Agenda encourages new and emerging writers to submit contributions as we aim to bring new perspectives to existing debates in the field. Scholars from outside of South Africa are therefore particularly encouraged to submit contributions.
Submission Guidelines for Agenda Journal
The following guidelines are intended to assist authors in preparing their contributions
General
Agenda invites contributions from feminist and gender scholars, activists, researchers, policy makers, professionals, educators, community workers, students and members of women’s organizations and organizations interested in and concerned with gender issues.
Submissions should contribute to developing new thinking and fresh debate on women’s rights and gender equality in Africa and other developing countries.
Writers need to:
- Write in an accessible and understandable style
- Inform, educate or raise debate
- Try to pin down reasons for contradictions and point out differences of opinion
- Provide an analysis and an argument
- Be logical
- Be sensitive to but not uncritical of how gender, class and race affect the reporting of an event
- Ensure the introduction encapsulates the contents of the piece and that it attracts the reader’s attention by either making a controversial statement, providing a thought-provoking or new insight into the subject
- Utilize a gender or feminist lens.
We publish articles in various formats, which range from 6,000 words for more theorized articles, which form the main reference pieces in an issue, to shorter pieces with a minimum of 1,500 words.
Formats of Contributions:
- Article (6 000 words max) should be based on new research and contain analysis and argument
- Briefing is an adaptable format for writers to write on a wide range of subjects (2 500 – 4 000 words)
- Focus examines an aspect of a chosen theme in detail (4 500 words max)
- Profile looks in detail at an organisation, project or legislation, or a person (2 500 – 3 500 words)
- Report-back covers reports on meetings, conferences workshops etc. (1 500 – 4 000 words)
- Review typically reviews books or films (1 500 – 3 000 words)
- Interview can record a conversation among a group of people or a one-on-one interview in which the writer asks the interviewee/s questions on a subject (1 500 – 3 000 words)
- Open Forum is a vehicle for debate and argument, or pieces which deal with argument and difference of opinion on a subject/issue (2 500 – 4 000 words)
- Perspective is an adaptable format in which writers are able to use a more personal reflective, narrative style (1 500 – 3 000 words)
- Contributions should be submitted in the following format:
- File type: Microsoft Word
- Font: Arial
- Size: 10 pt
- Line spacing: single
- Justification: left
- Referencing: Harvard style
All submissions should have the following:
- Abstract: 200 – 300 words
- Keywords: approx 5 keywords
- Bio: 100 – word author biography, including email address
- Bio picture: head-and-shoulders photo in 300 dpi jpeg format
- Contributors are encouraged to provide photos and/or graphics to illustrate their submission
Selection and Editing Process:
All submissions are peer reviewed. Articles, briefing and focus pieces go through a double blind peer review process, while all other contributions are reviewed by at least one member of Agenda’s Editorial Advisory Group.
Reviewers comment on the suitability of a text for publication in the Agenda journal, as well as provide comments to help develop the piece further for publication if required. Contributors will be asked to rework the paper accordingly.
On resubmission, the piece will be assessed by the Agenda editor and a final decision made regarding its publication in the journal.
Please note that Agenda reserves the right to edit contributions with regard to length and accessibility or reject contributions that are not suitable or of poor standard.
Agenda also invites the submission of poems on the topic of women’s rights and gender.
Please note, as per Agenda’s policy, writers who have published in the journal within the last two years WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to publish – to allow new writers to publish in Agenda.
