Green Focus is the publication of the Green Party of California. The purpose of Green Focus is to serve as an outreach tool to the general public, to educate about Green Party positions and achievements with emphasis on the state of California. The newspaper is also used by Green Party members to share outreach and electoral strategies, and provides a forum for discussion of Green issues.

Identity: Green Focus is the publication of the Green Party of California. It is published three or four times a year, generally just prior to state plenary meetings or gatherings.

Focus: The newspaper focuses on topics relevant to the Green Party key values, which include nonviolence, social justice, democracy, and the environment, and on the Green Party's role in those issues. The paper emphasizes California, and includes national and international themes.

Audience: Green Focus is used to communicate with Green Party members and to reach out to the general public. Production cost and size are designed to make it easy for locals to give to people interested in more information about the Green Party of California. This includes current supporters and registrants, and those who may vote, register, and support Green in the future.

Contributors: Most articles will be written by Greens specifically for Green Focus. We encourage diversity in the staff and contributors in many respects, including geographic, ethnic, and gender. We prefer by-lines for all writers and appreciate use of non-pseudonyms. We encourage articles in Spanish. Contributions are not to exceed 1000 words. By submitting an article, the contributor gives permission to the Green Focus editorial board to print the submission. Contributors will maintain copyright over their work. Green Focus reserves the right to edit submissions.

Content: Green Focus content includes graphics such as photographs, cartoons, and tables. Written pieces include major news stories, news clips that are local, statewide, national and international, and election previews, results and analysis. It also includes editorials, opinion pieces, book reviews, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and articles on organizing tips and successes. Professionalism in the content and layout is an important goal in order to represent well the substance of the Green Party. Also see section below entitled Regular Columns.

Web Presence: Articles from each issue are posted to the www.cagreens.org/greenfocus website approximately three weeks after distribution to subscribers and to locals at the plenary.

Publication: The editors will ensure that Green Focus is published on best available paper with low environmental impact, with soy ink, and printed by a union printer.

1. Elections
   Prior to statewide or national electoral campaigns, a special issue on the slate will be produced, focusing on the issues of the candidates. After elections, coverage of the campaign, presentation of the results and analysis will be provided. (500 words for campaign coverage; 1000 words for electoral analysis)
   
   
2. News
   News articles reporting on electoral activities or issue campaigns of relevance to the California Greens; official GPCA and GPUS press releases made into articles. News reports will be provided on state, national and international Green Party meetings and conventions. (Maximum of 800 words)
   
   
3. Opinion pieces and issue analysis
   A more in-depth analysis of current issues or discussion of Green Party theory. These include submissions taking a position on a particular issue affecting the direction of the Green Party or advocating the party's adoption of a certain campaign strategy. (500-1000 words)
   
   
4. News Clips
   Short update pieces from local, state, national and international Green Party news. (100-150 words)
   
   
5. Greens in Office
   A column on Green Party members elected to office, outlining their current & future projects, accomplishments, and challenges. For instance, an article in this column could consist (as of Sept. 2003) of a report on Matt Gonzalez, Santa Monica officials, City Council members (e.g., Nevada county) or Rebecca Kaplan. The column may also include reports on elected officials in more conservative areas (e.g., planning board in San Diego County) and the challenges faced there. (300-500 words)
   
   
6. The "Citizens" column
   A regular column to discuss grassroots organizing and activism. This column is for local chapter organizers to share ideas, methods and success stories. This column would include reports on local tabling efforts, precinct organizing, panel discussions or other successful outreach events, etc. It could be one big article or could consist of several smaller clips of about 60 words each from around the state. The idea of "citizen" was based on Nader's quote "The highest position in a democracy is Citizen". (500 words)
   
   
7. Letters to the editor
   (100-400 words)
   
   
8. Book and Movie reviews
   (800 words MAX.)
   
   
9. FAQ and Editorials
   The editors will provide an editorial that will set the theme ofthe issue and will bring the various submissions together. Each issue contains a "frequently asked questions" section urging people to register Green and to vote.
   
   
10. Cartoons and line art drawings
    We prefer originals if possible.
    
    
11. Photos
    Photos of Green Party officials, volunteers and events.
    
    
12. Chars and Tables
    Lists, diagrams and charts representing information useful to Greens or complementing the submitted articles. These may include list of elected officers, election results, voter registration updates.

    
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