Contributor Guide for Practitioners and Policy Thinkers
Why This Page Exists
BalangAI exists to demonstrate a simple but urgent idea:
the Philippines’ future does not need to be smaller than its past.
Just as the Balangay vessels once connected Filipino communities to regional trade networks, BalangAI connects practitioner experience to policy audiences.
Many people with real-world experience hesitate to write:
- “I’m not an academic.”
- “My writing isn’t polished.”
- “I’m not sure my experience is worth publishing.”
That hesitation is exactly why BalangAI exists.
We are a platform designed to help practitioners translate field experience, operational lessons, and applied knowledge into clear, credible analysis that decision-makers can actually use.
These guidelines are not barriers.
They are bridges—to help your insights travel farther, clearer, and with impact.
Who Should Contribute
BalangAI supports the professional advancement of national security and peace-building practitioners by providing a platform for rigorous, evidence-based public scholarship. We welcome contributions from active and retired practitioners across defense, law enforcement, civil defense, disaster management, and related fields.
BalangAI welcomes contributions from individuals with knowledge grounded in practice or informed study, including:
- Military, law enforcement, and civil service professionals
- Local government officials and community leaders
- NGO practitioners and field workers
- Academics and researchers engaged in applied work
- Business and civic leaders with relevant experience
Credentials matter less than insight.
If you have seen something work, fail, or deserve serious attention, you have something worth sharing.
What We Publish
BalangAI accepts original work in the following formats:
Long-Form Articles (1,200–3,000 words)
- Strategic analysis and policy essays
- Case studies grounded in field experience
- Practitioner insights and lessons learned
- Reframed Thesis Series (See Guidelines here)
Short-Form Pieces (600–1,200 words)
- Evidence-grounded opinion essays
- Strategic commentary on current issues
- Concept explainers and briefings
Visual and Multimedia Content
- Infographics and explanatory diagrams
- Short educational videos
- Visual explainers that support written analysis
All submissions should advance understanding, not simply state opinions or summarize news.
The Submission Process
Step 1: Submit Your Draft
Send your work in Google Docs, Word, or clean Markdown format. Please include:
- A working title (we can help refine this)
- A 2–3 sentence summary of your main argument (optional but helpful)
- A short professional bio (50–80 words)
Step 2: Editorial Review
The BalangAI editorial team will:
- Review your submission for relevance and clarity
- Provide feedback on structure, argument, or sourcing if needed
- Work with you on revisions, where appropriate
This is a collaborative process, not a gatekeeping exercise.
Step 3: Publication
Once approved:
- Your work is published on BalangAI
- It may be shared through BalangAI’s platforms and networks
- You retain ownership and may reference or republish your work elsewhere with proper attribution
Using AI as a Writing Tool
At BalangAI, AI functions like a modern sail—a capability that helps ideas move farther and faster when guided by human judgment.
AI Can Help You:
- Organize your thoughts into a clear structure
- Improve grammar, clarity, and flow
- Translate technical or operational concepts for broader audiences
- Create supporting visuals or diagrams
You Remain in Control:
- Your argument, position, and insights must be your own
- You are responsible for accuracy and integrity
- AI assists with expression—it does not replace expertise
Think of AI as an editorial assistant, not a ghostwriter.
If you are unsure how to use AI responsibly, the BalangAI editorial team can guide you.
Standards and Expectations
To ensure your work reaches decision-makers effectively, submissions should demonstrate:
- A clear thesis or central argument
- Logical structure and coherent flow
- Factual accuracy and historical integrity
- Professional, respectful tone
- Relevance to peace, security, governance, or development
BalangAI Does Not Publish:
- Personal attacks or defamatory content
- Partisan campaign material
- Unsubstantiated claims presented as fact
- Content that creates operational or public safety risks
If you are unsure whether your piece meets these standards, submit it anyway.
We prefer guidance and revision over silent rejection.
Accuracy and Sourcing
BalangAI distinguishes between:
- Fact – verifiable claims that should be supportable
- Assessment – reasoned judgment based on evidence
- Opinion – values-based positions
- Hypothesis – ideas requiring further validation
You do not need formal academic citations for everything.
However, major factual claims should be supportable.
Do not include classified, restricted, or sensitive information, even if it strengthens your argument.
Safety and Operational Sensitivity
BalangAI covers topics where careless publication can cause real-world harm. Please avoid:
- Disclosing classified or operationally sensitive information
- Revealing tactics, vulnerabilities, or patterns that could enable harm
- Identifying private individuals in ways that expose them to risk
- Providing detailed “how-to” guidance for violence or wrongdoing
When in doubt, consult the editorial team.
We may suggest redactions or timing adjustments to protect people and operations while preserving your core insights.
Your Rights and Responsibilities
You Retain Ownership
By submitting to BalangAI, you grant non-exclusive rights to publish and archive your work. You may republish it elsewhere with attribution to BalangAI.
You Are Responsible For:
- Accuracy and integrity of your content
- Declaring conflicts of interest
- Respecting confidentiality and professional ethics
- Not misrepresenting your credentials or experience
BalangAI Will:
- Provide editorial feedback and support
- Edit for clarity and consistency (with your review)
- Credit you properly and include your professional bio
- Uphold a serious, professional publishing environment
Ready to Contribute?
If you have something worth saying, we will help you say it well.
📩 For manuscript submissions, please use the editorial submission form below.
For general inquiries, you may contact: contact@balangai.org
👉 For institutional rules governing publication, see:
Content & Editorial Policy