special report
CITY KIDZ WORLD
Editor, Melissa Edwards
Since it’s become harder to track down innocent editors who haven’t
been badgered, featured on Kid Magazine Writers, we are going to
put those wonderful editors we do find here as an occasional variation
on the special report.
So it’s with real excitement that we visit with Melissa Edwards, editor
of City Kidz World, a multicultural New Jersey magazine. City
Kidz World targets both parents and children to “share success
stories, tips from experts for parents, descriptions of opportunities
for children, unique paths to success and growth for children, and
opportunities for children to try new things in the form of contests and
activities.”
KMW: Thank you so much for sharing with us about your great magazine.
ME: Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to appear in your site.
KMW: Can you tell us a little about what inspired City Kidz Magazine?
ME: When I was eight years old I won a writing contest through Popcorn
magazine. It was the "Ice Cream story teller contest". I will never
forget that. I won first place. My story was published, my name was
announced on the radio, and I received gift certificates to a great ice
cream parlor in Richmond. I was so inspired that now (about 30 years
later) I have started my own children's magazine. I hope to impact
children the same way I was impacted.
KMW: The readers of Kid Magazine Writers are professional freelancers,
so naturally, their first interest is in getting content into City Kidz
World. What kind of content is open to freelancers -- what kinds of
things do you want to see most?
ME: From freelancers, we would like stories that focus on the successes
of young people, the challenges of young people and the conditions of
young people. The subjects (children) can be from early childhood to
late teens. Freelancers may also submit informative pieces that are
backed by experts. We also accept stories written by experts about
children. We are a multicultural magazine and so we are extremely
interested in receiving stories about children from countries all over
the world. We are interested in seeing stories that offer windows into
the rich cultures across the globe and within the United States.
KMW: From reading your site, I assume you prefer to see queries from
freelancers and complete submissions from young people -- is that right?
What kinds of queries would you most like to see -- any subjects you
really look for?
ME: We offer several contests for young people and we will showcase
their work frequently, but we are eager to receive colorful features
from freelance writers. We accept columns, how-to's, lists, and features
of 500 to 1000 words.
KMW: Are you open to any of the "traditional fillers” like crafts? How
can a writer of fillers catch your eye?
ME: For fillers we would be interested in photos and crafts. Fillers can
get our attention if they give a child something to do that has some
educational merit.
KMW: How can writers get your writers guidelines?
ME: We provide writer's guidelines
via email when writers request them at.
KMW:What rights do you ask from your writers?
ME: We ask for first time rights from writers.
KMW: What changes do you dream of for City Kidz World in the future?
ME: At this time City Kidz World is a quarterly magazine in New Jersey.
Our goal is to be a national magazine. We expect the
City Kidz World
website to attract an international
audience. We expect for CKW to serve as a doorway into education for
children to come in and for educators to reach out.
KMW: Thanks so much for sharing with us – and we wish City Kidz World
all the best!
This page last updated on 01 May 2009
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