Author Guidelines

Write for FORUM

Thank you for your interest in writing for FORUM magazine. FORUM’s mission is to provide Chicago associations with the practical resources and information they need to change the world.

If you’re interested in writing an article for FORUM, see answers to our frequently asked questions:

How Do I Submit an Article for Publication?
What Are Your Article Requirements?
Who Can Write for FORUM?
Who Do I Contact with Questions?
Who Reads FORUM?
Why Should I Write for FORUM?
Will I Retain Copyright of My Article?


How Do I Submit an Article for Publication?


To submit an article to FORUM’s editor for consideration, simply fill out this form. Forum staff will review your submission and respond within 2-3 weeks. 


    What Are Your Article Requirements?


    Every article must include the following elements:

    • Headline
    • Dek/Deck/Excerpt
    • Body Copy
    • Subhead/Subheads
    • CTA
    • Byline

    For more specifications on each item above as well as additional guidelines to follow, please review the full FORUM Web Writing Guide


    Who Can Write for FORUM?

    FORUM authors are not required to be Association Forum members. However, they must stress the applicability of their topic to the profession, as well as describe their expertise in and relationship to the association industry. Association professionals, as well as supplier partners, are invited to submit articles.

    Original submissions should be offered exclusively to FORUM; however, finished manuscripts and texts of speeches also are considered.

    All authors are required to sign an Author Agreement form prior to their articles being published in FORUM.

    Who Do I Contact With Questions?

    Direct all inquiries and completed articles to Kim Kelly at kelly@associationforum.org.

    Who Reads FORUM?

    FORUM's 4,000+ readers are Association Forum members and prospective members.

    In addition:

    • 16 percent are chief executive officers.
    • 45 percent are vice presidents, directors, managers, supervisors or staff specialists.
    • 80 percent are association professionals; 20 percent are supplier partners serving associations in Chicago.
    • More than half (59 percent) of FORUM readers have been in the association business for more than 10 years.
    • More than one-quarter (36 percent) have more than 15 years of association management experience.
    • FORUM readers are well educated, as 87 percent have a college degree and 43 percent have a graduate degree.
    • Thirty percent of FORUM readers are 31 to 40 years old and one-third are 41 to 60 years old.
    • 63 percent of Association Forum members represent national/international organizations.
    • 23 percent work for trade associations.
    • 10 percent work for a combination of trade and professional organizations.
    • The largest number of CEOs (22 percent) work for smaller associations.
    • No. 2 staff members, as well as directors, managers and staff specialists, mainly work for associations with budgets of $10.1 million to $30 million.
    • 70 percent of Association Forum members are NOT members of ASAE.
    • 30 percent of Association Forum members are C-level.
    • 92 percent of the associations that employ Association Forum members are national or international in scope.

    Why Should I Write for FORUM?

    Publishing an article in FORUM puts your name in front of your peers, establishes you as an expert in your field, enables you to exchange ideas with colleagues, and allows you to earn CAE credits.

    Will I Retain Copyright of My Article?

    Association Forum obtains first North American serial rights for any published manuscript. While every effort is made to preserve the author's style, FORUM reserves the right to edit articles. Association Forum also reserves all rights under the copyright laws of the respective countries, including without limitation, book edition, electronic versions, general publication, transcription, translation, sound version, video or any other version or media now existing and/or later to be created.

    If you have additional questions, please email FORUMmagazine@associationforum.org