Content Updated Tuesday, May 13 2008
Media File
Writer Style Guidelines
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Writer Style Guidelines
Begin with a lead that introduces the subject, then move into the discussion of the subject itself. The American Oil & Gas Reporter does not publish scientific paper-style abstracts or conclusions, but rather delivers information in a less esoteric and more feature-style presentation. You may end the article with a brief summary if you feel it will be helpful to reiterate key points, but it is not required.
Technical articles should focus on what a technology does, rather than on how it works. Business/market articles should provide a management-level perspective on trends and developments. While our readers typically are disciplined in engineering, the geosciences and finance, they are managers and executives interested in the economic implications of new services and methods of doing business, and/or the capabilities of a new technology and how they can use it to improve their companies’ performance and profitability.
Write in the third person. The author of a bylined article may refer to himself as “I” or his company as “we,” but should not refer to his audience as “you.”
In most cases, article target length is 1,800-2,000 words (6-8 double-spaced manuscript pages). These boundaries are selected for reader comfort, and as such are not hard boundaries. In general, brevity is a blessing, but take whatever space is necessary to treat the subject properly.
An article in the target range can generally support 3-4 pieces of accompanying color artwork (tables, charts, graphs, photos, illustrations, etc.) Please do not embed artwork in the text (reference #9.) Equations (if absolutely necessary) should be placed in a table and referenced in the text, rather than inserted directly in the text. Please reference artwork in the text as Figure 1, Chart 2, Table 3, etc.
Do not footnote. We prefer to let the author speak on his own merit as an expert on the subject, but if attribution is necessary, write it into the text of the article.
Author’s biographical sketches should be 3-5 sentences long, pointing out positions, experience and training relevant to the subject of the article that establish the author’s authority and credibility. Always begin with the author’s current title/position. Author’s portrait-quality color photo is requested (no black-and-white photos). Special Alert - Digital Cameras: Many digital cameras lack publication-quality resolution. A 4 to 5 (minimum) megapixel camera is required, with the photo quality control set as high as possible to achieve 300 ppi resolution. The higher the resolution, the better the print quality!
If possible, submit story digitally in PC-compatible format along with printed manuscript. Manuscripts should be double spaced.
Artwork may be a photo, slide or digital file (please reference the AOGR Digital Artwork Guidelines). Send text and graphic files separately. Please do not embed artwork in a text file.
Editorial Artwork Guidelines
We prefer PC format QuarkXpress, TIFF or EPS files, but can also work with files created in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Pagemaker, CorelDraw 11, Corel Photopaint 11, Microsoft Office Excel, Word and PowerPoint, and with high resolution PDF and Postscript files. Please do not send JPEG, or GIF files. Please do not embed figures in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. Be aware if sending PowerPoint files, that they are normally of insufficient resolution and unstable. It is better to send original artwork files.
Please submit digital artwork files in a PC-compatible format. If a file originates on a Mac, please convert it to a PC TIFF or EPS (include preview.) We must have a hard copy of each artwork file exactly as you expect to see it printed so that we can verify our output of each file. Please make sure hard copies are legible and accurate.
All artwork files should be saved with a resolution of 300 ppi. Please note screen captures and Internet images are below 300 ppi. All artwork should be converted to grayscale or CMYK. RGB, LAB, and ICC based colors are not allowed and will be converted to CMYK process colors.
When providing a PDF, do not have any security added (password) and do not lock file.
When providing photographs (including author photos), it is best to send an original color print made from a negative. Scanned photographs must be a minimum of 3’’ x 5’’ at 300 ppi to provide proper reproduction in the magazine. Special Alert - Digital Cameras: Many digital cameras lack publication-quality resolution. A 4 to 5 (minimum) megapixel camera is required, with the photo quality control set as high as possible to achieve 300 ppi resolution. The higher the resolution, the better the print quality!
NOTE: The Reporter is always interested in high-quality field photography for covers and/or lead article layouts. For highest quality reproduction, cover/lead layout photographs should be submitted as 35mm or 2x2 format color slides, 8” x10” photographs or as high-resolution (300 ppi) digital files with minimum dimensions of 9” x 12” for vertical orientation and 17” x 12” for horizontal orientation. Please do not scan potential cover/lead layout photographs or slides; send originals!
The Reporter accepts files through e-mail, the AOGR Web site Upload Page and on CDs and DVDs. Please include contact information and indicate company name and the date for publication in the file name. Editorial submission and press release deadline is the first of the month preceding month of publication.
Please send e-mails with attached PDFs, zipped or stuffed files to . When utilizing e-mail, file size cannot exceed 10 MB.
To upload materials on the AOGR Web site go to the Upload Page and following the instructions. If you have any questions please contact Leah Alvarez at 1-800-847-8301.
We accept CDs and DVDs. Label all media with your company name and reference article. When sending native files, send all elements–images, graphics, fonts, etc.–and a hard-copy proof of each piece of artwork like you expect to see it printed so we can verify file output. Send hard-copy summary of CD/DVD contents, the platform and the program used to create the artwork. Please pack CDs/DVDs with enough protective cushion so they do not break in transit.
Editorial Submission And Press Release Deadline Is The First Of The Month Preceding Month Of Publication.