Listen is a magazine primarily aimed at teenagers, but some younger and many older readers are subscribers as well. It encourages development of good habits and high ideals of physical, social, and mental health. It bases its editorial philosophy of primary drug prevention. Because it is used extensively in public high school classes, it does not accept articles and stories with overt religious emphasis.
Published monthly, 16 pages, four-color. Circulation: Listen is a classroom tool. Actual printed copies each month about 20,000; estimated reader exposure approximately 100,000. Reports in eight weeks. Pays on acceptance. Listen buys rights to publish in Listen, in subsequent reprints and advertising excerpts, and where indicated in our guidelines portions are used on our Web site. All material is copyrighted on publication. Enclose an SASE with all submissions and queries if you want your material returned. We accept simultaneous submissions--just tell us in the cover letter and notify us if it is sold elsewhere after we accept it. Submissions via e-mail should be sent to editor@listenmagazine.org.
Listen regularly seeks professionally written, teen-oriented articles from 350-750 words. Listen is comprised of the following types of freelance articles:
PERSONALITIES AND CELEBRITIES: Personality articles pay $200-250 and are 700 words.
LIFE SKILL ARTICLES: Payment for this section is $125-175.
RAP SHEETS: Rap Sheet articles pay $175-225 together and are 350 words each.
FACTUALS: Factual articles pay $100-150 and are 700 words.
SPORT/HOBBY: Sport/Hobby articles pay $100-150 and are 650 words.
ALERTS: Alerts pay $80-100 and are 400 words.
A few things to keep in mind when writing for or querying Listen:
* All factual articles (which are accepted) must be accompanied by hard copies of the quoted material (mailed directly to the editor: Céleste Perrino-Walker, Editor, Listen Magazine, P.O. Box 1005, Rutland, Vermont 05701 and marked, “Requested Material – Hard Copies.”) Please highlight the quotes so they are easier for us to find and check. We only need copies of material that has been quoted directly, not copies of source material. If your information came from a URL, please print out a copy of the page, highlight the quote, and mail us the hard copy.
* Please use a single space before each new sentence, not a double space. I believe this is a throwback to old school typing because I know I learned it in typing class, but it’s no longer done.
* Please put your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address in the upper left-hand corner of the manuscript. (yes, even if you’re a regular and I know you . . . it saves me from having to look it up when I write your check request.) It facilitates the processing of your check and helps us reach you in case of questions , problems, or the odd computer crash.
* If you have not signed a publication agreement with us and have not received one, please request one when your article/story is formally accepted. We won’t process your check without one.
* All manuscripts are on spec (unless specifically assigned) and are subject to changes in editorial scheduling until they are paid for. (Meaning that although we make every effort possible to prevent such an eventuality, it’s possible you’ll get a tentative acceptance but changes in the editorial schedule will make it impossible for us to formally accept your work – particularly for the time slot originally in mind.)
* Please do not query with an offer to write for Listen asking what to write about. Instead, read our guidelines, preferably some back issues, and send a well polished article or story we can’t refuse. Written to our word count specs.
* And about word count . . . please stick to it. We really don’t have the space and can’t publish your extra words no matter how good they are. A surprising amount of unsolicited manuscripts are not considered simply because they are way over word count and it’s not worth the trouble to have them rewritten.
Calendar
Because of the need for us to work ahead the first couple months will probably already be full when this list is posted (1/6/11). If you are going to send a query please look ahead. The last months tend to fill the slowest. I am in particular need of good clean personalities. We only consider personalities who are good, strong, clean role models. Before you suggest someone please Google them. At this time I really need some female personalities. Query me if you have anyone in mind.
Calendar:
- September 2011: Respect
- October 2011: Journaling
- November 2011: Consequences
- December 2011: Second Chances/Getting Clean
- January 2012: How to Fight Cravings
- February 2012: Dealing with Anxiety
- March 2012: Sibling Rivalry
- April 2012: Choosing a Career Path
- May 2012: Dealing with Emotions
Mailing/Submission address:
Listen Magazine
55 West Oak Ridge Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21740
More information here.
