Editorial Guidelines for TakeOffeh.com

TakeOffEh.com is a consumer travel site that is refreshed weekly (Tuesdays) with editorial generated by freelance writers and contributors. Story ideas are accepted for four regular features. They are as follows:

Travel Tales: Places you want to go

Travel Tales are insightful glimpses into travel experiences and/or destinations. Basically, we prefer lively experiential to guidebook text, unique perspectives as opposed to everyday occurrences, unless you can offer an insightful point of view. These stories may be written in first person but this is not required. A painterly approach to a unique locale appeals to us; we want readers to be able to imagine themselves in the place about which you are writing. If you are wary of purple prose but keep your tale engaging, laced with a few anecdotes and insights, we may very well find it the perfect addition to our website. Nothing is an automatic “no” except pieces that don’t engage the reader. Humour, wit and savvy advice are all appreciated. Please keep specific product/commercial mentions to a minimum i.e. avoid brochure-type copy with a promotional slant.

Word count: Approx. 500 words. Flat fee: $200. Please include three photos & credits. We accept unsolicited submissions.

Travel Briefs: Tips from savvy travellers

TakeOffeh strives to be ahead of the curve when it comes to what’s shaping consumer travel. Each week, we run two short items that range from handy travel tips to emerging destinations and upcoming trends. Briefs we would find interesting might focus on no-frills hotels or how to pick the perfect digital camera.

Approx. 150 words each. Flat fee: $100. Please include a photo, if possible. We accept unsolicited submissions.

Off-the-Record: Experts demystify the travel industry

We are looking for short items that examine a current, travel-related issue, reveal or demystify an aspect of the travel business or simply provide an instructional anecdote. We encourage edgy commentary and opinionated approaches

Word count: Approx. 300 words. Flat fee: $100. Please include a photo if possible. We accept unsolicited submissions.

Ideas and stories should be emailed to jill@TakeOffeh.com.
If you have any submissions that are seasonal, we would like to get them as far in advance as possible. A response to story ideas should be received within 30 days of submission. Deadlines are a minimum of two weeks before publication. The editor will confirm story acceptance via email, indicating your fee, article details and due date. After publication, writers are responsible for submitting their invoices for payment directly to the editor.

TakeOffeh.com License Agreement for Freelance Writers and Contributors

In exchange for the fee stipulated, the author agrees to license TakeOffeh.com the following rights:

1. First world publication rights for placement on www.TakeOffeh.com and/or other website or print publication for a period of 90 days from the date of the edition containing the original work.
2. Promotional rights, allowing TakeOffeh.com. to use excerpts of the work to promote and publicize it in connection with the website in any medium and to place either full article, or partial article, on any other website or print publication following publication on www.TakeOffeh.com.

The author represents and warrants to TakeOffeh.com that:

1. You have the exclusive right to grant to TakeOffeh.com the license described above.
2. You are the sole and exclusive author and owner of the work and attendant copyright.
3. The work does not appropriate in whole or part any other copyrighted material, other than as expressly disclosed in writing to TakeOffeh.com
4. The work does not infringe upon any statutory or common law right of any person, organization or corporation, including copyright or intellectual property rights, and privacy, publicity or proprietary rights. Moreover, the work does not defame any person, organization or corporation.
5. Previously published editorial is not acceptable.
6. The author has the sole responsibility of ensuring that he or she is in a legal position to sell publishing rights of a work to TakeOffeh.com.

The author will indemnify TakeOffeh.com—along with its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, successors and assigns—from all claims, liabilities, costs and damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising due to any breach by you of the terms and conditions of this agreement, or any untrue representations or warranties made by you in this agreement.

TakeOffeh.com is not obligated to actually use the work as described. TakeOffeh.com further reserves the right to refuse the work if it is deemed unacceptable for publication. TakeOffeh.com is not obligated to pay a kill fee for copy not used.

The author waives moral rights to the work in favour of TakeOffeh.com and agrees that TakeOffeh.com has the right to edit, adapt, condense and otherwise change the work or any portion thereof in connection with its publication.

TakeOffeh.com has the right to use the author’s name, likeness and biographical information in connection with the promotion or other exploitation of TakeOffeh.com or the work, or any adaptations or versions thereof, in accordance with the license granted to TakeOffeh.com in this agreement.

(revised December 2008)