GUIDELINES FOR THE PRESENTATION OF MANUSCRIPTS
TO AMÉRICAS

Américas Magazine and the OAS

Américas is a bimonthly publication of the Organization of American States issued in separate English and Spanish editions. It seeks to advance mutual understanding among the peoples of the Western Hemisphere. It is a general interest magazine focusing on OAS member nations. Américas accepts contributions from freelance writers and photographers from throughout the world.

Type of Feature Articles Desired

The articles in each issue cover a wide variety of topics including culture, history, literature, visual arts (pre-Columbian, colonial, modern), performing arts, architecture, science, the environment, politics and economics. Feature articles should not report on events as news, but rather focus on their broader implications. Highly technical articles and articles of limited interest are not used. Please study past issues of the magazine for style and content.

Américas is especially interested in articles that portray contemporary developments in the hemisphere. OAS member countries include: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Commonwealth of Dominica, Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Cuba (Currently suspended), the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela. U.S. topics should have some Latin American or Caribbean tie-in.

Readers of Américas are of diverse cultural backgrounds. Writers should keep in mind that what is common knowledge in one country is not necessarily so in others.

Submitting Manuscripts/Photographs

Query first with a 3 to 4 paragraph summary of your proposed story.

Upon editors' favorable response, articles may be submitted in English or Spanish. Américas provides translations. Manuscripts must be unpublished and should be approximately 2,000-2,500 words. Electronic submissions should be in Microsoft Word format.

Quotations that have been translated must be accompanied by the text in the original language, and the source must be noted. Américas does not use footnotes, so explanatory material should be incorporated into the text. To facilitate translation, Américas requests that authors provide titles of published works in the original language and of any published translations: names of places, buildings, private and government organizations in the original language; and Latin names of flora and fauna, along with their local names.

All articles are received only on speculation, and decisions on publication are made by the editors. Américas accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. The editors reserve the right to edit articles for style and length. If an article is scheduled for publication and not used, a kill fee of 10% of the agreed amount or a minimum of $75 will be paid.

Once a manuscript is accepted, payment is made upon publication. Américas is a nonprofit magazine with no advertising; therefore, rates are non-commercial. Checks are issued in U.S. dollars for authors residing in or possessing bank accounts in the United States, or in the national currency of the OAS member country in which the author lives.

Américas purchases one-time publishing rights only from freelance writers and photographers. However, Américas has existing agreements with several companies to reproduce and sell articles on CD-ROM, microfiche, and microfilm, as well as on-line information services for educational purposes only. The sale and distribution of the magazine in these forms is treated like the sale of the corresponding single printed issue of the magazine; there is no additional compensation paid to writers for these educational reproductions. Any writer unwilling to make his/her material available through these services can request its removal.

If available, 35mm color slides, 8 x 10 black and white glossy prints, and large format transparencies should accompany the text. Any electronic materials must be in JPEG, TIFF or EPS format with 300 dpi minimum. If graphics are not available, suggestions for possible sources of photos or other illustrations would be appreciated. Preference will be given to manuscripts accompanied by excellent illustrations. Payment for the use of graphic materials is made separately from the article payment and also upon publication. Photographs and other illustrative material are returned after publication.

Authors should provide brief biographical paragraph to serve as the basis for an author’s note.

Manuscripts should be sent to:

Américas Magazine
Organization of American States
19th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW #300
Washington, DC 20006-4499

E-mail address: Americasmagazine@oas.org

Rates:

Feature Articles (2,000-2,500 words): $450
Department Articles (1,200-1,500 words): $250
Ojo Articles (500-800 words): $100

Pictures: $75 + 50 for each additional