Writer's Guidelines

5280 is the premiere monthly guide to the arts, entertainment, dining, and lifestyle issues in Denver. First published in 1993, the magazine has a circulation of 85,000 and is consistently among the top-selling magazines on metro newsstands. Many of our stories are written by 5280 staffers and a group of established freelance writers, but we welcome ideas from journalists we haven't worked with in the past.

Story pitches should convey that the writer understands the editorial thrust of the magazine and should be well researched, concise, and offer a creative and original argument.

We accept pitches for our front-of-the-book section, Atmosphere; for our "departments;" and for our feature well. Atmosphere stories, which are short, lively takes on life in Denver, run anywhere from 50 to 400 words. Departments are generally 800 to 1,200 words and cover everything from travel to sports to politics. Features can run up to 6,000 words.

Please submit queries, along with two or three published writing samples, via e-mail to one of our staff editors, whose bios you can find on the Meet The Editors page on our Web site.

Artist's Guidelines

Download Artist Contract (PDF)

Queries:
5280 Magazine welcomes written letters or e-mails queries and samples from artists and photographers. No phone calls please.

Assignments:
Other photos and illustrations are by assignment for features or our departments. They may include studio shots, on-location shots and photojournalism.

Format, Pay and Other Details:
We use original color transparencies and slides, which we scan in-house. We also accept digital art upon approval. Digital work should be submitted at 300 dpi at 100% of the assigned size, as a CMYK Tiff, Jpeg, or PSD file. Pay is set by 5280 Magazine prior to the assignment, based on the assignment's logistics. The art director will state the pay at the time of the assignment.

Expenses:
All fees negotiated include all expenses unless otherwise agreed upon.

FTP:
Digital artwork may be submitted on CD, DVD or via FTP. Please contact the Art Director for more information.

What to include:

• Without fail, on photo shoots, get subjects' correct name spellings, complete titles, complete company names and locations, and their positions in the photos. Accuracy is critical for the cutlines.

• Do not show stories to sources. They are for your use only.

• Photographers are responsible for arranging photo shoots with the subjects, which may include coordinating with art director and story author.

• 5280 Magazine requires photographers and illustrators to sign a contract for the first assignment of each calendar year. These must be signed, dated, and returned completed in order for payment to be processed. Do not alter the contract. Once a contract has been signed, terms will apply to all subsequent assignments for the artist within that calendar year. Payment, deadlines, and specific details for each assignment will be confirmed via email. Please email the Art Director with questions. Download Artist Contract (PDF).

• Finally, we must have your full name, company name, address, phone, fax, e-mail and Social Security number in order to pay you. Expenses must have receipts. Please send contracts and invoices to the Art Director at the above address.

• Upon submission, we must also have the photo credit wording.

• We will return art work to you after the issue is printed.

Contacts:

Mike Leister
Art Director
Phone: 303-832-5280 ext. 206
Email Mike

Alese Pickering Beckett
Assistant Art Director
Phone: 303-832-5280 ext. 231
Email Alese

Sarah LaVigne
Photo Editor
Phone: 303-832-5280 ext 247
Email Sarah