Submit an article to Black Ottawa Scene

We welcome feature articles, short stories, book reviews, movie and entertainment reviews, human interest stories, as well as reports on cultural and social events with pics (weddings, anniversaries, graduations, etc.). All guest articles and photos must be original and showcase people of African descent, or speak directly to the lived Black experience. We do not publish guest articles that are are linked to another publication. Also, we do not accept sponsored articles on this platform. Part of our mission is to showcase volunteer-run community organizations representing countries in Africa, Caribbean, south and north America, with predominantly Black populations. However, we do not accept articles from ethnic, tribal or clan-based organizations from any of those regions.

Please note that Black Ottawa Scene is entirely volunteer-driven and volunteer-managed, and  contributors do so in a volunteer capacity.  We therefore, do not pay any financial remuneration to reporters, photographers, feature writers, or guest columnists. Contributors should also note that articles or reports should not be used to directly or indirectly, promote, endorse or advertise commercial businesses, goods or services. 

We request that you include a photo of yourself plus a short bio to go with your submission. We also recommend a max of 800 words per article; our experience is that readers tend to be turned off by lengthy postings.

We appreciate all submissions of reports, photographs, articles, and letters to the Editor, but do not guarantee that they will be posted on Black Ottawa Scene. The Editor makes the final decision on the material to be published.

By submitting your material to Black Ottawa Scene, you give Black Ottawa Scene permission to publish it in any medium in which Black Ottawa Scene may be published and at no cost to Black Ottawa Scene. This permission shall continue until you ask us in writing to take the submission off the website.

All submissions must conform with accepted social norms such as  respect for everyone; we do not accept illegal, defamatory, offensive, hate-based, or obscene materials. 

If you submit photographs, please make sure that you have permission for publication in Black Ottawa Scene of all identifiable individuals in each picture. All submissions must be original and must not infringe the copyright of any third party. The copyright in all submissions to Black Ottawa Scene remains with the author. 

Black Ottawa Scene reserves the right to verify the identity of any person submitting photographs, articles, or letters to the Editor. All contributions must be accompanied by the full name, telephone number, street address, and e-mail address of the contributor. Only the name of the contributor will be published. Other personal information will be retained by Black Ottawa Scene in order to communicate with the contributor and will be deleted within two years of the last contribution.

All articles for publication should be sent to: [email protected].

Paid advertisements

Black Ottawa Scene appreciates and welcomes paid advertisements from individuals, government, private commercial companies, public community organizations, non-government organizations, political parties, and religious and social organizations. Paid adverts help to offset the overhead costs of production and publication of  Black Ottawa Scene, including web-hosting, domain name, photographic and other electronic equipment and supplies, travel and transportation, etc. The rates have been kept to a minimum to make this medium accessible and affordable to not-for-profit community organizations.  Black Ottawa Scene is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit community-oriented publication, with a mission to showcase people and events in the Black community in Canada’s national capital region.

To obtain a copy of our advertising rates, please contact [email protected].