Submissions

What is Binding Hook?

Binding Hook provides a European perspective on the most pressing developments in and debates on digital technology and security. Although we centre the conversation on Europe, we give voice to perspectives from all over the globe.

We adopt an authoritative but friendly tone in our writing style. Our aim is to produce content that is easy to read but also provides innovative and useful insight.

To reach a wide international readership, Binding Hook publishes in UK English. We encourage non-native English writers to send us their pitches. If you have something to say, we will help you say it.

Who can write For Binding Hook?

We publish articles from academics, usually in universities or comparable research positions, writing about their particular area of expertise. We also publish pieces from practitioners working in the technology industry or relevant organisations.

How do I write for Binding Hook?

We are looking for short pieces of between 900-1,200 words.
Our articles take three forms:

Binding Edge

Binding Edge articles shed light on current issues, using insights from your own and others’ research and experience. Make sure there is a central argument running through the piece. It helps to write a sentence outlining the argument in the beginning.

Hooked on Trends 

Hooked on Trends focuses on major undercurrents in the digital world that will push players in certain ways. For example, perhaps chip shortages are on the horizon or cybercrime is surging in a particular manner.

Book Binder

Book Binder reviews books and invites authors to summarise their findings, share post-publication updates, or further reflect on their work.

How to pitch

If you would like to publish an article in Binding Hook, please send us a pitch of no more than three short paragraphs, including:

01

Three or four sentences outlining your topic

02

The key points you are going to make

03

Why the topic is important

04

Your qualifications for writing about it

If you have a draft already prepared, do send it in with the pitch as outlined above.

Decisions are made by our editorial team. Send your pitch to [email protected]. 

Please allow five days for a response.

 

Guidelines for submissions

  • Use either plain text or Microsoft Word formats.
  • Ensure you have thoroughly fact-checked your content and can provide the necessary documentation to support your piece.
  • Disclose any potential conflict of interest when you send your pitch.
  • Use bolded subheads as section titles of no more than three words (capitalise only the first word).
  • Craft clear, concise sentences, avoiding the passive voice and parentheses.
  • Steer clear of academic jargon. When necessary, explain concepts in a concise manner, assuming readers might not be familiar.
  • Assume readers may not know the context, so provide intuitive explanations.
  • Keep paragraphs short, around 2-3 sentences. Longer paragraphs do not read well online.
  • Do not use footnotes, endnotes, or bibliographies for your references. Cite sources by embedding hyperlinks in words or short strings of active words.
  • For the research you’re referencing, aim for publicly available or ungated versions on scholarly journal websites. If you’re focusing on a particular article, note that some journals may ungate research if you request it.

Writing guidance

Aim to be comprehensible and relevant to a general audience interested in security and technology.

Writing for an online publication requires a specific approach to ensure that users can easily digest the information provided. Here are some key tips: 

  • Conciseness: Opt for brevity. Say what you need to convey using as few words as possible. 
  • Simplicity: Use straightforward language and avoid convoluted sentences. Explain complex topics in a clear and accessible manner. 
  • Neutral language: Choose neutral language over boastful or subjective text. 
  • Inverted pyramid: Place the most important and interesting information at the beginning of your article. Follow with additional details in order of diminishing importance. 
  • Keyword usage: Incorporate commonly used terms related to your topic. Minimise the use of proprietary terms and abbreviations. 
  • Headings and subheadings: Break up your content with descriptive headings and subheadings. This makes it easier for readers to find relevant information quickly. 
  • Paragraph length: Divide your content into short paragraphs. Lengthy blocks of text can be overwhelming. Short paragraphs are more reader-friendly

Also, do not use footnotes, endnotes, or bibliographies for your references. Cite sources by embedding hyperlinks in words or short strings of active words.