Ramadan Treats

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to break his fasts with dates. It has thus become a tradition for Muslims everywhere to do the same. The nutritional value packed into dates makes it the perfect "first" food for consumption after a long day of fasting. They are easy to digest and provide an immediate boost of energy.

The other day, I came across this recipe for Date Nut Bars, which turned out to be really delicious. It uses both walnuts and dates and tastes a lot like oatmeal cookies. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone looking for a good snack to keep them productive during non-fasting hours.

Speaking of Ramadan treats, when was the last time you checked out this blog's database of Muslim magazines, newspapers and websites in search of writers? There are now more than 60 publications to browse through, including a new category that lists publications for Muslim children and teens.

The Hajj & Umrah Gazette

The Hajj & Umrah Gazette is a new bilingual (Arabic and English) publication containing industry news for tour operators. At this point, I don't know if the publication is seeking writers, but it looks there is potential.

Job Opening: Senior Copy Editors and Reporters in the UAE

The National (an English-language newspaper based in Abu Dhabi) is seeking senior copy editors and reporters to live and work in the UAE.

According to this ad at JournalismJobs.com:

Arabic language skills are a definite advantage, as is familiarity with Middle Eastern issues and culture.

We offer very competitive salaries and benefits packages, including one flight home a year. Income in the UAE is tax-free. 

Continue reading here.

Critique Media Stories for the Lone Star Crescent

The Lone Star Crescent has posted another ad at WorkHalal.com -- this time for writers to critique media stories on a monthly basis.

This market pays $20 per published submission of 500 words.

Read more here.

Another Paying Market: The Lone Star Crescent

According to this ad at WorkHalal.com, The Lone Star Crescent (a Texas-based Muslim community newspaper) is seeking a community content writer.

Topics of interest include:

1. Education and planning for higher education
2. Home schooling / parenting
3. Family oriented travel and fun in Texas
4. Shopping & Technology. Saving tips. Cool local deals
5. Something new or discovering about Texas
6. Auto Deals
7. Real Estate & Home Decor tips
8. Women's Health
9. Opinion columns on local news, events
10. Local event reports

This market pays $20.00 per published article of 500 - 600 words.

More details here.

Muslim Market News

Starting in February 2010, Southern California InFocus will stop paying contributors for six months while the publication works to improve its financial situation. The editor says that submissions are still welcome during this period, but they will not be compensated financially.

An Unfortunate Trend

When Sr. Serene of damazine left me a comment to let me know that two magazines on this blog's comprehensive list of Islamic publications were no longer publishing, I thought I'd better do some housecleaning and remove any outdated information. Though Sr. Serene only mentioned two publications, I ended up removing ten and placing them in a separate "No Longer Publishing" category. I was particularly surprised about Muslim Girl and Islamica, two glossy magazines that have been sold in mainstream bookstores and had wide appeal. I am also not finished going through the links and suspect there will be a few more additions to this category by the time I am done.

Having been the managing editor of one of the magazines on the list (Our Rising Star), I can tell you that running a magazine is expensive...more expensive than one might imagine. By far, the biggest expense is printing and mailing. It can also be quite costly to have the magazine professionally designed. Many of the publications that are still printing are newspapers (the paper is cheaper) or websites (no printing costs), are printed outside the U.S. (cheaper printing costs), or have solid funding. Others do not print regularly and only print when enough funds are collected. Naturally, this makes subscribers upset and often contributes to the demise of the publication.

I always feel sad when I see an Islamic publication stop printing. Yes, it's true that there is an abundance of Islamic information on the Internet, but magazines reach different segments of the population and have special value.

Arabic Editor Needed

A N.Y.-based bilingual Arab American community newspaper seeks a freelance Arabic editor.

Click here to learn more about this job.

Rates and Info. Listed for Arab American Newspaper

A couple of days ago, I posted information about an Arab American newspaper that is seeking writers based in California. In that ad, there was no mention of the newspaper's name or compensation structure. Now, there is a new ad containing this information.

The newspaper is Aramica, and compensation for articles is as follows:

For social and community event coverage : blurb 250 words + photos (w/ captions) - approx 2 hours of work - we pay $50/event.

Feature articles : human interest stories, interviews with (2-3 photos) - +/- 1100 words - we pay between $125- $150.

For Cover stories: investigative reporting and high profile interviews - +/- 2000 words - we pay up to $250.

Remember, this is not a newspaper just for Muslims, but a general publication geared towards Arabs of different backgrounds and faiths. I would imagine, however, that there are opportunities to cover Islamic issues in a way that is relevant to the mission of the newspaper.

Read the whole ad here.

Writers needed for Arab American newspaper

According to this ad:

An established Arab American newspaper is planning on launching its West Coast version and is looking for experienced writers able to cover community events and do investigative reporting in Arabic and/or in English.

must have extensive knowledge in Middle Eastern and specifically Arabic culture and must have ties with the Arab American communities living in California State.
we are looking ONLY for experienced writers in both languages (Arabic and/or English).

Senior Copy Editors for The National

The National, the new English-language newspaper based in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is seeking two senior copy editors for an "Arabian adventure."

Read more about this opportunity here.

By the way, this is one of my favorite newspapers as it covers a wide variety of topics and perspectives in an interesting manner.

Wanted: Freelance Editor/Writer and or Photographer

I came across this ad for a freelance writer/editor/photographer for a small newspaper targeting Arab readers in Philadelphia. This may or may not be worth your time (depending on what the newspaper is actually about), but beware that it is a non-paying market. If anyone knows more, please post a comment.

Muslim Newspaper in Houston Seeks Writers

Writers are needed for a Houston-based Muslim newspaper.

Topics include current events, political analysis, technology, and others.

See this Craigslist Ad for more information.

The Muslim Observer

Guidelines for The Muslim Observer.

I believe this is both a print and web publication. Unsolicited articles do not receive payment, so it is better to query first if you wish to receive compensation for your work.

10 Ways to Serve Islam with your Writing

Increasingly, people are turning to the Internet for information about religion and spirituality. As Muslim writers, we have a role to play in correcting misinformation about Islam and working to help educate people in our own communities stay connected and informed. Keep reading for information on how to make your time on the Net beneficial and (if you choose) profitable as well.

1. Create Content for your Mosque's Website
Does your local masjid (mosque) have a website? Is the content timely, well-written and easy to navigate? A website is a great way to connect people in the community and keep visitors informed about local prayer times, masjid lectures, and important events. But don't stop there. You can create a mega-site with information about Islam, links to local businesses, and support for community members.

Tip for the Professional Writer: Approach the masjid board, and ask if they have a budget for you to maintain the website for a year.

General: The same idea could work with any business or organization. Start local, and see where your efforts take you. You'd be surprised how many people would like to have a web presence but don't have the time or know-how to get started.

2. Write a Newsletter
If you are like many people, you might forward your favorite articles and websites about Islam to family and friends. You can do this more professionally by creating a regular newsletter (weekly or monthly, depending on the time you have available), complete with commentary, short articles/poems that you write, and links to outside material – and then inviting people to subscribe.

Tip for the Professional Writer: As your newsletter increases in popularity, charge for advertising. Also make use of affiliate links for a bit of extra revenue.

General: Newsletters can be about any topic you are passionate about and may lead to paying assignments with professional organizations and local businesses.

3. Start a Blog
Starting a blog is a great way to share information about Islam and get your creative juices flowing at the same time. It is also free (and easy) with services like Blogger and Wordpress.

Tip for the Professional Writer: Place Google ads and/or affiliate links on your site. Also use the opportunity to advertise your services.

General: Like newsletters, blogs can be about any topic. Blog on your own, or do it professionally by becoming a "pro" blogger.

4. Participate in Discussions
Use your writing skills to participate in on-line discussions about Islamic topics. Depending on your interests, you may wish to mingle with Muslims or non-Muslims, providing support and/or advice, correcting misinformation, and adding a new dimension to the dialogue. Make sure to learn the etiquette of dawah first.

Tip for the Professional Writer: Use your signature line to advertise your services or even the books you have written. Also, provided you have the requisite knowledge, participating in discussions about Islam helps place you as an expert that people may call on in the future. In short, it is an excellent tool for networking.

General: Use discussion forums in general to network and display your expertise in your chosen field, whether it is writing, traveling on a budget, or something else.

5. Start your own Group
These days, there are e-groups for everyone from Muslim writers to Muslim homeschoolers to new Muslims…and scores of others too numerous to mention. What are you passionate about? Start a group around your interest and invite like-minded people to join you. As group owner, you set the rules and determine the group's direction.

Tip for the Professional Writer: Use the group as a networking tool, and encourage others to do the same.

General: As above, there's no need to limit yourself to Islamic topics alone. Take your interest, and run with it.

6. Write for Content Sites
In most cases, content sites like BellaOnline and others (think Helium, How to do Things, etc.) may not be great money-makers, but they are valuable tools for dawah and can be enjoyable to writers who like the challenge of writing on various topics and reaching out to people at the same time.

Tip for the Professional Writer: Some content sites pay quite well. About.com, for example, offers $725 per month in base pay as well as a chunk of shared ad revenue.

General: Check these sites out regularly for new writing opportunities. Today's non-paying market may suddenly become the paying market of tomorrow (and vice versa).

7. Befriend a New or Isolated Muslim
As the world's fastest growing religion, Islam is seeing increasing numbers of people who embrace its teachings without the support of a real-life community. In fact, many of today's new Muslims have learned about Islam entirely on the Internet or at their local bookstore and need support, friendship, and basic information on everyday matters. Organizations like WhyIslam.Org have e-mail correspondence programs and need volunteers.

Tip for the Professional Writer: Add mentoring to your resume.

General: E-Mentoring in any field is a wonderful way to give back to the community and can take as little as ten minutes each day.

8. Leave Comments
We've all had the experience of reading articles that portray Islam and its teachings in an inaccurate light – either that, or the coverage of Islamic topics is often highly superficial/simplistic and even degrading to Muslims. Many newspapers now publish their articles on-line and allow readers to post comments…so don't hold back. Leaving a comment is a good opportunity to correct misconceptions, fight ignorance, and dispel stereotypes, and non-Muslim readers often express appreciation when a Muslim steps in to add his or her voice to the conversation.

Tip for the Professional Writer: Add credibility to your comments by using your real name. Go a step further by writing a letter to the editor or writing an editorial. Many newspapers pay for the latter.

General: No matter what your topic, it is important to maintain a respectful tone. Use logic and facts instead of raw emotion to get your point across. Not only will readers take you more seriously, you will also be more likely to have your comment or letter published.

9. Translate Information about Islam
If you are bi-lingual, then you can help translate articles on Islamic topics to whichever languages you write in well enough…so long as you respect the relevant copyright laws (it is essential that you gain permission from the author or publisher before performing a translation for publication, distribution, or profit). There is a lack of information about Islam in many of the world's languages, so translation is a worthwhile undertaking for those who are able to do it. See this call for translators as an example of a mass translation project that is having both impact and success.

Tip for the Professional Writer: Use your translations as clips to obtain more translation work.

General: If you've never done professional translation, visit Proz.com. This is a great place to learn the basics and find some paying gigs at the same time.

10. Write for Magazines
Need I say more? This blog contains a wealth of information for Muslim writers, including a comprehensive list of Muslim magazines, newspapers and websites in need of writers, so check out the list and decide how to best place your work.

Tip for the Professional Writer: Learn the craft and business of freelance writing by visiting this site and others dedicated to writing (see the right-hand column of this blog for suggestions).

General: If you're looking for more general markets, check out this list at BellaOnline.

The Muslim Link

The Muslim Link is a newspaper in Ottawa, Canada that seems to rely on volunteer submissions for articles. You can read back issues on the paper's website.

There is another Muslim Link (unaffiliated with the one in Canada) in the US State of Maryland. I believe this one is a paying market, but you should confirm with the editor first before submitting your work.

The Islamic Post

The Islamic Post is a newspaper with offices in New York, Canada, Trinidad, and Venezuela. The paper covers international issues but seems to focus on the Caribbean. Currently, they are seeking the following types of volunteers:

- Journalists
- News Correspondents
- Proofreaders
- Photographers
- Editors
- Sales representatives

Read more here.

Tri-State Muslim

I just recently found out about Tri-State Muslim, a bi-weekly newspaper serving New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

Here is a link for submitting articles, but it is not mentioned whether any payment is offered to writers. I'd contact the editor first.

Volunteer Writers Needed for Muslim Newspaper

Islam Radio News is a newspaper in the UK that is currently seeking volunteer writers to contribute articles.

Here are the details of what they are seeking.

Full-time Reporter Needed at the Muslim Link

The Muslim Link Newspaper is in need of a full-time reporter who has "strong writing skills, good manners, good work ethic, persistence and patience."

Read more about this opportunity here.