Overview
Tech Policy Press is a startup nonprofit media and community venture intended to provoke new ideas, debate, and discussion at the intersection of technology and democracy.
We publish perspective, analysis, and reporting that advances public understanding of key debates at the intersection of technology, policy, and democracy through a global lens.
Our key areas of concern include:
- Concentrations of power:
- the role and interaction of tech platforms, governments and the media and the future of the public sphere;
- Geopolitics of technology:
- how nation states approach technology in the pursuit of advantage;
- Technology and the economy:
- the relationship between markets, business, infrastructure and labor;
- Racism, bigotry, violence & oppression:
- how tech exacerbates or solves such challenges;
- Ethics of Technology:
- how technology should be viewed alongside existing democratic ethos, especially with regard to privacy, surveillance and personal freedoms;
- Election integrity & participation:
- mechanisms of democracy, problems such as disinformation and how citizens come to consensus.
What we’re looking for
We value contributions that are relevant, original, and supported by evidence. We welcome submissions from diverse voices, particularly those that bring attention to issues often overlooked in mainstream discourse.
Perspective: Sharp, informed commentary that surfaces new ideas or challenges current issues by presenting a clear opinion articulating what should or shouldn’t be happening, and what can be done about it.
Analysis: Context-focused, evidence-based analysis on emerging policy debates, legislation, research, and developments in tech policy to help readers understand what’s at stake and why it matters.
We do not publish academic papers or reports. Submissions that arrive in an academic or report format, contain footnotes, or contain complicated datasets or charts will not be considered as written.
Stay on top of the issues we’re covering each week by subscribing to our newsletter.
How to submit
We only consider completed drafts for submission. Our typical articles range between 800 and 1,500 words. Sub should be well-sourced, clear, and written for a policy-literate but non-specialist audience.
To submit your work, email contributions@techpolicy.press the following:
Short overview of your draft: A few sentences describing your piece and why it’s important. Is the piece time-sensitive? How does this connect to recent policy developments? How does your draft add to or differ from what we’ve already published? Kindly confirm in your cover email that this submission is exclusive to Tech Policy Press.
Author bio(s) and headshot(s): Include a 2-3 sentence bio and headshot with your submission. Authors are required to disclose any affiliation or funding that is relevant, or could be perceived to be relevant, to the subject about which they are writing.
We require submissions via Google Docs (with editing access). We encourage you to add hypertext links (no footnotes!) to credible sources to support your claims and provide additional context for readers.
We aim to acknowledge submissions promptly. All submissions are subject to editing for accuracy, conceptual and grammatical clarity, style, and length. Please note: the choice to publish a piece or not is at the sole editorial discretion of Tech Policy Press.
Audience and writing style
Tech Policy Press serves a global audience of policymakers, journalists, lawyers, technologists, researchers, and public policy professionals seeking to unpack how technology shapes rights, governance, and the public interest in different parts of the world.
When writing, be mindful of geographic and cultural references that may not translate universally. Avoid phrases or assumptions that center a single national perspective, such as referring to the United States as “here” or using “we,” “our,” or “us” when discussing US policies or events. Instead, be specific: say “the United States,” “US lawmakers,” or “in the US.”
We encourage contributors to write clearly and avoid jargon. Explain technical or region-specific terms when necessary, and use plain language whenever possible. Writing should be accessible to an informed but non-specialist audience. We use American English and follow modified Associated Press (AP) style.
Republishing
When you contribute to Tech Policy Press, you are giving us permission to publish your article. You are free to publish the work elsewhere with proper attribution, including a clear reference to Tech Policy Press and a link to the original article.
Compensation
At this time, Tech Policy Press does not pay contributors.
Conflicts of interest
All contributors must disclose any conflicts of interest, including affiliations or funding, that are relevant, or could be perceived as relevant, to the subject they are writing about. Disclose it clearly in the piece itself, or in your email to us. Conflicts of interest may not foreclose the publication of a contribution, but making such disclosures helps maintain the editorial integrity of Tech Policy Press and trust with our readers.
Editorial independence
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Tech Policy Press, its Board of Directors, or its Masthead.
Still have questions?
We’re happy to chat. Reach us at contributions@techpolicy.press.
