A WRITER'S GUIDE TO KIWANIS MAGAZINE
KIWANIS magazine is published six times per year: October, December,
February, April, June, and August. All six issues are distributed in English
to members in the United States and English-speaking Canada. Three of
these issues—October, February, and June—are distributed in seven languages
to all members worldwide. It is distributed to nearly 300,000 members
of Kiwanis International worldwide. The members of Kiwanis clubs are business
and professional men and women who are actively involved in community
service.
Kiwanis club members are business leaders and professionals who are actively
involved in community service.
KIWANIS magazine content includes two types of articles: general interest
articles and articles specifically about Kiwanis activities and members,
the latter of which are written by KIWANIS magazine staff.
General interest articles may be considered for free-lance assignments.
Editorial need primarily is for articles on young children’s issues
(in particular), small business, parenting, personal finance, social,
humanitarian, self-improvement, and community-related topics. Other appealing
subjects include health and fitness, family relations, recreation, consumer
trends, international concerns, education, technology, and transportation.
General interest articles require Kiwanis content. Possible methods of
including Kiwanis content are: citing Kiwanis members as experts; using
Kiwanis members' experiences as anecdotes; or describing how a story’s
information can be adapted for use by a Kiwanis club or member. The KIWANIS
magazine staff can help research possible Kiwanis connections for assigned
stories, but queries should include the writer’s ideas for building
Kiwanis content into the article. If available, include the name of Kiwanis
members or clubs you intend to identify in the article.
KIWANIS magazine does not publish fiction, poetry, profiles, filler items,
jokes, opinions, or first-person accounts. Do not submit unsolicited manuscripts.
Manuscripts may vary between 750 to 1,700 words in length, depending on
the assignment.
Articles should be international in scope. KIWANIS has readers in Europe,
the Americas, Australia, Africa, and Asia. Therefore, terms such as “our
nation” should be avoided.
A writer’s treatment of a subject must be objective and in-depth,
and each major point should be substantiated by illustrative examples
and quotes from persons involved in the subject or qualified to speak
about it. The question “why?” is as important as “what?”
and perceptive analysis and balanced treatment are valued highly. Serious
articles should not contain intrusions of the writer’s views. Writing
style should be smooth, personable, and to the point, with anecdotes,
descriptions, and human detail included where appropriate. Treatment of
light subjects must be as authoritative as serious topics, but humorous
examples and comparisons and a lighter writing style are valued where
appropriate.
An article’s lead must be strong, drawing the reader’s attention
and setting the tone of the piece. A clear statement of the article’s
central thesis should follow the lead. Readers quickly should know what
they are going to read about and why.
Firsthand interviews, as well as research of published sources, are essential.
All information should be the most current available on the subject. And
the article’s conclusion should summarize the consequences of what
has been presented in the piece.
Photos are not essential, but they are desirable when they are high quality
and add substantially to the impact of the text. Color photos should be
8-by-10-inch glossy prints; color transparencies and color slides also
are preferred. Electronic images require high resolution (300 dpi or better).
All photos should be captioned and are purchased as part of the manuscript
package.
Payment is upon acceptance, ranging from $300 to $750 depending on current
editorial need, depth of treatment, manuscript length, and other factors.
Queries are preferred to manuscript submissions.
DEMOGRAPHICS
To help you identify the audience to whom you are writing, here are some
statistics on KIWANIS magazine readers:
Median age—57
Graduated high school—98%; attended/graduated college—87%;
post-graduate degree—31%
Retired—32%; professional/technical—16%; upper to middle management—18%;
owner/partner—11%
Writers are encouraged to study a recent issue of KIWANIS magazine for
a better understanding of the writing styles and subjects used in the
publication. To receive a sample copy, send a self-addressed, stamped
(five first-class stamps) large envelope to the address listed below.
Your interest in KIWANIS magazine as a market for your work is appreciated.
Jack Brockley
Managing Editor
KIWANIS Magazine
3636 Woodview Trace
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
(317) 875-8755, ext. 170
e-mail
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