Editorial

Notre Dame Magazine is published quarterly by the University of Notre Dame for more than 130,000 readers, most of whom are graduates of the university. The magazine reports on alumni activities, covers institutional events, people and trends, and examines a broad spectrum of cultural issues reflecting the university's wide-ranging discussion of science and the arts, society and its structures, the spiritual and the human. Because a large proportion of its readers are Catholic, the magazine often addresses topics of interest to a Catholic audience.

Departments: The magazine has four departments, including campus news and an alumni notes section. A third section, "Perspectives," contains three to four essays per issue. Often written in first-person, these pieces range in length from 750 to 1,500 words and deal with a wide array of issues -- some topical, some personal, some serious, some light. Feature stories, typically 3,000 words or more, comprise the major part of the magazine. These, too, address a variety of issues appealing to college-educated readers who take an active interest in the contemporary world.

Submissions: Most of the magazine's editorial content is freelance-written. This is especially true of the Perspectives and Features sections. For features, the editors require a QUERY LETTER with clips of published articles. Less experienced writers may be asked to write on speculation. For Perspectives, it  is appropriate to submit manuscripts. We buy first serial and electronic rights. Payment (comparable to fees paid by some national publications) is made upon acceptance. All copy is subjected to rigorous editing.

Guidelines

Mechanics: Generally we follow AP style. Manuscripts should be typed and double-spaced. Completed stories should be sent on 3.5-inch floppy disks in Word Perfect or ascii, with hard copy included. Assigned stories also may be e-mailed to ndmag.1@nd.edu. The magazine's postal address is Notre Dame Magazine, 538 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

Photographs and illustrations: The magazine seldom buys photos from writers. Photos and illustrations are assigned to professionals chosen by our art director.

Caveats: The editors are always looking for fresh story ideas. However, the caliber of the magazine and frequency of its publication dictate that the writing meet very high standards. The editors value articles strong in storytelling quality, journalistic technique, and substance. They do not encourage promotional or nostalgia pieces, stories on sports or essays that are sentimentally religious. Reprints are rarely used. Poetry and fiction are not accepted.

It is imperative that those interested in writing for Notre Dame Magazine actually read the magazine. You may view samples online by returning to our home page or request a sample copy by e-mailing the magazine at ndmag.1@nd.edu. A list of staff members is also online.