Submission guidelines

Your story may be edited for length, grammar or style. Your photographs may be cropped for size, clarity or style. All submissions are reviewed before being published in any form and, therefore, may not be available immediately. We cannot publish foul or derogatory language, photographs or references regarding race, religion, gender, etc. Your submission will not be made public if it doesn’t meet our criteria for appropriate submission. Kiwanis International is not able to provide feedback on stories or photographs, accepted or rejected.

To comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), we do not collect information from children under the age of 13. You must be 13 or older to submit a story and/or photographs. If you are age 18 or younger, you must have the permission of your parent or guardian to complete your submission.

Word length

Kiwanis International reviews and prefers stories between 200 and 500 words.

Story type and themes

Kiwanis International publishes personal accounts and anecdotes on all topics from people all over the world.

Legal issues

When writing about or photographing others, please state explicitly in your submission to us that you have obtained permission from those in the story or photograph. You must state that this is your own work and the story is true. You are liable for the content.

Rights

You give Kiwanis International the nonexclusive right to use your story or photograph, while Kiwanis International retains the exclusive right to use the story or photograph and any other submissions in a multi-author platform, communications or promotional vehicles.

Non-US Submissions

Anyone may submit his or her story or photograph online, but all stories must be in English or translated into English before submission.

Photo upload guidelines

Kiwanis International wants to utilize the best of your photographs. Just like any professional photographer, you need to be accurate and complete with information about the photo(s).

By uploading a photo, you certify that you own the photo or have the right to permit Kiwanis International and Kiwanis-family programs to use and publish this image, and that you understand that all photographs submitted to Kiwanis International may be published, used or distributed in print, electronic and other media. Kiwanis International reserves the right to reject any photograph.

Please keep in mind:

• We need the date the photo was taken, location, name of event, accurate spelling of people’s names (left to right) in the photo and their hometowns or club names.
• Any extra reporting on the event (such as an award honoree or beneficiary) would be useful even if that person isn’t in the photograph.
• Photos should be sent in an electronic format as a jpeg file, preferably smaller than 500k.
• Photos for the online story-sharing virtual library or image gallery should be a minimum of 72 dpi for optimal onscreen viewing.
• Images larger than the maximum preferred size for onscreen viewing will be automatically resized and formatted for you.
• Please save your original image for potential use in our print magazine! Photos chosen for print publication or showcasing in other online promotions will need to be higher resolution and larger physical size: a minimum of 4 inches x 5 inches and 300 dpi (dots per inch). This is typically the highest resolution setting on most digital cameras (at least an 1800 megapixel resolution). If in doubt, it’s best to set your camera to the highest resolution available.
• Photos at less than 300 dpi resolution and smaller than 4 inches x 5 inches may not be acceptable for print publication or showcase spots on the websites.
• DO NOT send original photographs through the mail without solicitation as we cannot assure their return or safety.
• Keep it in focus. Use the appropriate camera setting and lighting.
• Avoid poses such as check acceptances, podium speakers and groups standing in line or stacked rows. If you’re shooting a service project, look for an action photo of the volunteers in progress or interacting with children. We are not likely to use an action shot with mostly backs or backs of heads.
• Strive for identifiable faces, though they do not have to be facing forward entirely. Side shots of faces are okay if there is a mix of forward and side shots. The most important factor is facial expression; look for happy, positive, excited, surprised or content faces.
• Don’t overload the photo with too many people unless it’s an intended crowd shot. We are unlikely to use landscape shots with no people, however.
• We need your contact name, telephone number and e-mail address. We may have a question under deadline and need to contact you.

Consent/media release statement

In order for us to add your story and/or photographs to our website(s), we must receive your acceptance to this consent/media release statement:

• I certify that I am the author or sole owner of the material I am submitting to Kiwanis International. Kiwanis International and its licensees may reproduce, distribute, publish, display, edit, modify, create derivative works and otherwise use the material for any purpose in any form and on any media.
• I agree to indemnify Kiwanis International for all damages and expenses that may be incurred in connection with this material.
• I also have reviewed the Kiwanis International Submission Guidelines and User Agreement.
• I hereby transfer and grant to Kiwanis International the exclusive right to use and to authorize others to use all or any part of my (his/her) story/interview/photograph/video/audio or film likeness, regardless of the medium by which it is recorded.
• I also hereby transfer and grant to Kiwanis International the exclusive right to use and authorize others to use all or any part of my (his/her) story/interview/photograph/video/audio or film likeness in related media such as books, magazines, journals, pamphlets, Internet and other written and video and audio formats for the purposes of promotion, education, news media, Internet and other purposes.
• I also hereby release Kiwanis International and its board, members, trustees, officers, employees and agents from any and all claims, demands, causes of action and suits, including, but not limited to, claims for invasion of privacy, defamation, breach of contract or other breach of duty arising out of or in connection with the use of this story/interview/photograph/video/audio or film likeness.
• I certify that the submissions are my own work and I have full permission to use, submit, alter or publish them.
• I certify that the story or pictorial is true and I am liable for the content.
• I understand that if I am age 13 or younger, my submissions are prohibited.
• I certify that if I am age 18 or younger, I have the permission of my parent or guardian in making this submission.

User agreement

Kiwanis International is committed to protecting your privacy. We will never share your contact information with third parties.

• Kiwanis International (“kiwanis.org”) and its affiliate program sites (the “sites”) are accessible worldwide to anyone with Internet access. Access to and use of kiwanis.org and the sites are subject to the terms and conditions of this User Agreement and Copyright Notice and all applicable laws and regulations, including laws and regulations governing copyright and trademark. BY ACCESSING KIWANIS.ORG AND THE SITES, YOU ACCEPT, WITHOUT LIMITATION OR QUALIFICATION, ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THIS USER AGREEMENT. Kiwanis International and its programs reserve the right to change these terms and conditions at any time. The changes will appear on this screen. By using kiwanis.org and the sites, you agree in advance to accept any changes.
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• You should be aware that if you voluntarily disclose personal information (e.g., user name, e-mail address) on a bulletin board, chat room or on any other user- or member-generated pages, that information can be collected and used by others and may result in unsolicited messages from other parties.

KIWANIS.ORG’S TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PODCASTS

• Kiwanis.org’s podcasting service (the “podcast service”) consists of news and information files (the “podcast content”) that may be downloaded to your computer and/or transferred to your portable MP3 player. The podcast service is available only for private, noncommercial use. Any other uses, including without limitation the incorporation of advertising into or the placement of advertising associated with or targeted toward the podcast content, are strictly prohibited. You may not edit or modify or redistribute the podcast content or links supplied by kiwanis.org. Ownership: Kiwanis.org’s podcast service and the podcast content are protected by US and international copyright laws. Kiwanis.org owns all rights including copyright to the podcast content, and to Kiwanis International logos and trademarks used in connection with the podcast service. Right to Discontinue Podcast Service: Kiwanis.org reserves the right to discontinue providing any or all of the podcast service at any time and to require you to cease displaying, distributing or otherwise using any or all of the podcast content for any reason including, without limitation, your violation of any provision of this User Agreement. Kiwanis.org assumes no liability for any of your activities in connection with the podcast content and/or the podcast service or for your use of the podcast content and/or the podcast service in connection with your website, computer or MP3 player.
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