Founded in 1975 to provide a critical voice in Victoria’s political and cultural communities, Monday Magazine continues to shake British Columbia’s conservative capital city with tell-it- like-it-is features and reviews that provide an alternative to the city’s other, more mainstream, media outlets. Targeting educated, active, politically savvy adults and Victoria’s growing youth market, Monday reaches almost 100,000 readers weekly with thought-provoking, quality journalism, cultural analysis and the city’s most complete entertainment guide.
Monday is frequently proud to accept awards for investigative features on the environment, social and political justice, arts, culture and the outdoors, including recent nominations and wins from the likes of the Western Magazine Awards, the Association of Alternative Weeklies Awards and the Black Press Awards.
As the only alternative entertainment and news weekly in Victoria, Monday continues to attract readers who want journalism that challenges and changes their city. At Monday, “Every word counts.”
Guidelines for Freelancers
Monday Magazine is an award-winning alternative newspaper with a weekly circulation of 40,000. Monday concentrates on current events and the arts in Victoria, and specializes in in-depth commentary and reporting. A founding member of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, Monday began in 1975 as an alternative to the mainstream press in the Greater Victoria area. We are a general interest magazine; our articles should engage our readers—Mr. and Ms. Victoria.
We want stories written in a fresh, energetic magazine style with a beginning, middle and end. The writing should be polished so it sparkles, the ideas should be well-considered, engaging and well-researched. The topics should be compelling, intriguing and unusual—and relevant to our educated, curious and passionate readership.
Querying an Editor
Monday is interested in freelance cover stories (1,500 to 3,000 words), feature articles (800 to 1,500 words) and arts previews (400-500 words). We also use CD reviews (150 words maximum) and book reviews (200-600 words).
You may submit a finished article, but a brief written query that outlines several story ideas is preferred. Include potential sources and the proposed angle for each story idea, suggest an appropriate length and, if you really want to go the distance, indicate how the piece may be illustrated. (And please spell the name of the Editor correctly; it’s an early indicator that you can get your details right.)
Monday is currently not interested in columns.
Sections of the paper that are open to freelance submissions:
- News stories (400-1,000 words)
- News briefs (150-200 words)
- 5 Questions column (750 words plus pic)
- Features (1,200-3,000 words)
- Arts and cultural reviews, including books (400-800), theatre (400-600) and CDs (150). Note: Monday only reviews shows that are playing for more than one issue. This excludes one-off concerts.
- Arts previews (400-600 words) and features (800-1,200 words), including film, dance, theatre, visual arts, literature, etc.
- Profiles (1,000-2,000 words)
We also occasionally publish travel articles (600-1,000 words), usually in themed issue once or twice a year.
If you have not written for Monday before, provide a one-page resume and no more than three clippings.
Make sure your name, address and daytime phone numbers are on the query. No phone calls please.
Address cover stories and feature article queries to the Editor. Address arts stories (including arts features) to the Arts Editor. We prefer e-mail (with an RTF or TXT attachment). Queries that are time-sensitive (pertaining to an upcoming event) should be labelled as such. Please also allow 4 to 6 weeks for a response to queries, and up to three months for a response to unsolicited articles. If we want to use your piece, don’t worry, we’ll get back to you.
Photographers and Illustrators
Monday does use freelance photographers and illustrators for both the cover and internal images. Our needs and rates vary from issue to issue ($20-$50 for internals, $100-$200 for covers), so please query the Editor directly (editor@mondaymag.com).
Monday is currently not interested in any new cartoons or comic strips.
Payment and Copyright
Freelance submissions are accepted on spec only and payment is given after publication. Monday has not set a per-word rate, but payment usually begins at 10 cents per word, with one dollar of the payment understood to pay for the right to use the story on Monday’s website. Monday does not pay kill fees. Monday buys first serial rights and reserves the right to use stories for promotional and publicity purposes, including on our website.
After publication, all other rights revert to the author.
Email: Attn: Editor or Arts Editor, editorial@mondaymag.com
Regular Mail: Attn: Editor or Arts Editor, Monday Magazine, 818 Broughton Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1E4
Guidelines for the LAST WORD
The “Last Word” is a space for readers’ opinion pieces and personal essays: poignant, thoughtful writing infused with the author’s character and perspective. We look for carefully constructed essays that illustrate a theme. They should have more individuality than pure expository writing, a richer voice than opinion writing, and a deeper message than anecdotal writing. Humour pieces, especially told in the first person, are welcome. “Last Word” submissions are also subject to the same editing and fact-checking as the rest of Monday Magazine’s content to maintain high standards of accountability, consistency, precision and accuracy.
Submissions should be between 800 and 1,000 words (maximum), and can be e-mailed to lastword@mondaymag.com. We prefer not to accept simultaneous submissions, and generally prefer work that has not been previously published. Due to the volume of submissions received, we can only respond to those being considered for use. Response time is usually 4-6 weeks, but can be as long as three months. If we want to use your piece, you will hear from us. If you submit your piece elsewhere before you’ve heard from us, please let us know.
Please note: at this time, the “Last Word” does not pay.
Updated June, 2008
Lynne Bain
