Editorial Guidelines | Photography and Illustration Guidelines

Queries

ColoradoBiz welcomes written, e-mail and phone queries with solid, original ideas and angles.

We want analysis, forecasts, profiles and pieces on trends, businesses, people and activities. As a full-color monthly, our editorial deadlines are about 10 to 12 weeks out from the first of the issue's month.

We seek articles ranging between 500 and 1,200 words for short- to medium-length stories and 2,000 to 3,000 words for main features and cover stories. corresponding sidebar and chart material is a plus.

Pay is 40 cents a word. Our departments use stories in the 250- to 650-word range and cover people, companies, trends, unusual products, facts and more. ColoradoBiz also pays such expenses as phone and 35 cents a mile in certain cases.

Articles must specifically must target Colorado's business scene. We don't accept general how-to columns, book reviews, commentaries, syndicated work or articles written by public relations professionals on behalf of their clients. Check out our archives to get a good idea of what we publish before you query.
 

What to Include

• Although ColoradoBiz is available on newsstands, we're primarily a business-to-business magazine. We want strong business angles and expect clarity and accuracy.
   
• Our features must start with a good lede and a clear (two- or three-line) nut graf summing up the story.
   
• We like numbers. The more strong, solid, attributed numbers you include to support your story and facts, the better.
   
• Active writing fits more into your word count and lessens your chances of heavy editing.
   
• Avoid the use of jargon and strive for clear, straightforward language.
   
• Use several sources, including some away from the Front Range to stress our statewide coverage area.
   
• Clearly attribute each quote. Include names, complete titles, company names, cities and for companies outside of Colorado, states.
   
• Is it a public company? Include its stock exchange information: Wallace Computer Services (NYSE:WCS).
   
• Where pertinent, include affiliates: Moore & Co. and Coldwell Banker Van Schaack, part of Parsippany, N.J.-based NRT Inc., a residential real estate brokerage and consolidator.
   
• Verify data with the original source, especially with surveys and numbers. Do not use information published in other media, without verifying it for yourself. Get survey names, etc.
   
• Check and double-check names and titles. Fact-check your work.
   
• Separately, give us your sources and phone numbers for photos and fact-checking.
   
• We need your full name, address, phone, fax, e-mail, and Social Security number on the story to pay you. Include a brief biography of your experience.
   
• Suggest a hed and dek, or two

Policies

Wiesner Media policy requires a signed, dated, complete writer's contract for each article, before invoices will be paid. Do not alter the contracts. Please call Mike Taylor at 303-662-5223 with questions or comments.
 

Absolutely do not fax or send stories or portions of stories to anyone, including sources. We will read back direct quotes to sources after editing, if they want to know. If there are any questions about sources or anyone seeing a story, refer them to us.

Deadlines

Meet them. Call in advance if you can't. Have a good reason ready.

Format

• Send the stories via e-mail, in text or Word for Windows.
   
• Send attached e-mail files in text or paste the copy into your e-mail message.
   
• Do not embellish the copy with indents of any kind, formatting of any kind, bold or italic type, or other aesthetic touches that we just have to take the time to remove.

Expenses

We pay long-distance phone bills for interviews (see writer contract). We also pay mileage (35 cents/mile) in some cases, which must be approved by the editor.  ColoradoBiz is not responsible for expenses incurred without prior approval of the editor.

Contacts:

Bart Taylor, Group Publisher, (303) 662-5379
btaylor@cobizmag.com

Mike Cote, Editor, (303) 662-5283
mcote@cobizmag.com

Mike Taylor, Managing Editor, (303) 662-5223
mtaylor@cobizmag.com

Tom Visocchi, Art Director, (303) 662-5249
tviscocchi@media.com

We seek and use photographers and illustrators who want to have fun with their art, and who turn that into accurate, professional work with excellent composition, proper lighting, creative content and technical expertise. It should tell a story in itself and further the content of the article it illustrates. Our preference is for art with strong visual and emotional impact that captures the essence of the article.

Queries

ColoradoBiz welcomes written, e-mail and phone queries from artists and photographers. We use photos and renderings to illustrate articles on Colorado-specific business people, places, events, issues and concepts.

Other photos and illustrations are by assignment for features or our departments. They may include studio shots, on-location shots and photojournalism. Read several issues of ColoradoBiz to gauge our style, tone and direction.

As a full-color monthly, our art deadlines are about three to four weeks out from the press date (typically the 3rd week of the month). Deadlines are assigned by the art director.

Format, Pay and Other Details

We use original color transparencies and slides, which we scan in-house. We also accept digital art and photos. Digital work should be scanned to 8 x 10, 300 dpi, CMYK in TIF format in MAC. We pay full- and half-day rates based on the assignment's complexity, length and size (no higher than $400 per day and no lower than $100 per half day). Pay is set by ColoradoBiz prior to the assignment, based on the assignment's logistics. The art director will state the pay at the time of the assignment. This rate is non-negotiable.

We also pay 35 cents a mile and reasonable film and processing expenses. Roughly, full-day rates apply to assignments of four ordered shots or more; half-day rates to three or fewer shots. Reasonable film and processing expenses are based on shooting 10 photos for every one ordered (five ordered, 50 shots).

All expenses must be approved by the art director prior to the shoot. ColoradoBiz is not responsible for expenses incurred without the art director's prior approval.

Illustrations should be distinctive, professional renderings in any media -- preferably 8 x 10 or smaller, depending on its intended use. Digital renderings should follow the specifications for digital photos. Rates for illustrations range from $45 to $350, depending on complexity and size, and include reasonable revisions or alterations at the art director's discretion.

Do not e-mail digital art.

ColoradoBiz pays on publication. Space may dictate how many photos ultimately will be used and when they will be used.

What to Include

• We want art that renders a story in itself with a strong business focus.
   
• ColoradoBiz is striving to move away from cliches and stereotypes in portraying business, whether in photos or illustrations. We do not want traditional posed shots, power shots, staid businessman shots, venetian blinds, computers in the backgrounds and other dull office props - unless creatively used. We do want fresh, vivid work using activity, conceptualization, humor where appropriate, dignity where appropriate - in short, the photo (or art) should tell an interesting story.
   
• Without fail, on photo shoots, get subjects' correct name spellings, complete titles, complete company names and locations, and their positions in the photos. Accuracy is critical for the cutlines.
   
• Aside from good composition, proper lighting and creative content, art should be clear technically and in content. Focus photos. Some shots may be blown up several hundred percent.
   
• Color should be well-saturated, not washed out, with good value contrast. As a general rule, use a variety of color. The paper we use may affect the colors. Check with the art director when in any doubt.
   
• Art should have contrast in color, shape and sizes, and show attention to detail.
   
• Read the stories (we will send the one you're illustrating for) to help determine art content. If you do not clearly understand or have difficulty with the assignment, contact the art director immediately. Reshoots are options only in special circumstances.
   
• Do not show stories to sources. They are for your use only.
   
• Photographers are responsible for arranging photo shoots with the subjects, which may include coordinating with art director and story author.
   
• WiesnerMedia requires a photographers' or illustrators' contract for each article illustrated (four articles or assignments, four contracts). These must be complete, signed, dated and returned in order to be paid. Do not alter the contract. Please call the managing editor with questions.
   
• Provide exact wording for photo credits.
   
• New artists also must fill out and return a W-9 before being paid.
   
• Finally, we must have your full name, company name, address, phone, fax, e-mail and Social Security number with the photo in order to pay you. Expenses must have receipts. Please send contracts and invoices to Anne Kerven, managing editor, at the above address.
   
• Upon submission, we must also have the photo credit wording and a brief two- or three-line bio of yourself for our contributors' list.
   
• We will return art work to you after the issue is printed.

Deadlines

Meet them. Our production department generates a minimum of nine titles and extensive special projects. Our scanning schedule is tight. We schedule according to when your art is expected.

Contacts:

Bart Taylor, Group Publisher, (303) 662-5379
btaylor@cobizmag.com

Mike Cote, Editor, (303) 662-5283
mcote@cobizmag.com

Mike Taylor, Managing Editor, (303) 662-5223
mtaylor@cobizmag.com

Tom Visocchi, Art Director, (303) 662-5249
tviscocchi@wiesnermedia.com