Write for free? Why should I?
Well, because it gets you exposure, and X-Ray Mag, the "International Lifestyle Magazine for Divers" is one of the titles I would target if I were trying to build up a clip file (a portfolio of articles published - useful to present to editors as proof of your ability).
Here's another reason why I would go for X-Ray Mag - it's truly international. They have editorial representatives in Moscow, Singapore, Kuala Lumpar and Miami, as well as correspondents from across the world.
There are also some well known names among the contributors: Kurt Amsler, Tony White and Mark Webster, you could be joining them with your by-line. And if you want to be associated with a magazine with some kind of scientific reputation, a few of the contributors have PHd's.
There's no doubt that the magazine is a labour of love for the Symes family: Peter Symes is the editor in chief, while Gunild Symes is the Publisher and Creative editor, while Michael Symes is the senior editor. Out of the 10 features listed in the index 5 are by the Symes family and in the main body of the magazine I counted 8 articles or news features written by them.
This could mean a few things, and I'd be interested in the Syme's views as to whether I am right.
They don't receive enough submissions, and as a result, have to fill out the 89 pages (their most recent edition) with a lot of their own copy?
They don't have much of a budget and so, to save money, they do most of the work themselves?
In respect of payment, their policy has changed over the past several months. Their Contributor Guidelines used to contain this:
Compensation
Get donations directly to your own account.
X-RAY MAG is free so direct compensation is contingent on ad sales. With the diving industry is currently undergoing a marked and persevering recession, we can currently offer our writers and photographers an own PayPal link directly with their articles for donations, various promotional services and trades, a free ad in the issue featuring their work, and advertising on the web site of X-RAY MAG.
Their current CG, which can be found here make no mention of payment, which is why I can only assume the previous arrangement became too complicated, or things have got so tight (the, "persevering recession?"), they cannot afford to pay anymore?
Again, I'd invite the Symes to comment.
The old CG had a word count guide within it - another aspect of their new CG that has been removed. This may have been a mistake and it could lead to a lot of editing work by the Symes family. In my experience the request for 2000 words always results in budding photojournalists writing 2500 plus, and without a word count limit you'll end up with 3000.
You'd think it would be really hard to write so many words, but once you try and get all the ingredients for a successful article within this number, you realise how 2000 is just not enough. This is why the final drafts of any article go through a process of self editing, something that is needed in X-Ray Mag as I found some of the articles too long to keep the readers interested (a common issue in on-line media where there are no print costs).
They've also removed the advice on how to format the photographs that will accompany your copy - in my opinion this is another 'must have' piece of guidance.
In any case, this is a good magazine to be published in. As well as reading the CG I would also analyse the features written by the Symes family, often a better source of CG than the official 'wish list' of what they are looking for.
If anyone is interested in the old CG, drop me a line and I'll e-mail them to you.
Keep writing...
Brendan
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