestly and at a time lag that is slower than we’d prefer, three months or more after publication currently. Fees for section features are $75; longer “front-of-book” features and cover stories pay $100-$500 and up and includes print and online usage. Unless otherwise negotiated, the editors will decide which submissions run in print and which online only.
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 with our photographers and illustrators (see below if that’s you) although we’re open to hearing your ideas. If you are furnishing artwork in the course of working on a story, please turn it in when you deliver your manuscript, if not before.
Libel insurance: You’re on your own here, so practice good journalism.
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 include the writer’s name, address, social security number and phone number in the left-hand corner of the first page and the byline should be inserted at the beginning of the story. We use the “Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual,” as modified by the Newcity Style Guide. 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.
Stories and queries should be submitted via email to the editors via [email protected]; for full submissions, drop the work into the body of your message, even if you also also attach a Word file. The paper goes to press Tuesday and is dated the following Thursday; web stories are published on a regular basis throughout the week.
Want to know if we have any specific needs or opportunities? Click here.
Images
Photography: We value great photography—it’s in our DNA. We’re looking for creativity as well as a basic mastery of the craft. We especially want to see what you can do with people, either professional models or regular folks, since we publish so many profiles. The best way to get started is to email us, via [email protected], a link to your web site and your portfolio; we do meet with folks as well, albeit slowly. Shooting for us is a creative outlet and portfolio builder; we only pay $100 total, for most feature stories that involve several images; big multi-day assignments—like our Leaders of Culture lists—go as high $500 total. Payment is slower than we’d like; currently three months or more after publication.
Illustration: We’re looking for strong graphic style, and beyond that, we need to see your work. The best way to get started is to email us, via [email protected], a link to your web site and your portfolio; we do meet with folks as well, albeit slowly. Illustrating for us is a creative outlet and portfolio builder; we only pay $100-$150, total, for cover assignments that involve several images, and less for single-image inside assignments. Payment is slower than we’d like; currently three months or more after publication
Rights: We buy First North American Serial and Web Publishing Rights, unless an exception is specifically arranged prior to publication.
Comics
Please know that we really really really love comics. If you do too, you know our history. But we have no space to add regular comic strips these days, so don’t send those. We’re really interested in comics as reporting, in full-page or multi-page features, etc. And we love to work with illustrators with a comics sensibility. Send stuff to [email protected] in all cases.
