Thank you for your interest in writing for Root River Current. Here are a few things to consider.
Stories should originate within or connect to the Root River Valley of Southeast Minnesota (Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, and Winona counties). Writers/contributors do not necessarily have to reside in the region – for instance, a contributor might be a regular visitor or recent resident with first-hand knowledge about the region.
Root River Current commissions work from reporters, writers and multimedia journalists. In addition to content, contributors are expected to provide images (or access to images) to accompany their story; short video clips are also encouraged. All materials should be fact-checked, include appropriate links to cited information, and free of third-party copyrights, unless republishing permission is secured or appropriate attribution accompanies the submitted content.
Topical areas we are primarily interested in covering are: community development, public policy, government, land and water, business, work, health, education, arts and culture. Keep in mind that Root River Current publishes weekly, but operates on a schedule that is weeks in advance.
Root River Current typically pays up to $150 per commissioned piece; special projects or series are negotiable and paid proportionately. Paid contributors are independent contractors and their published work in Root River Current is a work-for-hire.
All commissioned work remains the copyright of Root River Current and may not be published elsewhere without proper consent.
Non-paying Contributions
Root River Current recognizes creative writers and storytellers often benefit from broader exposure of their original works, so our editors are anxious to consider other forms of telling a story—original poetry, essays, illustrations, video & audio digital content. Prior to making any submission, please contact us to discuss your idea. Send inquiries to editor@rootrivercurrent.org
Editorial Standards
Details regarding Root River Current’s Editorial, Code of Ethics, Conflict of Interest, and Financial Transparency policies can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
Contact
Interested contributors should send a brief query detailing the topical nature of the article (see above), how they intend to tell their story, a brief bio of themselves and contact information to editor@rootrivercurrent.org. The editor may ask new contributors to provide a writing sample or a story outline.