California Coast & Ocean features in-depth reporting on major conservation issues along the coast, as well as shorter articles on a variety of coastal themes. We think of ourselves as the public's coastal lookout, keeping an eye on significant trends and events. The geographical area we cover extends from the top of the watershed out into the ocean. We look for stories and images that will allow readers to discover and appreciate the coast, its waterfront cities and little towns, natural areas, parks, wilderness and wetlands, and the ongoing struggle to protect the coast and restore its natural resources for everyone's benefit. We like to profile citizen leaders working creatively in their communities to keep the coast and ocean healthy, beautiful, and open to the public. We also welcome essays and poems.

The magazine is published quarterly by the Coastal Conservancy Association with the help of a grant from the Coastal Conservancy. Circulation is mostly in California. Reader surveys have shown that each issue is read by more than one person. Subscribers tend to be well-educated and include many natural resource managers and land use professionals, nonprofit group members, community activists, coastal property owners, and public officials, as well as coastal residents who enjoy the publication and find it useful.

Writers' Guidelines
To propose a story, contact editor Rasa Gustaitis to introduce yourself and say what you have in mind. Contact her at: editor@coastandocean.org, (510) 286-0934, or 1330 Broadway, 11th floor, Oakland, CA 94612.

To submit a manuscript, e-mail is the most efficient way to go. We also sometimes accept typed double-spaced manuscripts. Please put your name, telephone number, e-mail and mailing addresses at the top of the first page.

We expect solid reporting and clear, lively writing. Be ready to work with the editors. We do our best to make sure that stories are accurate, balanced, thorough, well-written, and informed. Writers are expected to be able to provide a list of their sources, with name, title, address, e-mail, and phone number. If an article is accepted you will be asked to sign a statement that the material submitted is original. Story length ranges between 500 and 3,000 words.

Photographers' & Artists' Guidelines
We look for outstanding black and white photography, color images that will work in black and white, and relevant graphics. We use images of places and people along the coast, especially those involved in conservation, restoration, recreation, and environmental education; also images of coastal plants and animals, both marine and terrestrial. Don't be deterred by these categories, though. Do submit unique and imaginative images if you can make a case for coastal relevance. Cartoons are also welcome.

Coast & Ocean is published in black and white, but we do use some color photos for our on-line edition. Print publication requires that images be strong and clear, with relatively high contrast and distinct figure-ground relationships. It may be helpful to make black and white photocopies or printouts of color images to get an idea of what will work.

Drawings, cartoons, and other graphics with bold black ink lines work better than sketchy pencil or delicate shading. Most graphic works will be reproduced smaller than the originals.

Please do not send original slides or prints on approval--copies or duplicates are adequate.

We appreciate receiving URLs for photographers' web sites, and do refer to them when searching for images.

Technical guidelines
We can work from black and white or color prints, slides, or digital image files in most formats. For print reproduction, digital files must be high-resolution--at least 300 dpi at about 5" x 8". Low-resolution files are useful only for preliminary photo selection.

Submit digital image files either on CD or via e-mail. Very large files can be uploaded to an FTP site. Digital files of less than 10MB per message can be e-mailed to hhughes@scc.ca.gov. Please send slides, prints, and CDs to us via UPS or FedEx.

If any of your images are chosen for publication, we need to know how they should be credited, and whether we have permission to use them on line as well as in print. Please supply caption information, including places, dates, and names of any identifiable people in the photos. If you photograph people who are not directly related to an article, and who will be recognizable, we need signed releases and contact information from them. We will supply release forms on request.

Photos used in the on-line edition will be posted as low-resolution files, with full credit. The on-line edition sometimes includes photos not used in the print edition.

All materials will be handled and tracked with care, and will be returned via UPS or certified mail after the issue for which they were submitted has been printed. If you need anything returned sooner, please let us know in advance.