Contributor’s Guide

Thank you for your interest in contributing to the Micronesian Stick Chart Institute (MSCI). As an organization rooted in credibility, accessibility, and empowerment, MSCI welcomes thoughtful submissions that advance understanding of key issues across the Freely Associated States (FSM, RMI, Palau) and the broader Micronesian diaspora.

To ensure the integrity and consistency of our content, we ask all contributors to follow these editorial guidelines:

1. Clarify Type of Submission

  • All submissions must clearly indicate the category of writing:

  • Opinion/Commentary

  • Policy Brief

  • Retrospective or Review

  • Thematic or Analytical Report

  • Explainer Article

  • Personal Essay or Blog

    MSCI reserves the right to reclassify or suggest edits to align with house format.

2. Tone and Framing

  • Submissions should aim to be constructive and solution-oriented.

  • While it is appropriate to discuss challenges, we prioritize perspectives that offer  actionable insight, forward-looking ideas, or critical reflection.

  • Emotional or personal narratives are welcome in the appropriate formats, but must be respectful and grounded in broader relevance.

3. Evidence-Based Requirements

  • Any claim, statistic, or factual assertion must be traceable to a source.

  • Reports, thematic studies, and retrospectives must reference data or documentation that can be cited or linked to.

  • When referencing interviews or personal communications, specify the method and context (e.g., “interview conducted in January 2025, Pohnpei”).

4. Referencing and Citations

  • Cite sources properly using footnotes or in-text citations (Chicago or APA format preferred).

  • Hyperlink digital sources when possible.

  • Always credit quoted individuals, institutions, and partner work.

  • If republishing or adapting content from another platform, obtain permission and disclose the origin.

5. Originality & Ethical Standards

  • Submissions must be original, unpublished work unless otherwise agreed in writing.

  • Plagiarism, data fabrication, or unattributed paraphrasing will result in removal and a permanent contributor ban.

  • All work must reflect MSCI’s values: respect, inclusion, factual integrity, and community upliftment.

6. Style & Format Basics

  • Preferred formats: Word document or Google Doc with 1-inch margins, standard fonts.

  • Include a brief author bio (2–3 sentences) and headshot if desired.

  • MSCI may lightly edit for clarity, flow, or accuracy, with final approval from the contributor.

Let’s Work Together!

Tell us about your ideas, what you’ve been working on and how we can help!