Access Press is a monthly print publication with a web and social media presence. We provide news and information by and for Minnesotans with disabilities. Access Press is managed by a nonprofit board of directors. Content is published at the discretion of the editor, with input from the board and other staff members.
Access Press publishes content in the form of news stories relevant to Minnesotans with disabilities, photos, commentary pieces, news about people and organizations, and listings for upcoming events.
Our focus is on news and information that doesn’t have a “pity” component. Our reading audience lives with disabilities or supports people with disabilities. We use a combination of Associated Press style and “people first’ language in writing and editing copy.
Please contact the editor before submitting news or feature articles. We may have covered a topic before, or it may not be relevant to our audience.
Specific guidelines for each section of the newspaper are below:
People and Places
The People and Places section is for news about Minnesotans with disabilities, Minnesotans who are involved in the disability community, their organizations and their accomplishments. News items may include major award winners, new or retiring organization leaders, authors, new or retiring board members, new business owners, new or relocated facilities and other similar items.
We ask that submissions not be more than 500 words long. The exception there is for annual awards by a disability service organization, which are given more space.
We welcome pictures, although for multiple award winners we ask that there either be a group photo of winners or photos that don’t have the same person handing out every award pictured. We like to feature as many different people as possible.
News items about people and places must have a timely tie and come in as soon as possible after an occurrence.
From Our Community
Access Press offers space for letters to the editor as well as commentaries on topics of interest to Minnesota’s disability community. Letters should be no more than 500 words, with 750 words per commentary. Ask the editor if more space is needed.
Letters and guest commentaries must be signed by the authors or authors. With letters, a writer’s hometown is published but not a street address. With commentaries more information is published about the writer and/or groups.
Please send contact information, in the form of a phone number or email, in case the editor has questions about a letter or commentary. Contact information isn’t published unless the writer specifically requests that the newspaper do so.
Pictures of the author or pictures relevant to a topic can be published with a guest commentary but aren’t required.
Access Press asks that letters and guest commentaries be specifically written for the newspaper. Letters must have a focus on disability issues and ideally, a focus on those issues as they affect Minnesotans. Form letters will not be published.
Unsigned letters will not be published.
Because Access Press is a non-profit publication and must follow regulations on political partisanship, political endorsement letters are not published. That is true for candidates’ endorsements as well as for ballot questions.
Before making a submission, writers are always encouraged to contact the newspaper to discuss ideas or to ask questions about From Our Community submissions.
Let the newspaper staff know if accommodations are needed to submit a letter or commentary.
Letters and commentaries reflect the view of the authors and not the views of the staff and board of directors of Access Press.
History Note
Every month, in cooperation with the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, Access Press publishes a history note focused on an aspect of Minnesota disability history. Length is up to 550-575 words. Photos are welcome.
History notes may contain language that is offensive. We ask that if potentially offensive language such as “cripple” is used, that such language be put in a historic context.
History notes can include organizational histories when there is a significant anniversary of 10 or more years.
Please check with the editor before putting time into a submission as we may have covered a history topic before.
Calendars
Opportunities: The Opportunities section is for conferences, seminars, classes, ongoing support groups and events by and for people with disabilities. Groups seeking board members, new web features from nonprofits and changes in services such as new phone numbers or moves to virtual services are welcome to submit items here.
Listings must be from nonprofit groups or group organizers. Preference is given to free or low-cost events.
All submissions must have a tie to Minnesota’s disability community and must specify accommodations.
Enjoy!: Enjoy! listings are for accessible music, theater and arts events and venues, as well as outdoor activities, fundraisers, galas, banquets, and charity walks and runs. Items must have a disability community tie.
Preference is given to free or low-cost events. We do limit fundraisers to a few times a year per group.
All submissions must specify accommodations
