Family Entertainment Submission Guidelines

Updated 07/14/03

See other section guidelines and general BPO guidelines [HERE]. Please visit the main BPO site and individual sections to get a feel for our needs. [HERE]

Family Entertainment

Family Entertainment Submission Guidelines

Mission Statement

Parents are concerned about the content of today's movies, television, music and video games, and they want to protect their children from these potentially harmful influences. But families are too busy to research everything before they watch, listen or play.

Busy Family Entertainment seeks to provide families with the resources they need to make informed choices, with a minimal investment of time. We also want to encourage parents by telling them about positive trends in entertainment; by applauding individuals, companies and organizations behind those trends; and by letting parents know how they can bring about additional improvement. In addition, we'll remind families to consider "old-fashioned" forms of entertainment, such as participating in sports and hobbies or playing games together.

Our Needs

Send all queries and submissions in the body of an email using 12 point Arial or Times New Roman, black type, and a plain background. Send each submission in its own e-mail. Attachments will be deleted unread. Reprints are considered if you retain copyright. Send queries and submissions .

BPO acquires first electronic rights and archival rights for one year. BPO reserves the right to reject any query or submission without explanation. BPO also reserves the right to re-title, modify, edit, abridge and fact-check any material it accepts for publication. All guidelines are subject to change.

Features/Interviews
Up to 1,000 words or in a series. Query first. Photos or other visuals welcome. No payment at this time; byline, bio and URL given. Desired topics include:

- In-depth looks at individual issues relating to family-appropriate entertainment. - Educational articles to help parents and children become wiser entertainment consumers.
- Interviews with experts on some aspect of media and its influence. These should have a positive slant. We've heard for years how bad things are. We want to know about improvements that are being made, who's making them and how.
- Interviews with or profiles of entertainers, companies or organizations committed to family entertainment.
- Sports or hobbies families can participate in together. Tell us why it's a great family activity, how to get started and/or profile a family that is already active in the sport or hobby you are recommending.

Essays/Articles
Up to 750 words. Submit entire piece. No payment at this time; byline, bio and URL given. Desired topics include:

- A movie, television show or song that has significantly influenced you in a positive way. Tell us what specifically impacted you and how.
- A sport or hobby your family participates in or watches together and how this brings you closer together.
- Suggestions for a themed family night.

Reviews
Up to 500 words. No payment at this time; byline, bio and URL given.

We are interested in reviews of:
- Movies now playing in theaters (the newer the better).
- Direct-to-VHS and DVD releases.
- Television movies, series or specials. If a series is generally acceptable for family viewing, there still may be individual episodes that some families may find inappropriate. Provide the name of the episode and describe the questionable content.
- High-quality family entertainment choices in any of the above categories, regardless of release date. However, if your item is hard to find, you must provide readers with a source where they can obtain it.
- Books relating to family entertainment.
- Board games that families can play together.
- Music for any age.
- Video games.

If you would like to apply to receive review material from us, e-mail a letter of introduction and your qualifications with a sample review. You must be able to submit your review no later than 30 days after receiving the material. Payment is the review material.

Humor
Entertainment-related family humor, up to 150 words. No payment at this time; brief tagline and URL given.

News Links and Website Reviews
Synopsis of articles relating to issues or aspects of family-appropriate entertainment, up to 50 words plus the URL. Website reviews, up to 50 words
plus the URL. No payment at this time.

Blogs
Are you attempting to make positive changes in your family's movie, TV, music or video-game habits? Are you taking up a new sport or hobby as a family? We'd love to share your experiences, successes, setbacks and final results. Query with an e-mail describing your blog topic.

Blogs will appear on the BPO Bloggers page, as well as be featured in the Family Entertainment section. Blogs in increments of six days must be submitted at one time, and you must commit to submitting a total of 30 days of blogs. Blogs are listed as "Day 1," "Day 2," etc., so missing a day isn't a problem. Please note: BLOGS ARE NOT EDITED.

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