QSR, the magazine of quick service restaurant success, serves franchisees and franchisors of quick-service (i.e., fast-casual and fast food) restaurants by reporting on all the news, products, trends, and information they need to survive and prosper in this competitive industry.

Today, nearly half of all restaurant meals are served in a quick-service environment. The industry is growing, but it is dynamic and changing rapidly. For franchisees, franchisors, and senior managers to know what steps to take next, they need specialized information that deals with their specific opportunities. No other magazine is covering this industry in a complete way. We felt it was time someone did so, in a fair and balanced fashion.

QSR’s editorial reflects the view that the quick-service restaurant industry—like any other—is driven by people, events, and ideas. So, whether it’s an interview with an industry giant, straightforward reporting of industry’s news, questions and answers with an expert consultant, or the story of one franchisee’s success, each article in QSR is an opportunity for readers to learn and grow.

Your writing and reporting talents are welcome in the pages of QSR. Please refer to these guidelines before submitting a query or article.

• We encourage contributors to make themselves the authority on a given topic. At the same time, feel free to consult with experts who can comment on an issue, trend, or idea to lend credibility to articles.
• Articles must be written in a factual, non-commercial format. We strive to keep QSR’s editorial content unbiased and credible.
• Always include the following information: contact names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and Web site URLs for all sources used in the article. This includes photos, or any statistical information or information from studies or surveys.
• Proofread your article before submission. Please include a working headline and sub-heading.
• Provide a brief biography (along with a publishable e-mail address and Web site URL, if you wish) for inclusion at the end of your article.

Short Order

Length: 400-700 words per item

Average 7 items per issue

Short Order, the up-front news section of QSR, analyzes industry news through brief profiles, interviews, and reports. The following breakdown of news topics applies to every Short Order section and should guide your queries and submissions.

• news from a smaller, up-and-coming (or otherwise newsworthy) chain
• news from a larger, well-known chain
• news about a CEO (or other top executive) who makes an interesting industry or career move
• news about a high-interest new product
• a new philosophy—relating to management, hiring, expansion, or some other basic business issue
• news about laws, legal developments, or regulatory standards that affect quick-service restaurants

Length: 800-1,100 words per issue

Average 1 piece per issue

As a regular department in QSR, Franchising reports on the relationship between the industry’s franchisors and franchisees. This is not a how-to department; rather, articles should report on contemporary and future-looking topics. Articles may take the form of interviews, profiles, book reviews, or straightforward reportage. Where how-to instruction is appropriate, it should be illustrated through the experiences of quick-service franchisees or franchisors, in such a way that readers will be able to pull lessons from the article and apply them to their own businesses. Narrative styles, anecdotes, and even dialogue are welcome.

Length: 800-1,100 words per piece

Average 1 piece per issue

As a regular department in QSR, the Tools department reports on the ideas and actions of quick-service operators who are successfully putting technology and other tools to work in their business.

This is not a how-to department; rather, articles should report on contemporary and future-looking topics, from innovative foodservice equipment to the Internet to the full range of e-solutions. This is also not the place to sing the praises of specific products or advertisers. The Tools section should show trailblazing products in action in the restaurant setting, helping operators and crews do their jobs better. Readers will be able to pull lessons from the stories and apply them to their own businesses. In some cases, how-to material or product specifications may be presented in a sidebar. Narrative styles, anecdotes, and even dialogue are welcome. Diagrams or schematics might be particularly helpful for this department.

Length: 1,800-3,000 words

Average 5 features per issue

QSR’s features will be distinguished by their excellent reporting. Contributors to QSR are responsible for working with the editor to discern the best possible angle to take on a feature topic, then finding the best industry sources and facts to produce a compelling article.

Please remember that QSR’s editorial reflects the view that the quick-service restaurant industry is driven by people, events, and ideas. We don’t do how-to. That kind of information might occasionally be presented as a sidebar to a feature.

We generally buy all rights and pay within about 30 days of acceptance of articles completed according to the contract. We pay a 25-percent kill fee on assignments that are completed according to the contract but not published. We generally do not pay expenses. On occasion, we will pay for professional photography for an article.

As you conduct research and interviews for articles, please be aware of opportunities to secure photographs and other artwork for the layout. Have materials sent by a delivery service (e.g. UPS or FedEX) to QSR, Attn. Sherri Daye, 4905 Pine Cone Drive, Suite 2, Durham, NC 27707. Journalistic can return materials to the loaner once the issue is printed.

Although assignments are generally available, we prefer to work with writers who know the quick-service industry and QSR well and can make timely, informed queries. If you feel you bring valuable experience and contacts to QSR, please submit a one- to two-page query.

Address submissions to Sherri Daye, Editor. Otherwise, fax to (919) 489-4767 or mail to 4905 Pine Cone Drive, Suite 2, Durham, NC 27707. We generally respond to queries within six weeks.