Writers’ Guidelines

Millennial Youth magazine is interested in stories that are either about young people or of interest to them. If you have an idea, consider the reason(s) you think our audience would be interested in or benefit from reading your article, and why now?

Mention your ideas for sources–that is, who or what will help you learn more about this idea? Please note that other news articles or news websites do not count as sources. Also, tell us about your credentials.

Finally, tell us what makes you the best person to write this story?

Please include your full name, telephone number (or skype name for non-US residents), age, and state or country in your query. If you have published clips, send them. If you don’t, no worries. Simply send us a few writing samples instead.

What we publish:

News -  All stories must have a minimum of three credible sources and adhere to the code of ethics as specified by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Lifestyle features – Although we like first person narrative stories, we still expect all stories to contain evidence of research and solid reporting – that means a minimum of three (3) verifiable, credible sources.

Letters to the Editor – Millennial Youth welcomes comments about our stories via mail and e-mail. To be published in Millennial Youth, all letters must include a name, phone number and e-mail address for verification.

Opinion – These are less a ranting of a personal opinion about a subject but, instead, an expression of your opinion supported by solid reporting, which yields verifiable facts and support for your argument from credible sources.

Reviews - We welcome your reviews of books, comics, movies, music, new television shows, gadgets and websites. At this time, we do not accept restaurant reviews.

Spotlight – Millennial Youth Spotlight column highlights teens doing extraordinary things. The column may use the question-and-answer format.

Viewpoints – Millennial Youth Viewpoints column features informed commentary from adults about issues of major importance to youth. We prefer that Viewpoint contributors be experts in their field. The column may use the question-and-answer format.

Columns – Please feel free to submit material for the following weekly columns:

  • MY Education – Eating a good breakfast and getting the right amount of sleep helps students perform better in school, but long-term educational success requires a lot more than that. This column offers tips, expert advice and interviews to help students reach their long-term goals.
  • MY Health – This column provides information on big and small changes teens can make to look and feel their best.
  • MY Money – This column focuses on important topics in financial literacy and behavior–that is, how to spend, save and manage money.
  • News Literacy – In today’s digital era when teens are bombarded with information from all kinds of sources, in all styles and formats, from journalists and non-journalists, this column will give readers information to help them learn to judge the reliability of information that they read, watch and hear.
  • Tech Corner – Up-to-date news, product reviews, expert interviews and tips on all things tech.
  • Who’s who in the news? This column is a multiple choice quiz that tests readers’ knowledge of people who have been significant newsmakers within the past year. Please submit four newsmakers, each with a description of no more than 100 words. Also, include three multiple choice answers.Example:This street vendor set himself on fire outside a local municipal government office in Tunisia. The act of protest caused a revolt that ended President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s 23-year-rule, which prompted citizens in other Arab countries like Egypt, Libya and Syria to attempt similar revolutions.
    A.) Katsunobu Sakurai
    B.) Mohamed Bouazizi
    C.) Muammar Gaddafi


Things that increase your chance of getting an assignment

Make your story a springboard for talk, action and change — We love stories about those trying to make change. Provide information on how young people can get involved.

Data — A good story gets even better when boosted by federal, state or local data about the issue being discussed. Because such statistics sometimes bog down a story, we often put those statistics in a box or sidebar. Sometimes, we illustrate the data graphically.

Boxes/Sidebars — For readability, we encourage writers to break up long features with sidebars. This is particularly effective for information that the writer feels is necessary but may disrupt the narrative.

Supporting information — Maps, definitions, graphs and “who’s who among newsmakers,” etc. can help readers understand stories more easily and put them in context.