At SociologyMag we are always looking for new submissions. All we ask is that you are 16 or over and are willing to provide your name, photo, and a brief description about yourself that we can add to your article. You do not need to be a student or sociology professional but, if you are, then you can (optionally) let us know which institution you are from.
What Kind of Articles are SociologyMag Looking For?
SociologyMag is split into three main areas: Everyday Sociology, Academic Sociology, and The Interlocutor.
Everyday Sociology
- Culture such as art or food
- Education
- Health
- Media such as anime, music, gaming, literature, and films
- News & Politics
- Personal life stories
- Social media
- Sport
- Technology
Word count: 1,000 words minimum.
Articles should explain what it is in the everyday that you are addressing whether it’s something in the news, music, anime, or gaming. It should also be rooted in some form of sociology which aids a reader in being able to associate the underlying sociology with the everyday focal point of the article. It should be easily understandable by those familiar or unfamiliar with academic work. Think popular media articles but with more evidence from academic sources. These can and should be referenced where applicable. For the most part, you should reference where applicable but it is important to keep academic references to a minimum as the casual reader may not understand any referencing system. By including a list of references under the article however, those more academically inclined can still find the works considered in any article.
Also, the subject matter would be linked to the academic sociology section of the site. For example, by writing an article on ‘woke’ as a moral panic, this would link to an article in the academic section of the site which explains moral panics academically thus bridging the gap.
Academic Sociology
- Sociological perspectives
- Crime and deviance
- Health
- Education
- Sex and gender
- Disability
- Family
- Identity
- Inequalities
- Media
- Power
- Race and ethnicity
- Religion
- Social exclusion
- Social movements
- Stratification
- Work
…and any which have not been categorised above. If its sociological, get it in to us. Beyond these we also look for:
- Guides & How To’s
- Bibliographies
- Publications and Resources (books and papers, any resources such as software, search engines etc.)
- Research Methods (including methods, designs etc.)
- Upcoming Conferences and Events
Explainers such as ‘what are moral panics’ for example, should explain the concept clearly and concisely. So, for example, there is a lot to be said when it comes to moral panics. A ‘what are moral panics’ article would cover, for example:
- Its origins
- One to three definitions
- Its core theorists
- A general outline of the concept
- Its main arguments
- Brief examples
However, there are different models of moral panic such as elite engineered, grassroots, and interest group. It would be okay to give a very brief mention of them to say what they are but these would be expected to have their own standalone academic article so there is no need to go into too much detail. By just mentioning them, it opens the way for them to be linked to the more specific articles on the various models allowing for the web of knowledge across the site to grow.
The same goes for definitions. If there are many definitions of a concept such as in the case of neoliberalism, then that too would have a standalone academic article purely on the definitions.
The Interlocutor
For ‘The Interlocutor’, we are looking for individuals to be interviewed. Perhaps you would like to talk about your current research, maybe you published research that had a major impact, or would you just like to be interviewed for the sake of having a chat about sociology in the public realm? Contact us and get your face out there otherwise we might come after you instead.
Submission Guidelines
This is a generalised overview of what we look for in an article. If you are unsure about anything from the following guidelines then send us a message and we should be able to help. Always check the website to see if the article you are interested in writing has already been covered. If it hasn’t then you are good to go. If it has and you think it could do with some additional information that is important then please contact us with the information you think should be added.
All articles should be written in a document openable in Microsoft Word
Try to avoid long paragraphs of 250+ words as the website may be viewed on mobile devices and long paragraphs do not make for good reading on these types of devices (I know that goes against the grain for academic writing and is painful).
Please make sure to include the full references of any works used in your submission. Harvard (year in brackets) or APA is preferred. You can use websites such as mybib.com to help with this this.
Include extra headings when changing point to help break up the article (again, I know this goes against the academic grain).
Everything should be fully referenced including inline citations.
General Template
- Name
- Tell us a bit about yourself (if its your first time writing for us) 70-100 words
- Which institution you are from (optional)
- Include a picture of yourself
- Title
- Body
- Headings
- References
Why Should I Write for SociologyMag?
- You love sociology
For those of us who love the subject, we want to share what we know with others. In the academic world this is no easy task. By writing for SociologyMag, you get to write about the topic you love, share this knowledge with others, get your name on the site and demonstrate your writing ability and your expertise. If writing for the everyday sociology section, it demonstrates your skill at applying academic knowledge to content for a wider audience. If writing for the academic sociology section, it showcases your ability to package a sociological concept for other students.
- Your knowledge is valuable to others.
The power of knowledge sharing can never be overstated. It is only through the diffusion of knowledge that we can all grow intellectually and as people. By sharing what you know with others, it demonstrates your belief in education and community. It is only through diffusion of knowledge that change can be brought about.
- It evidences your writing skills and enthusiasm
Academic sociology isn’t always easy. By taking the work that you have perhaps already written and converting it to an article for a general audience, you show that you have the skill to demonstrate your ideas in multiple writing styles. If you write from scratch, it shows your enthusiasm for the subject and sociological imagination. For any undergraduate, sociological imagination is usually the first thing encouraged.
- You have seen something in the news which needs correcting
As we all know, the media likes to create its own narrative. Through sociology we can combat some of those effects and disseminate a clearer, more factual interpretation helping to situate events and political wranglings within wider landscape.
- Put it on your CV or university application
Writing for us and getting your writing published on the site could be used as an entry on your CV and can act as evidence for any employer to see. Or, perhaps, you can use it to add to a university application. A published article will tick the right boxes with a university.
- Be part of the fight
For a long time, academic knowledge has been undermined in favour of political gain. Subjects such as sociology are seen as oppositional to the mainstream and, as such, are under threat of being significantly curtailed. Write for us and help the resurgence happen. In current times, with so much instability, sociological content is more important than ever to help explain life and the complexities which we must all navigate. Share what you know with others.
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