Send us your news
We welcome tip offs, research papers, and press releases – always make sure we can email and call you back. Send your email to our Editorial Director, lisecolyer@quota.media.
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Call Quota on +44 (0)203 951 8831. Our advertising packages celebrate your brand values and raise your profile among food systems peers. For more information visit this page.
Write for Quota
We welcome submissions, but please read our guidelines first.
Word count
Generally no more than 750 words. A long-read can be more, but usually it’s under 2,000 words.
Angle
A Quota story answers the questions:
- How does this support food security?
- What do researchers, policy and humanitarian specialists, and corporate decision-makers need to know about this?
Usually this will be answered by quotes from a relevant specialist in each group.
There is a devastating locust plague in East Africa, so:
- What are humanitarian agencies doing about it?
- How much government funding it at risk?
- What does it mean for business – the supply chains of which companies will be affected and how?
- Is there relevant research that could have prevented this or will help to resolve it?
Quota’s interest lies with the possible outcome of co-ordinated efforts. We like to know:
- Which key parties should be getting together to address this?
- What difference would it make if they did?
Generally non-experts will not have a place in a Quota article. We wouldn’t quote a politician making a government announcement. Instead, we’d like to hear from the policy maker behind the announcement, the business that has to respond to the news, and the researcher analysing the announcement’s impact.
Anonymity
We will publish commentary from unnamed specialists and respect a request for anonymity, as long as our editorial team has been furnished with their contact details, details of their expertise, and solid reasons for needing to speak anonymously.
Quota style
Our style speaks to the professional nature of our audience, reflecting clear thinking and plain English over business jargon and puff.
For advice on good writing, we recommend the introduction to The Economist Style Guide . Please refer in particular to George Orwell’s six elementary rules.
Quota’s style defaults to British English, used also by the European Union, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Transparency International, International Olympic Committee and many other world bodies.
If you’re unsure about using capitals, or other points of style, we generally follow The Guardian and Observer’s choices .
Format and email address
Please send your submissions as Word documents, in Arial 11 with double spacing between each paragraph.
Include your byline in the Word document under the headline.
Include your telephone number and email address in your submission email and at the bottom of your article in the Word document.
Use your headline in the subject field and email your document to submissions@quota.media.
Our Team
Gavin WrenGavin Wren is a co-founder of Quota. He is a renowned consultant in the food policy and academic sectors, aiming to influence business choices and to improve food systems. His work on food waste has garnered international acclaim on TikTok.
Lise ColyerLise Colyer is a founding editor of Quota. She seeks to improve food systems by communicating effectively across the business, policy and research sectors. Contact LiseColyer@quota.media.
Corinna HawkesProfessor Corinna Hawkes is Director of the Centre for Food Policy at City University of London, UK. With over 20 years’ experience working with UN agencies, national and city governments, NGOs, think tanks and academia, her work supports the design of more effective action throughout the food system to improve diets, from local-level initiatives to national policies and global strategies. She has worked for the World Health Organization in Geneva, the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington DC, the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, the World Cancer Research Fund International in London and as Co-Chair of the Global Nutrition Report. She is also Vice Chair of London’s Child Obesity Taskforce and a Distinguished Fellow at the George Institute for Global Health. She blogs at www.thebetterfoodjourney.com
Alice JervoiseAlice is an intern at Quota Media, focusing on the role of business in food systems. Alice recently graduated from a master’s degree in International Development and Food Systems at the University of Sussex, where she specialised in sustainable supply chain management, forest and biodiversity conservation, and international climate finance. Before that, Alice worked in corporate sustainability consultancy, supporting companies to design and deliver their sustainability strategies and goals. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Leeds.
Chiara PiaChiara Pia is a recent graduate in Sustainable Food Systems with a background in Political Sciences. Her research focuses on the effects that public policy has on food systems. She also studies the possibilities to increase sustainability in livestock farming and meat consumption. Her other fields of interest are agroecology, resilience, market concentration in the food chain, and how these can affect food security, sustainability and climate change.
Ellen NorrisEllen Norris is an intern at Quota Media. She has recently completed an MA in English Literature at Cardiff University and is passionate about food journalism. Ellen believes that research into food systems is essential.
Helen Fielding (ANutr)Helen is a AfN accredited Registered Associate Nutritionist and intern at Quota. She studied BSc (Hons) Nutritional Science at Manchester Metropolitan University and is currently studying for her Masters degree in Global Health at King’s College London. Additionally, she has a varied and expansive background ranging from work with food poverty charities, health promotion events, educational outreach, and sports and exercise coaching.
Jake WilliamsJake studied agri-food systems at university. He believes they are fundamental to improving human wellbeing, by eradicating hunger and safeguarding the environment. Jake enjoys the multifaceted nature of food system studies. His specific areas of interest include novel food production systems, sustainable development and food trade and politics.
James FossJames has a passion for the circular economy, regenerative agriculture, and environmental policy. He is keen to address food waste, which has been described as the mother of all systemic problems.
Lily DavisonLily Davison is a Digital Marketing intern with a background of education in the sustainability sector. Lily is currently pursuing a master’s in Environmental Policy and Management at the University of Bristol, where she also graduated with honours in Geographical Sciences BSc. She is deeply passionate about the future for food sustainability and recognises that there must be an extensive change in the way we think about food and policy. Here, Lily realises the potential that social media has in addressing this issue and is, therefore helping Quota build a coherent platform to do so.
Megan DennyMegan is a University of Bristol English graduate, currently based in North Yorkshire. She enjoys using her writing skills to create strong, clear messages, and has channelled this passion into roles across reviewing, communications, and recruitment. Having completed her degree in July 2020, Megan is now excited to be joining Quota Media as a Writing and Research intern. She is particularly interested in the ways that food systems shape issues at the heart of society, and is looking forward to showcasing the most important messages surrounding food news, science, and politics.
Becky FletcherBecky Fletcher has an interest in sustainability, food security and culture. From February 2021, she will be studying for an MSc in Sustainable Development at the University of Surrey.
