Frequently Asked Questions

Answers To Frequently Asked Questions On Submitting Articles to PRM
1. “How do I write a story on our club project?”
2. “What kind of photographs do you prefer?”
3. “How do I send my materials for publication?”
4. “When is the deadline for submitting my materials for publication?”
5. “Why was our story not published in the magazine?”
6. “How can I write a good article or story?”
7. “How do I get in touch with the Philippine Rotary Magazine?”

1. “How do I write a story on our club project?”

	Tell WHAT happened, WHERE it happened, WHEN it happened, HOW it happened, WHY it happened, and WHO made it happen. Complete details should be included such as the number and profile of the beneficiaries or participants. It should be as brief as possible but long enough to provide interesting reading.
	Make sure the activity is unique and interesting.
	Make sure the activity is unique and interesting.
	Write about ongoing or completed – not upcoming – Rotary projects.
	Write news, not history.
	Emphasize human interest. Examples: Instead of reporting on a cheque presentation ceremony, focus instead on WHO or WHAT benefited as a result of your club’s fund raising efforts; other than reporting about the Rotarians who participated in a livelihood-training program, write about how the project will change the lives of two or three beneficiaries.
	Provide comments and quotes from club members, beneficiaries and other people involved.
	Include newspaper clippings and / or any other informational materials.
	List the contact person and his phone/fax numbers and/or e-mail address for additional information (this will be for PRM staff use only).
	Stories can be submitted in printed form preferably accompanied by a digital copy in floppy or zip diskette, or in CD, or sent through e-mail (do not send digital pictures via e-mail; send photo prints directly to PRM).

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2. “What kind of photographs do you prefer?”
The best images show action, have human interest and present a subject in an unusual way. Photographs that perfectly catch a moment are generally an exception; keep in mind that most require some set-up and posing. Your goal is to create an image that appears candid and natural.

	We prefer color prints or transparencies, but also accept black and white photographs.
	Please send pictures with clear faces and surroundings, and those with clear, not dark, background.
	Don’t write on the back of a photograph because the ink smudges on the photo underneath it. Just put a reference number on the upper right back portion using a ball pen and use a separate sheet of paper indicating the reference number, caption, names, description and photo credits.
	Put your pictures in a sturdy envelope properly sealed and marked on the outside. Specify if you would like them returned – otherwise, we will put them in our archives. Keep the negatives or make copies of your originals.

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3. “How do I send my materials for publication?”
You may send your articles and photographs to the following address:

Philippine Rotary Magazine
#87 Visayas Avenue, Quezon City
1100 Philippines
Attention : Editor-in-chief PDG Mar Un Ocampo III or
Managing Editor PDG Sonny T. VenturaIf you want to send your articles by e-mail, you may send it to the following address (do not send digital pictures; send original photo prints to PRM):

E-mail: office@philrotary.com
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4. “When is the deadline for submitting my materials for publication?”
As a general rule, articles submitted not later than the first day of the month before the intended month of publication, will be published (for example, to be published in the November 2003 issue, the article must be submitted not later than October 1, 2003). It is the editorial policy to accommodate all publication requests subject to space limitations.
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5. “Why was our story not published in the magazine?”
Here are some reasons why a story is not published in the magazine:

	Not newsworthy.
	Accompanying photos have poor images.
	Poorly written and unclear or incomplete.
	Immoral or unethical.
	Received past the deadline for submission of articles.
	Sent to the wrong address.

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6. “How can I write a good article or story?”

Pick the time and place where you can have peace and quiet. This will enable you to concentrate.

Write down all the facts: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

Write down your thoughts that correlate with the facts.

Arrange your thoughts to achieve an intelligible or clear or understandable composition.

Use empathy; put yourself in the shoes of your audience or readers.

Polish your story before submitting it

Put the appropriate caption that will best describe the picture.

Follow these simple quotations:

	“Don’t give up; try again.”
	“Failure is not failure until you give up.”
	“Success is what happens when you stand up every time you fall.”
	“Excellence is not an act, but a habit.”
	“When excellence in writing becomes a habit, every thing you write becomes a masterpiece.”

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7. “How do I get in touch with the Philippine Rotary Magazine?”
You may use the following contact numbers:

87 Visayas Avenue, VASRA, Quezon City
1100 Philippines
Tel No.:926-7453; 453-3800
Telefax: 929-1219
E-mail : office@philrotary.com
Web site : www.philrotary.com
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