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Museum Education Roundtable Blog: “Museum Visions” Policy and Operations     

Overview

MER’s blog is a complement to our main mission, to inspire “innovative thinking for the field through engagement with scholarly and practice-based content explored in the Journal of Museum Education.” JME authors and editors are often advanced in their career, and their articles/issues present a complex, established body of knowledge. 

Submittal Process

    1.  Interested authors submit a proposal using the Blog Submittal Form. Please read our vision, mission, and equity statement before submitting and see “Selection Criteria” below for more information;
    2.  MER Communications Team Co-Chair receives proposals and reviews internally. 
    3.  Please allow 2-4 weeks for an initial response as we are a volunteer board that meets once a month;
    4.  Accepted authors will be assigned a MER contact to provide editorial support;
    5.  Author drafts blog and assembles bio, images, captions, and alt text;
    6.  MER Communications Team reviews blog post (at least two members will review) and sends back comments via the MER contact;
    7.  Author reviews any edits, comments and requests;
    8.  Mutually approved blog is published.

Selection Criteria

    • One of MER’s strategic issues is to advance the diversity and inclusion within MER, the JME, and the museum field. Ideal submissions will express a consideration for diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion work in the museum field.
    • Blogs published in Museum Visions follow one of the following series:
      • JME in Action: In support of MER’s mission to “inspire innovative thinking for the field through engagement with scholarly and practice-based content explored in the Journal of Museum Education,” journal authors, editors, and collaborators are invited to expand on topics found in the JME. #JMEinAction
      • MER Talks: This interview format makes for quick and diverse ranges of posts. They provide reflections and thoughts from voices across the museum education community. #MERTalks
      • Looking Inward: Museum professionals share deeper insight into the life of museum professionals and the communities and institutions we serve. Topics range from analyzing the history, culture, and actions of museums to the unexpected influences on our work. #MERLookingInward

Guidelines for Accepted Authors

Formatting

    • MER prefers to work in the Google platform. If you are able, please share your drafted blog as a Google Doc.
    • Always include a title, byline at the top, and a short bio at the bottom. Bio should start with the person’s name and be limited to about 100 words. For example: Kyle Parsons is Manager of Inclusion and Community Engagement at the Minnesota Historical Society and serves as the Chair of the Museum Education Trends Committee at AAM.
    • At least one image with a caption needs to be included. You can help our accessibility efforts by writing Alt Text for the image! If you’re not familiar with that, our team will provide this.
    • Attempt to hyperlink to other sources as much as possible, including social media handles where appropriate.
    • If interviewing, start by listing each person’s full name, with subsequent mentions listed only as first name.
    • Please include social media handles for the author, any relevant subjects, and/or the institution referenced in the post following the bios. This will not be published on the blog but will be used in social media promotion.
  • Tone / Writer Suggestions
    • As a complement to the JME, this blog takes a more informal tone than the scholarly tone of the journal. Consider a “business casual” tone.
    • Word count is ideally between 1,000-1,500 words. Less is fine, especially for the more informal types of posts.
    • If citations are a part of the text, authors should use APA style.
    • Because we have readers/members from a wide range of educational backgrounds, museums, geographical locations, demographics, and interests, be careful not to get too deep into industry-specific language that could isolate readers. For example, if the author is an educator at an art museum, she/he shouldn’t limit the writing to the art objects or specific context.

 

Updated December 2, 2020.