Submit A Story

Editorial Guidelines

Welcome to Harlem World Magazine (HWM)! We’re all about inspiring our readers with curated content to live their best life and style—whether they’re just around the block or exploring the world.

We’re so glad you’re considering sharing your talent with us! We love featuring fresh voices and creative perspectives from writers, photographers, illustrators, videographers, and creators like you.

To make the submission process as smooth as possible, please take a moment to review the following guidelines for new writers. We’re excited to see your work.

Process:

  • Submit your story idea/pitch.
  • Once you have gotten an okay, submit your article according to our guidelines.
  • Your work will be edited to align with the voice and style of HWM, and in some cases, you may be asked to make revisions as well.

Submission Criteria:

  • Originality: We prioritize original content that aligns with the interests and themes of our magazine.

  • Relevance: Articles and photos should be relevant to the Harlem community and resonate with our readership and sent in 2-3 months before the category listed below so it can be proofed, laid out, story linking, fact-checked, and more. We’re always looking for the perfect fit for our demo, we curate all the content on the site based on Google Analytics based on reader clicks.

  • Quality: We seek well-researched, well-written articles and high-quality photos that align with our editorial standards.

Content Categories:

We accept submissions in the following categories:

  • Features: In-depth articles covering local personalities, events, or issues (750-1,000 words plus).

  • Profiles: Our profiles feature engaging interviews with notable individuals in our community, answering the essential 5 W’s—Who, What, When, Where, and Why. These stories give readers an inside look at the people making an impact, from community leaders to local influencers. Keep your profile between 50 and 750 words, providing insightful and captivating content that tells their story as we work to find the best content on the site using our editors, Google Analytics and more to find the best content for our selective readers.

  • Opinion Pieces (Op-Ed): Thought-provoking essays expressing unique perspectives on relevant topics, including politics, culture, and social issues with leaders, legends, and trailblazers (750-1,000 words).

  • How-To Guides: Practical tutorials and instructional articles on DIY project Style, Food, Politics, Business, Travel, Health, Things To Do, and Arts (750 words plus).

How to Submit Articles:

  1. Prepare Your Article: Ensure your article is polished, proofread, and formatted according to our guidelines (HWM uses Grammarly).

  2. Include a Pitch: Along with your article, include a brief pitch outlining the key points and relevance to our readers.

  3. Submission Format: For SEO purposes, a six-word headline with subheads is 4H. Attach your article as a Word document (with links in place).

  4. Bio and Contact Information: Include a short bio (1-2 sentences) and your contact information with your submission.

  5. Fact Checking Info: Submissions should also include source links/contact info for fact-checking at the top of the page.

How to Submit Photos:

  1. High-Quality Images: We accept high-resolution 900×600 pixel photographs that capture the essence of our local community and events.

  2. Include Photo Details: Provide captions and context for each submitted photo.

  3. Submission Format: Send your photos as JPEG or PNG files, labeled clearly with descriptions.

Submission Process:

  • Email: Send your submission to [email protected] or [email protected] for paid (that are non-refundable) with the subject line “Submission: [Title of Your Article/Photo].”

  • Response Time: We do our best to respond to submissions within a week. Our team takes the time to carefully read each piece multiple times and discuss it during editorial meetings. If you haven’t heard from us after a week, don’t hesitate to follow up—we appreciate your patience.

Rights and Compensation:

  • Rights: By submitting your content, you grant HWM the right to publish your work on our platform.

  • Compensation: We offer exposure and recognition to our contributors. Please note that compensation may vary based on the nature and scope of the submission.

Stay Connected:

For updates on submission opportunities, writing tips, and community highlights, follow us on social media @harlemworldmagazine.

We look forward to receiving your pitch, the submissions and showcasing your talent in our magazine! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Us. Thank you for being part of our creative community.

Click here for Op-Ed Submission Guidelines.

Editorial Calendar:

To better align with our upcoming themes and focus areas, please consider the following topics for submission:

Our Editorial Calendar:

January

  • Cover Story: Harlemites of the Year
  • Editorial Feature: Harlem Great Eats, and Wellness, Fitness & Food
  • Special Sections: Cars: Hot And New
  • Events: Three Kings Parade

February

  • Cover Story: Harlem History
  • Editorial Feature: African American History Month and Harlem Wine Guide
  • Special Sections: Fashion Week/Wedding
  • Events: Who’s the Boss

March

  • Cover Story: Women’s History Month
  • Editorial Feature: Best of Harlem 
  • Special Sections:  Food & Bar
  • Events: Harlem Restuarant Week

April

  • Cover Story: Jazz Month / Harlem Jazz Guide
  • Editorial Feature:  Vacation & Travel 
  • Special Sections: Summer Education & Green Guide
  • Events: Harlem Retail Month

May

  • Cover Story:  Harlem Nightlife
  • Editorial Feature: Harlem Home Living
  • Special Sections: Mother Memories And Summer Travel Guide
  • Events: Family Arts Festival

June

  • Cover Story: Black Music Month
  • Editorial Feature: Wellness, Fitness & Food
  • Special Sections: “Summer Style: Must-Have Fashion and Beauty Trends”
  • Special Sections: Father’s Day
  • Events: Summerstage

July

  • Cover Story: Harlem Book Guide
  • Editorial Feature: Eat & Read
  • Special Sections: Book Marketplace
  • Events: Harlem Book Fair

August

  • Cover Story: Leaders, Legends & Trailblazers
  • Editorial Feature: Technology and Fashion
  • Special Sections:  Car Guide and Fall Education
  • Events: Harlem Week, San Gigilo Festival

September

  • Cover Story: Harlem Arts Guide
  • Editorial Feature:  Fashion, Diabetes Month, Harlem Anniversary and Arts & Culture
  • Special Sections:  Destination Wedding, Health & Fitness, A Taste Of Harlem
  • Special Sections: Back-to-school
  • Events: Harlem Fashion Week, Harlem Business Summit, African American Day Parade,

October

  • Cover Story:  Harlem Fashion Week Cover
  • Editorial Feature:  Breast Cancer Awareness 
  • Special Sections: Women’s Health and Winter Travel
  • Events: Hispanic Heritage Month

November

  • Cover Story: Restaurant & Bars
  • Editorial Feature:  Great Food and Fashion
  • Special Sections:  Top Harlem Dentist  
  • Events: Elections, Harlem Mile/NY Marathon

December

  • Cover Story:  Harlem Holiday
  • Editorial Feature:  Shop Harlem, AIDS/HIV Awareness, Kwanzaa
  • Special Sections: The Gift of Giving, Holiday Food, Best Cars Awards
  • Events: Tree Lighting Ceremony

Please check back for HWM events, podcasts, and more updates. 

Note

HWM may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not always have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The material is made available for purposes of commentary, criticism, news reporting, education, and research. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this digital magazine is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

Last Updated February 14, 2024.