FIRST: PITCH YOUR STORY IDEA

SDA NEWSBLOG publishes image-driven stories about SDA members,
SDA programs plus a wide range of other textile-related topics of interest to our international community.

If you have a story idea, send a story pitch (short, compelling description/200 words or less)
or press release in the body of an email to email hidden; JavaScript is required.
Include a low resolution image or links to images to illustrate your idea.

NewsBlog Editor will contact you
to discuss story angle, word count, image requirements and deadlines.

THEN: SUBMIT YOUR STORY CONTENT
BY FOLLOWING THESE STEPS

Blog posts are the sum of many parts:
a good story, working links, compelling images, accurate captions, interesting bios.
High quality content is all in the details – and attention to them.
A single story can take many hours to clarify, edit, post, design and proof.
To streamline this labor-intensive process it is crucial that authors follow these guidelines:

1) WRITE A CLEAR EMAIL SUBJECT HEADING:
Clearly label the subject heading of all emails containing your story content.
For example: NewsBlog: FiberPhiladelphia Exhibition Overview – text

2) COPY & PASTE TEXT:
Copy and paste your final draft of story text into the body of an email.
(It may also be attached as a Word document; this is optional.)
Why? Word docs are bloated with invisible code that must be stripped out before posting.
Placing the text in the body of an email allows editor to evaluate text quickly at-a-glance.

3) COPY & PASTE LINKS INTO TEXT:
Include all relevant link URLs in the text.
Paste them in the text immediately after words that will be linked.

PLEASE NOTE: Links need to be tested before submission
to make sure the link (URL) goes to the exact page where information appears
—not to a homepage that forces the reader to search for it.

4) SUGGEST IMAGE PLACEMENT IN TEXT:
Place each IMAGE NUMBER IN BRACKETS in the text where the image should appear in relation to text.
(Find guidelines for preparing images, file names, numbers and captions below.)

PLEASE NOTE:
Numbered list of complete captions should appear below text/bio in email containing your submission.

5) INCLUDE YOUR BIO & HEADSHOT & LINKS:
Include a 100-150 word bio plus a headshot
along with relevant links to your website or blog.
Your bio should appear below text in email containing your submission.

PLEASE NOTE:
Send text, links, bio and numbered image captions in one finished draft
- NOT a series of emails that have to be managed and tracked.

If you revise your draft or add a caption or other information,
resubmit entire text with changes or additions highlighted in red.
Be sure to create a new email subject heading that clearly indicates revisions to your original draft.

6) PREPARE IMAGES IN CORRECT SIZE & FORMAT
Jpeg ONLY
Low resolution images ONLY
No more than 1000 pixels in any dimension
(Image width of 600-650 pixels is ideal.)
72 –150 dpi

Images that do not conform to these specifications
cannot be considered and will be returned for correct formatting.

PLEASE NOTE:
Images embedded in a Word document or on a contact sheet are NOT acceptable;
images must be sent as individual jpegs and clearly labeled as per below:

7) CREATE CLEAR IMAGE FILE NAMES
Files MUST be named with YOUR LAST NAME,
KEYWORD from subject,
SPECIFIC identifier (other maker’s name or title of piece)
NUMBER (where it should appear in the story/text)

Example:  YourLastName_ExhibitionName_Maker’sName_1.jpeg

(Please note that number should appear at end of file name).

CREATE COMPLETE CAPTIONS
All image must have complete captions – including photographer credit.
Use the following format:

Name(s): (i.e. artist’s name, names of people photographed at a particular event)
Description: (i.e. Title of Artwork (in quotation marks), Name of Event, Type of Activity)
Date: (i.e. year artwork was completed; date of event)
Size/dimensions: (if relevant)
Materials/techniques used: (if relevant)
Photo credit/permission: (must be included for attribution/legal purposes)

All numbered captions MUST be included at the bottom of your email submission
below the text and your bio.

PLEASE NOTE:
SDA NewsBlog requires that images sent by an author
be cleared for use by the author before submission.
Permission can take the form of consent via email that can be archived by author.

9) MANAGE THE SIZE OF EMAILS CONTAINING IMAGES
Limit any single email to less than 15 MB to insure it goes through.
If multiple emails containing images are sent, clearly label them
with title of project and numbers of images included in each email.
Example: NewsBlog: FiberPhiladelphia Exhibition Overview – images 1-10