Guidelines for Prospective Authors
Prospective authors find may find the following suggestions helpful -- they provide a general overview of the editorial approach of Process
Heating. Articles in Process Heating take one of two approaches: generic technology-oriented or case history.
Technology articles in Process Heating take a practical how-to approach and should be generic, not specific to a company, product or brand. A good starting point is to ask
"How to . . ." and fill in the blank with an active verb: select, buy, troubleshoot, repair, maintain, improve, reduce, update, rebuild, etc. By starting with this question,
you can be sure that your article provides an answer to a problem that process cooling engineers face.
Types of equipment that can be covered in a technology article include ovens, dryers, burners, heat exchangers, controls, temperature sensors, etc. Your article should
explore non-company specific information that any reader could use -- whether using your equipment or your competitor's. If there are special concerns unique to an industry
that we cover, you can tailor your article to address that industry.
Technology articles can take many formats: Question/Answer, 9 Tips, Straight Exposition, etc. No one format is right for every article. To help determine the format,
evaluate the information you'd like to provide. For example, if you'd like to explain common temperature control problems and possible solutions, you may want to use the
Question/Answer format. Alternatively, you may have several small pieces of information that all relate to a single topic such as improving the accuracy of temperature
measurement, for which you could write a short sub-headline for each section and group them as a list of tips under the main headline of "7 Ways to Improve Temperature
Measurement Accuracy."
Finally, don't be afraid to let images, tables, charts and graphs tell part of the story, and/or include a short sidebar. A good quality image and a well-written caption
sometimes say more than 500 words of copy. Use these materials to tell some new piece of information, or to illustrate a point, rather than just repeating what has been
stated in the body of the article.
"Application Solutions" (case histories) highlight ways engineers have used your equipment or services to cut costs, save time, improve operations and product quality, or
solve production problems. This editorial feature is an excellent way for you to showcase your success stories by teaming up with your customers. A case history allows you
to highlight specific product features and the competitive advantages they have provided for your customer.
A good case history is all in the details: Outline specific results that your customer achieved, naming the customer/company involved. Include an historical perspective of
the problem and describe the goals that were set and accomplished. Tell the story through the eyes of your customer, quoting at least one of the customer's engineers or
employees who explains what they wanted the heat processing operation to accomplish and how your product or service met the objectives or solved the problem. Provide
credible evidence -- cite how much money was saved, the percent increase in production, etc. You may also include quotes from engineers or employees at your company.
In General…
Whether you decide to write a technology-oriented article or a case history, any article submitted to Process Cooling should conform to the following:
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Text: While length is somewhat dependent on how much you have to say, a good rule of thumb is 1,500 to 2,000 words. Use sidebars and
subheads when needed to break up sections of your article. Provide captions for all graphics. Be sure to include your name and number as well as your customer's contact
information if submitting a case history. Do NOT embed images in word documents. Email the article as an electronic word document to beckerl@bnpmedia.com.
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Artwork. Consider including three to five graphics (tables, charts, photos, diagrams, etc.) to further illustrate your story. Send any
tables, charts or diagrams in an electronic format. If they are not available electronically, send good, high quality, clear and clean laser prints for our art director to
scan electronically. We can accept photographs, although a high resolution electronic image at a minimum 300 dpi is preferred. Do NOT embed images in word documents. Email
artwork to beckerl@bnpmedia.com.
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Submission Instructions. Email all submissions to editor Linda Becker at beckerl@bnpmedia.com;
(847) 405-4024. If the files are over 6 MB, please post them to our ftp site at http://upload.bnpmedia.com. Be sure to put your
company name as the first word of the file name so we can locate your file.
Please note: BNP Media shall own all rights to any submission accepted for publication (including text, photographs, artwork, charts, graphs, etc.) in its edited,
redesigned or otherwise altered state. BNP Media shall have the right to publish such submissions in any form whatsoever, including printed form, disk, electronic or any
now- or hereafter-developed method of transmitting information over the Internet or other distributed network system.
Thank you for contributing to Process Heating. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Becker at (847) 405-4024 or beckerl@bnpmedia.com.
Process Heating gladly accepts photographic submissions for consideration as a cover image. The subject (type of equipment or process)
featured on the cover each month varies; contact the editor at beckerl@bnpmedia.com for scheduling. Keep in mind that
submitting photography does not guarantee its use.
All images submitted for consideration for a cover should conform to the following:
- Photo should be vertically oriented and usable as a full-bleed.
- Minimum 300 dpi resolution
- Minimum large format size of 8” x 10”
If you have existing color photography you would like considered for a cover, please evaluate it with the following guidelines in mind:
- Avoid static product shots such as the equipment sitting on a table. It is always better to show the equipment in operation.
- If people are used in the shot (which is acceptable), avoid overused poses such as someone pointing a finger at the product or two people bent over a clipboard. Subjects
should be performing a task: tightening a screw, taking a reading or sample, checking for leaks, etc.
- Images submitted must not have been used previously for any other magazine cover, and we prefer not to use images featured on the cover of your company’s brochure
or catalog.
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Keep in mind that submitting photography does not guarantee its use.
In addition to the above guidelines, if you are planning a photo shoot, consider the following:
- If shooting at a customer's plant, dress any people in the photo in uniforms or company shirts, and have them wear the appropriate accessories (tool belt, safety
glasses, gloves, work boots, etc.).
- See if an unusual shooting angle works, such as shooting up from the floor or down from a ladder or overhead conveyor.
- Use unusual lighting such as a gel (not pink or purple) or create shadows.
- Beware of distracting litter or mess in the background, e.g., trash on the floor, buckets/brooms/mops propped in the background, Styrofoam cups, coffee cups or soda cans
on desks or benches, etc.
If you are interested in having existing photography considered for the cover, you may send brochures or catalogs, with the appropriate image(s) marked, to the editor for
initial evaluation. Our art director will evaluate the image(s) and determine if appropriate for an upcoming issue. Submit cover images electronically to Linda Becker at
beckerl@bnpmedia.com; phone (847) 405-4024.
Process Heating accepts press releases from manufacturers of industrial equipment. If your company manufactures process cooling equipment,
components and supplies, we want to hear from you! Consider sending press releases to announce news at your company, including:
- New Product Introductions
- Personnel Promotions
- New Personnel
- Joint Ventures
- Acquisitions
- Major Contracts
- New Web site or Internet Services and Features
- Address and Phone Number Changes
- ISO and Other Certifications
- New Sales Representatives or Distributors
Submit all press releases electronically to Linda Becker at BeckerL@bnpmedia.com.
New Products. When writing a product announcement, be sure to focus on the benefits the product will provide to the user. Cite specifics --
operating temperature, dimensions, number of channels, types of inputs/outputs, electrical ratings or construction materials, for example -- as well as any special features
that make the product different from your competitor's offering. Also, focus on a single series or model rather than a general category or type of product so that specifics
can be provided. Supply an image separately at minimum 300 dpi resolution, if available. Do not embed images in word documents.
Personnel. Include an image if available. If a new hire, specify the person's title and the major responsibilities. If a promotion, also
note the person's previous position, and who will be filling that position, if known. Image should be minimum 300 dpi resolution.
If available, provide an electronic image with every press release. While there is no guarantee that it will be used, a good quality image adds a visual "punch" that a few
hundred words of copy just can't provide. Be sure the file name includes the company name and product model number/name. Provide a caption explaining what the image shows if
it is not immediately apparent. Please note: We cannot use photos cut from brochures, catalogs or magazines, or line diagrams. Do NOT embed images in word documents.
Email your word document and images to: Linda Becker at beckerl@bnpmedia.com.
Linda Becker
Editor
Process Heating
155 N. Pfingsten Rd., Suite 205
Deerfield, IL 60015
(847) 405-4024
beckerl@bnpmedia.com
NOTE: Releases received will be evaluated for content and applicability to Process Heating. Those accepted for consideration will be used on a first-come, first-served
basis, and will be edited for style and content. Due to the volume of mail received, materials cannot be returned.
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