Alumni Contribution Guidelines
The AYEJ Newsroom will be our new home for curated stories from the people who have shaped this organization with us: you, our beloved alumni! We want to keep engaging with your storytelling prowess even long after your program graduation, so here we are!
Submit Your Contribution NowOverview
Please review the following guidelines prior to submission. These requirements are intended to ensure your story is published efficiently and presented at its best.
Please note: we are accepting completed work only. As this call does not involve a pitching process or grant mentorship, submissions must be complete and ready for editorial review, rather than a draft or an idea still in development. Our editors will still conduct copy-editing and refinement in coordination with you; however, the reporting, writing, and structure of the piece should already be finalized prior to submission.
I. Contribution Types
We are looking to publish four kinds of work. Please indicate which category best describes your submission. If you are uncertain, submit your piece regardless. Our editorial team will help determine the appropriate category.
A story that combines the factual rigor of news reporting with the depth, character, and narrative of a feature article, grounded in a clear environmental angle. Not a press release, opinion piece, or blow-by-blow event report.
A first-person essay or commentary piece. This is your take, your experience, your argument, written in your own voice. Lands in our Voices section.
A digestible breakdown of a complex environmental topic (i.e., in the style of: "Carbon offsets, explained: what they are and why they're controversial" or "A guide to the 4 environmental laws every Filipino youth should know"). Can be text-based, an infographic, or a photo essay with substantial captions.
Short documentary video, photo essay, audio piece, or data visualization. Include a short written intro (100–150 words) for context and SEO.
Word counts serve as a general guideline rather than a strict requirement. Submissions that require additional length to fully develop the story will still be considered.
II. What We're Looking For
We want stories from every corner of the Philippines, including Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao alike. We're especially interested in these themes, though this list is not exhaustive:
Hope-based, solutions-focused storytelling is not required, but it's what excites us most. We're actively trying to move the narrative beyond doom-and-gloom. We are especially drawn to stories that move beyond documenting a problem to highlight what is working.
Moreover, the themes listed above reflect our current areas of interest, but we recognize that environmental and climate issues span a wide and evolving range of topics. This list is not meant to be limiting, and we may well have missed a theme relevant to your community. If your story does not fit neatly into any of these categories, please submit it regardless; we would still like to see it.
Recycling drives, tree-planting write-ups, and general pollution-awareness pieces without a specific angle are unlikely to be published.
III. Original or Previously Published Work
Unpublished work must be a complete piece, reported, written, and ready for editorial review. We're not able to take on story ideas, outlines, or partial drafts for this call; if your story is still in progress, we'd love to have it once it's finished.
Previously published work (on your Substack, personal blog, or another outlet) may be republished on the AYEJ Newsroom only if:
- You hold the rights to the piece, or the original publisher has given explicit written approval for republication (a forwarded email or written consent is sufficient; please attach or paste it).
- The piece is not currently under an exclusivity agreement with another outlet.
- We will credit the original publisher and link back to the first publication.
- Please do not submit work still under formal review or embargo elsewhere.
For previously published work, we're looking for pieces that are still evergreen, meaning the facts, data, and context remain accurate today. As a general guide, News Features should have been published within the last 12–18 months (roughly 2025 onward), since these carry a news hook that dates quickly. Opinion, Explainers, and Multimedia pieces are welcome regardless of original publish date, as long as the content still holds up factually. If something has changed since, a quick update note is fine.
If you're unsure whether your piece qualifies, submit it anyway and note where it was previously published.
IV. A Few Editorial Ground Rules
Tap each rule to read the full detail.
Accuracy first
The credibility of environmental journalism depends on verifiable facts. Please be prepared to provide sources, data, or contacts that our editors may use for verification.
Photos and multimedia need credit
Please indicate who captured the photo or video and confirm that permission for its use has been obtained. Uncredited or unlicensed visual material will be removed prior to publication.
Editorial discretion applies
Editors may revise submissions for clarity, length, and house style, and will provide the edited draft for review prior to publication. The substance of a contributor's argument or reporting will not be altered without their consent.
No pitching process required for this call
Unlike the Story Grants, contributors may submit the completed story directly.
Publication is not guaranteed
We read and consider every submission, but not every piece will make it to print. This will help keep the newsroom's quality consistent as we scale.
Good journalism cannot be replaced by AI
Contributors are welcome to use AI tools in their process, but such tools should be used with caution. They should support, not substitute for, original reporting, sourcing, and voice.
V. Deadline & How to Submit
All submissions go through our online form. This lets us tag your story properly by region and byline so it feeds into your personal Alumni Portfolio page on the site.
Questions? Email us at stories@ayej.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an AYEJ alumnus to submit?
This call is open to AYEJ alumni, trainees, and anyone who has gone through our training programs. If you're not sure whether you qualify, email us at stories@ayej.org before submitting.
Can I submit a story about an environmental issue outside the Philippines?
We prioritize Philippine environmental stories, but pieces on regional (ASEAN) or global issues with a clear Filipino angle or relevance are welcome.
Can I submit more than one story?
Yes, but please submit your strongest piece first. We'll reach out if we have room for a second.
Who owns the rights to my story after AYEJ publishes it?
You retain full ownership. By submitting, you're granting AYEJ a non-exclusive license to publish and archive your piece on the Newsroom. You're free to use, share, or republish your own work elsewhere.
Can I republish this story elsewhere after AYEJ publishes it?
Yes, since the license is non-exclusive, the story remains yours to place elsewhere. We'd just appreciate a credit/link back to the AYEJ Newsroom version where possible.
Can I use a pen name or byline that isn't my legal name?
Yes. Let us know at submission if you'd like to publish under a pseudonym or byline variation, and we'll handle it discreetly.
What if my story involves risk to sources (e.g., reporting on illegal logging, mining, or land disputes)?
Flag this clearly at submission. We take a "do no harm" approach. Our editors will review for source protection (anonymization, generalized locations, withheld details, etc.) before publication, and may follow up with you directly to work through it together.
Can I submit a story written in Filipino, or another Philippine language?
Yes, other languages are welcome too, not just English or Filipino.
What if my story is part of a series, or was co-authored with someone else?
Co-authored pieces are welcome. List all contributors on the form. For series, submit the strongest standalone piece; let us know if more exist.
What file formats do you accept for multimedia?
Video (MP4, reasonable resolution), photo essays (JPG/PNG with a caption document), and audio (MP3/WAV).
What happens after I submit, will I hear back?
Yes. Our editorial team will confirm receipt and follow up before publication, whether your piece is accepted, needs revision, or isn't a fit this round.
Can I withdraw my submission after sending it?
Yes, email stories@ayej.org anytime before publication.
What if I submit after the August 7 deadline?
August 7 is the cutoff for launch inclusion, but submissions reopen on a rolling basis after that.
Is this a paid opportunity?
No, this call is unpaid. Our aim right now is to build a curated, accessible home for environmental stories from all corners of the Philippines, a space where these stories can finally be told and found in one place. As the Newsroom grows and we secure more funding, we hope to open up paid contribution opportunities in the future.
Can I submit a news story I wrote in 2021?
Probably not as a News Feature. News pieces carry a time-sensitive hook, and we're asking that these be from the last 12–18 months (roughly 2025 onward) so the newsroom feels current at launch. That said, if the underlying story still holds up today (i.e., the facts and context haven't changed, and it reads more like an explainer or a solutions story than breaking news), send it in and note that it's from 2021. Our editors will look at whether it still qualifies under Explainer or Opinion instead of News Feature.
Is publication guaranteed if I submit?
No. Every submission is read and considered, but not every piece will be published; this keeps quality consistent as the newsroom scales.
Submit Your Contribution
All submissions go through our online form.
Submit Your Contribution Now#LetTheEarthBeHeard