Commentary Submission Guidelines

The Alaska Beacon welcomes commentary submissions. Preference goes to timely topics of interest to Alaska. The Alaska Beacon reserves the right to edit for clarity and style.  

Guidelines: 

  • The recommended maximum length is 750 words. 
  • Name, full address and phone number are required (address and phone number are not for publication). 
  • Alaska Beacon does not publish anonymous commentaries. 
  • Name-calling and personal attacks won’t be published. 
  • Submissions must be sent by email to [email protected] with “commentary” in the subject line. Include the text of the commentary in the body of the email, not in an attachment. 
  • Facts or assertions that some readers might be expected to dispute should be accompanied by a source citation, such as by a link or by stating the source in plain language as part of the text. 
  • Commentaries must be signed by at least one individual. The Alaska Beacon does not accept pieces signed by an organization. Provide a brief biographical description of the author, including the author’s hometown and a headshot of the author. 
  • Commentaries are not accepted from anyone who currently holds or is campaigning for public office.
  • Alaska Beacon will not publish any commentary that contains a call to action. Examples of that include: telling readers to contact officials; calls to protest; or calls to vote a certain way at the ballot box.
  • Alaska Beacon does not publish endorsements of candidates or ballot measures.
  • The Beacon discourages open letters or commentaries that address an individual, institution or group. 

There are basic journalistic ethics that commentary writers should observe, even in the realm of opinion:

  • Do not accept gifts in the process of conceiving, writing and publishing your guest commentary from potential interested parties.
  • Be transparent: Please disclose any relationship you have with the subject of your guest commentary. For instance, if you are a lobbyist on an issue, or have some financial interest in an issue, this must be disclosed. We will disclose it to our readers.

Questions may be addressed to editor Andrew Kitchenman at [email protected]. 

HOME