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Community News Submission Guidelines
Mandala’s Community News blog posts share stories from the international community of FPMT centers, projects, services, and study groups, as well as individual students and teachers. [UPDATED August 2020]
FPMT centers, projects, services, and study groups have two options for sharing news and updates through Community News:
“FPMT News Around the World” Items
Mandala staff welcome the submission of short news items or briefs for our digest of FPMT News Around the World.
Ideal submissions will give readers reasons to rejoice; will share ideas and create connections between centers, study groups, projects, and services; and will be quick to read.
Here are the specific requirements for submissions:
- News items should be 100-200 words long. They should focus on recent inspiring events, accomplishments, and activities at a center, project, service, or study group. Submissions longer than the 200 words may be edited for length or refused.
- Please submit 1 photo with your news item. Photos should be in focus, well-lit, and a minimum of 960 pixels in width.
- Stories should be submitted by a staff member or volunteer authorized to engage in publicity activities on the center, project, service, or study group’s behalf.
- Due to publishing limitation, we request that centers, projects, and service submit no more than three items per year.
Materials should be emailed to Mandala’s assistant editor.
Please note: All stories submitted will be edited to U.S. spelling, grammar, and usage standards. We will also edit for clarity, concision, and consistency with all other FPMT International Office editorial practices.
Send Us Your Story Ideas
FPMT Centers, projects, services, study groups, and registered teachers may email us with story ideas.
We are looking for stories that do one or more of the following:
- Supports or fulfills one of the five pillars of service, or Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vast vision.
- Is a unique or unusual activity within the FPMT organization.
- Is an idea or practice that could benefit other centers, projects, and services.
- Inspires practice and service within the FPMT organization.
- Describes exemplary practice by a student or group of students.
If you have a story idea to share, please include in your email:
- A short description of your story idea. (Two to three sentences should be enough to convey the general idea.)
- An indication of whether you are able to write the story yourself or if you have a suggestion of someone else to write it.
- Whether you have high quality photos and/or video to go with the story.
Story ideas should be emailed to Mandala’s managing editor.
Please note: The receipt of all story ideas will be acknowledged by email. If we chose to use your story idea, we will contact you directly and arrange the details. Due to the limitations of our publishing schedule and staffing, we may not be able to use all of the ideas submitted to us.
