How To Get Your Article Published In Laboratory Focus

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Laboratory Focus is looking for topical, timely, engaging articles of a non-commercial nature on all aspects of the laboratory industry, from building a facility to new processes to the latest equipment trends. The magazine is published every two months, has a circulation of approximately 20,000, and serves scientists and researchers across Canada.

Contributed features in Laboratory Focus are usually 1200 to 1500 words long. Tech Notes are 1000 to 1500 words, and are usually service, or “how-to,” pieces. All articles should be non-promotional, original and, whenever possible, should be accompanied by appropriate photos, figures or graphics. All contributed articles are edited in-house.

Tech Notes and how-to stories can address techniques, procedures related to specific instruments, processes, or technologies, and reports explaining how significant new products are being used in the laboratory. These stories emphasize applications from the user’s point of view, such as how the instrument, technique or new product being described has helped researchers save time, money, and effort; how it has improved research results; or how it has facilitated activities that were not previously possible. Such articles should not resemble a spec sheet that merely describes product features. Product/process application articles must describe user benefits and applications.

Feature articles can be less technical, and cover subjects ranging from new fields of research, such a metabolomics or biosensors, to regulatory issues such as ISO standards that affect labs, to lab organization, operation and equipment issues. Again, such articles must be non-commercial in nature, and must be of interest to Canadian labs.

Our readers (scientists, R&D management, technicians) are fairly tech-savvy, but may not be familiar with your specific area of expertise. On first reference, it is helpful to spell out or define abbreviations and acronyms for newer technologies and processes.

Laboratory Focus adheres to rigorous editorial standards for accuracy and journalistic integrity, as well as spelling and grammar. The magazine’s house style embraces the voices of individual writers, but conforms to the standards of journalistic nonfiction:
•     Stories should be written in the third person.
•     Use active voice whenever possible.
•     Sources  be they people or documents  should be acknowledged either within the text or in footnotes. For footnotes, follow Modern Languages Association (MLA) style.
•     Information, text or illustration that is not the original work of the author, or that has been previously published elsewhere, must be properly acknowledged, and all appropriate permissions acquired.

Laboratory Focus welcomes story ideas via e-mail at laboratory_focus@promotive.net.
If story ideas are intended to coincide with a specific item on the editorial calendar, or if they are time sensitive, please indicate it in your e-mail. Lead time for features is three to four months.

Laboratory Focus follows CP Style and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary on most matters, rarely uses first-person narratives, and does not publish promotional articles.

Although contributing writers hold the copyright for their articles, Promotive Communications Inc. (PCI) reserves the right to reprint or reproduce those articles in print or electronic format for PCI purposes only. All print features also appear on PCI’s Web site at www.bioscienceworld.ca, and may be featured on the home page.

Photographs and illustrations may be submitted in JPEG, TIF, or EPS formats. Minimum resolution is 300 dpi for photographs and 800 dpi for line art.


Calendar Submissions
Items to be considered for inclusion on the Calendar can also be sent to laboratory_focus@promotive.net with “Calendar submission” in the subject line or faxed to 905-508-4866, or mailed to #202 – 10211 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3B3.

Calendar submissions should include the date of the event, the title of the event, and information contact and two of the following: Web site address, e-mail contact address, telephone number, fax number.


New Product Submissions
Items to be considered for inclusion within the New Products section within Biotechnology Focus and /or Lab Products Center on www.bioscienceworld.ca can be sent to newproduct@promotive.net with “New product submission” in the subject line or faxed to 905-508-4866, or mailed to #202 – 10211 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3B3.

New product submissions should include product specs and photos, if applicable.

Submission of an item for consideration does not guarantee its appearance in the magazine. All selections will be made based on editorial merit. Unused material will not be returned.