Draft Submission Guidelines

Created contributor submission guidelines for Austin Free Press to standardize editorial asset collection, improve documentation consistency, and reduce publication bottlenecks. This documentation was designed to support reporters and freelancers by clarifying submission expectations and streamlining editorial workflows.

Overview

To streamline editorial review, asset management, and publication workflows, contributors should include the following materials when submitting article drafts to the editorial team.

Editorial Contacts

Drafts may be submitted to:

• Alberta Phillips — alberta@austinfreepress.org
• Andrew Wheat — andrew@austinfreepress.org
• Shelby Ligon — shelby@austinfreepress.org

Submission Requirements

Article Assets

When available, include the following supporting materials alongside your draft:

• Suggested photos or image options
• Photo captions and source information
• Photographer credits
• Headshots of interview subjects when relevant
• Organization or source links referenced in the article
• Links to interview subjects’ professional pages or websites

Assets may be attached directly to the email or provided through a shared link.

Photo & Credit Information

For all submitted images, please include:

• Original image source
• Photographer or creator credit
• Permission status (granted, pending, or unknown)
• Relevant caption information

Providing complete attribution information helps prevent publication delays and ensures proper crediting standards are maintained.

Hyperlinks & Supporting Materials

If your article references organizations, public records, studies, reports, or external resources, include relevant links or attachments whenever possible.

Supporting materials may include:

• Public documents
• Reports or datasets
• Source materials
• Government records
• Interview subject websites or profiles

Including source materials during submission helps streamline fact-checking and publication workflows.

Questions

If you have questions regarding submission standards or required materials, please contact the editorial team before submitting your draft.