Black By God: Submission Guidelines

For general story ideas, news tips, announcements, or to propose a piece of writing (such as an op-ed or essay), please email your proposal or completed draft directly to our team.

• Email for Submissions: contact@blackbygod.org
• Subject Line: Please use a clear subject line such as “Op-Ed Submission,” “Story Idea: [Topic],” or “Announcement for Publication.”
• Content Focus: Submissions should center Black voices and issues within the Appalachian region and avoid overly technical or academic jargon.
• Length: Op-eds are typically 700-1,000 words.
• Compensation: We offer a small fee for accepted and published work.
• Format: Submissions in a standard format, like a Microsoft Word document within the email or attached, are preferred.
  • Images should be sent as separate attachments in order to maintain image quality.
• Editorial Rights: BBG reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity, length, and style. We may not be able to publish all submissions.

Accepted work may be promoted across Black By God’s social media platforms and newsletters to expand its reach.

• Credit: Contributors will be credited when their work is shared whenever possible.
• Excerpts & Formatting: BBG may use excerpts, headlines, pull quotes, or images and may adapt content for social media formatting while preserving the intent of the original work.
• Contributor Assets: Contributors may submit relevant images, short videos, captions, or social media copy alongside their submission. Visual assets for social media should be 4:5 (portrait) format when possible.
• Sharing & Tagging: Contributors are encouraged to share published BBG content and tag Black By God on social media.
• Editorial Control: Final decisions about social media content, captions, platforms, and timing rest with BBG’s editorial team.

BBG actively seeks community members to participate in its Folk Reporters Program. This program trains citizens to attend and report on local government meetings, community events, and legislative sessions, helping to bring transparency to overlooked sectors of government.

• How to Participate: To express interest in becoming a Folk Reporter, contact crystal@blackbygod.org.