Wiki Categories Archives: Civilian Publications

Monterey County Weekly

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Monterey County Weekly

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.mcweekly.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: “For years our unofficial focus has been on a triple-bottom line: people, planet and profits. Our mission is to inspire independent thinking and conscious action, etc. With a print, web, mobile, tablet and video platform, we’ve become Media for the 21st Century. 1

“As the largest circulation newspaper in one of the most spectacular counties in America, Monterey County Weekly has long been recognized for its thoughtful, provocative and engaging coverage of news, arts and entertainment.”2

Target audience: Local residents of Monterey County and the Central Coast of California.3

Publisher: Milestone Communications, Inc. 4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: Civilian, alternative news sources.6

Medium: Print, website, and e-newsletter. 7

Content: Local news, opinion articles, entertainment and events, food, culture, and more.8

Frequency of publication: Print is available every Thursday at 900 locations (paid subscription includes home delivery), website and e-newsletter content updates daily 9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submission guidelines are found under the FAQ’s here, http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/site/faq.html

Types of contributions accepted: News tips, story ideas, letters and comments to the editor, ideas for local arts and entertainment, and sharing photographs and art with the community. 10

Submission and review process: Use the Tipline form to submit items for consideration.

Editorial tone: Casual, hip, alternative, informed, liberal.11

Style guide used: None noted.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

If you are familiar with local library news or literary events, you have a good chance of getting published. The Monterey County Weekly often seeks talented writers who can support a liberal view and investigate news carefully. Library issues are not often covered, but there is a literary scene here and it deserves coverage as related to libraries.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “Monterey County Weekly (print) has over 90,640 readers per week. We are the largest circulated print publication in Monterey County; 100%-200% larger readership than any local daily. The website has over 1,000,000 page views per month, with over 320,000 unique visitors. The e-newsletter has nearly 46,000 subscribers. The mobile application has more than 250,000 visitors each month. 12

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Northern Monterey County to southern Monterey County, possibly into Santa Cruz.13 The language is primarily English, but there is a large population of Spanish speakers in this area.

Reader characteristics:  According to the 2020 media kit, 76% of readers are between the ages of 25-54 with 42yrs being the median age. 76% of readers have a college education, with 10% having post graduate degrees. The median household income of readers is $92,850. 14

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Audience is generally well educated, so they may be familiar with public library processes and trends but not familiar with LIS jargon or in-depth subject matter.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Readers of this publication will likely be interested in library causes and library events. Opinion pieces involving local libraries and advocacy would do well. This is also a good forum to advertise library events and happenings within the community. The readers most likely support local causes and social issues. They would likely be strong supporters of libraries and freedom of speech and expression.

Last updated: November 8, 2020


References

Show 14 footnotes

  1. “Mission & Company Culture.”, MontereyCountyWeekly.com, accessed November 8, 2020, https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/site/mission__company_culture.html
  2. “About Us,” MontereyCountyWeekly.com, accessed October 14, 2016, http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/site/about.html
  3. “About Us.”
  4. “About Us.”
  5. “About Us.”
  6. “About Us.”
  7. “About Us.”
  8. “Monterey County Weekly,” MontereyCountyWeekly.com, accessed September 30, 2018, http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/
  9. “About Us.”
  10. “Tipline.”, MontereyCountyWeekly.com, accessed November 8, 2020, https://tipline.montereycountyweekly.com/
  11. “About Us.”
  12. “About Us.”
  13. “About Us.”
  14. “Media Kit.”, MontereyCountyWeekly.com, accessed November 8, 2020, https://mediakit.montereycountyweekly.com/
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The Press Democrat

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: The Press Democrat

ISSN: 0747-220X (Print)1

Website: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “The North Bay’s leading daily news, sports, entertainment and information resource for more than 150 years. Includes a Pulitzer Prize-winning daily newspaper, affiliated websites, electronic replica editions, and special magazines and other products. A member of The Associated Press and the California Newspapers Publishers Association.” 2

Target audience: California’s Sonoma County and surrounding counties, including Lake and Mendocino counties. 3

Publisher: Sonoma Media Investments, LLC.4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: Civilian newspaper.

Medium: Print and online.6

Content: “Fresh local news & views, access to the latest in sports, entertainment, shopping and dining venues and other interactive tools such as local weather and real time traffic reports. The site covers Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties with continuously updated news, weather, sports, entertainment, events, blogs, photos, videos and more. It also includes real-time news from the Bay Area, the state, the nation and the world.” 7

Frequency of publication: Daily circulation in Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino Counties. 8

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: To find information on how to submit for publication, please view the website’s FAQ page.

Types of contributions accepted: The Press Democrat accepts Opinion pieces under their “Close to Home” section. Opinion pieces should be no more than 600 words. 9

The Press Democrat also accepts Letters to the Editor. “Clear, brief letters on a single subject are most likely to be published. Those selected might be edited. Because of space constraints and the volume of reader mail, Letters to the Editor are limited to 200 words. 10

The Press Democrat also accepts some press releases. These should be directed to the reporter or editor covering your topic of interest.” 11

Submission and review process: All submissions must be sent via email and include full name and contact information. “Please avoid blanketing editors and reporters with the same press release. Responses cannot be made to press releases because of the large number that arrive daily in the newsroom. Press releases are used based on newsworthiness and not all can be published or used for an article.” 12

Editorial tone: Informative.

Style guide used: None stated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

For authors in the Sonoma County and surrounding area, this may be an opportunity to connect with their community and promote their library. For example, an opinion piece concerning library use or funding. As of November 2020, performing a search of the website did not yield any articles on LIS, so this may be an untapped resource for LIS authors looking to publish their work. While The Press Democrat does publish on global news, an LIS author would most likely have a greater chance of being published if he/she/they focused on LIS programs, services, trends, and community involvement on a local level.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation:  “Today, with a readership of about a quarter million adults, The Press Democrat is the largest newspaper between San Francisco and the Oregon border.” 13

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Readers likely reside in the Sonoma County and surrounding area.  English language publication serving a community that includes a variety of cultures including Spanish speaking population.

Reader characteristics: 58% of readers are 18-49 years of age. 48% of readers are men, 52% are women. 72% have attended college. 69% earn 50,000+. 47% of weekday readers have Professional/Managerial careers and 56% are in Sales. 14 (*As of November 8, 2020, these statistics cannot be confirmed as the advertising section has been updated and does not include demographics)

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Little, if any, knowledge of LIS subject matter.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Due to readers’ common interest in news and events of their community, writers have the opportunity to promote libraries and educate readers on the opportunities available at their local library.

Last updated: November 8, 2020


References

Show 14 footnotes

  1.  The Press Democrat, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 27, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1522199199178/552228
  2. “Advertising.”, SonomaMediaInvestments.com, accessed November 8, 2020, https://www.sonomamediainvestments.com/division/the-press-democrat/
  3. “About the Press Democrat,” PressDemocrat.com, accessed October 26, 2016, http://www.pressdemocrat.com/about
  4. “About the Press Democrat.”
  5. “About the Press Democrat.”
  6. “About the Press Democrat.”
  7. “About the Press Democrat.”
  8. “Advertising.”
  9. “Opinion.”, PressDemocrat.com, accessed November 8, 2020, https://www.pressdemocrat.com/opinion/?ref=menu
  10. “FAQ.”, PressDemocrat.com, accessed November 8, 2020, https://www.pressdemocrat.com/faq/?ref=footer
  11. “FAQ.”
  12. “FAQ”
  13. “About the Press Democrat.”
  14. “The Audience.”,  SonomaMediaInvestments.com, accessed October 26, 2016, https://www.sonomamediainvestments.com/advertise/
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Marketingprofs

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: MarketingProfs

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.marketingprofs.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “MarketingProfs is the one source that individual marketers, marketing teams, and some of the world’s largest organizations turn to for modern marketing tools, training, strategies, articles, online seminars, discussion forums, and much more. Our educational materials will give you or your team real-world solutions to common and not-so-common marketing problems. Our experts also provide strategies for various types of marketing, from email to social media and beyond. For upcoming events, professional development, and industry trends, check out our resources below and prepare to take your marketing to a new level of excellence.”1

Target audience: Marketing, business professionals, small business owners, and entrepreneurs.2

Publisher: MarketingProfs LLC. 3

Peer reviewed? No. 4

Type: Civilian website and newsletter for business professionals and others interested in marketing. 5

Medium: Online. 6

Content: Articles and opinion pieces about marketing, as well as summaries of research findings and infographics. 7

Frequency of publication: MarketingProfs Today publishes daily content and MarketingProfs Weekly combines the best articles of the week. 8

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.marketingprofs.com/write-for-us

Types of contributions accepted: “MarketingProfs focuses on enterprise (i.e., large-company) business-to-business (B2B) marketing-related content (and on some topics that broadly apply to all marketing). The following are the topics MarketingProfs covers. If the subject of your contributed “how to” article or thought-leadership piece does not relate to one of the following, we’re unlikely to consider it for publication. What we don’t publish: case studies and press releases. ” 9

“Do think of these, however, as broad categories rather than narrow topics:

  • Demand Generation & Management
  • Marketing Metrics & Measurement
  • Email Marketing
  • Marketing Operations & Management
  • Account-Based Marketing (ABM)
  • Marketing Automation
  • Social Media/Influencer Marketing
  • Competitive Analysis/Competition
  • Content Marketing
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Types of Content We Publish

Here’s a list of what we publish from guest contributors:

  • Bylined “how-to” articles for our website and thrice-weekly newsletter, MarketingProfs Today
  • Summaries of research findings based on polls, surveys, and research studies conducted by marketers, academia, PR firms, and other researchers
  • Bylined thought-leadership articles (op/ed-type pieces), but we accept only those that offer particularly valuable insights and views that can’t easily be found elsewhere
  • Infographics” 10

Submission and review process: “Our publication queue for contributed articles can be up to 3-4 months long. To ensure our article backlog doesn’t grow, we publish only the most useful articles for our audience; accordingly, we tend to be highly selective. Articles should be at least 800-1,000 words, but not much more than 1,200 or so. Feel free to include images, charts, graphs, and the like—but only if they help convey a point. Include a brief bio of 25 words, including LinkedIn and Twitter contact info, if available, and a recent headshot (make sure the upper half of your torso is also in the picture).” 11

“If your article is accepted for publication, we will inform you; expect to hear from us within a week or two of our having received your email. If we don’t accept your article, you may or may not hear from us, depending on how crowded our inbox is. If you haven’t followed the  guidelines, you likely won’t hear back.” 12

Editorial tone: None Specified.

Style guide used: Be sure to read through all of the instructions on the Write for MarketingProfs web page. Failure to adhere to their guidelines could result in a rejection. “Your article will be edited for clarity and brevity, and to conform to the MarketingProfs house style.”13

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication would have potential for a writer with a background or interest in marketing. Most librarians have experience in marketing, if not formal training, to ensure their libraries survive and thrive. For example, an author could write about their experience and how it can be applied outside the library.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 400,000 registered subscribers, with 8,000 new subscribers each month,  and 330,000 unique website visitors a month. MarketingProfs has 600,000+ followers on social media. 14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: MarketingProfs has a global reach, though 67% of users reside in North America. More than 40% are Director-level or above, half come from businesses with over 250 employees, with readership within the top three industries for marketing: technology, manufacturing, and banking/financial. 15 Authors should be aware of the corporate culture, as many readers are employed at businesses and large organizations. Marketing language and jargon might be used and understood among the readers of this publication.

Reader characteristics: Readers are marketing professionals. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, marketing professionals usually have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business with an emphasis on marketing. Most of these professionals would also have strong computer and technological skills, and people in this field are “creative, highly motivated, resistant to stress, flexible, and decisive.”16 Considering that the site is designed for a very specific audience, it can be assumed that the readers will share similar professional interests.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will likely not be familiar or have knowledge of library and information science subject matter, unless the reader works in a library.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

An author should write very professional level articles that address new and exciting ideas in marketing. An article on marketing library services may be well received, but only if the article contains marketing approaches that can be applied to other types of organizations and businesses. Another type of article that might be well received is an article on technology in the library, and the use of technology to market the library effectively. Many of the articles published in MarketingProfs are technology oriented.

Last updated: November 8, 2020


References

Show 16 footnotes

  1. “MarketingProfs,” MarketingProfs.com, accessed October 11, 2016,  http://www.marketingprofs.com
  2. “MarketingProfs.”
  3. “MarketingProfs.”
  4. “Write for MarketingProfs,” MarketingProfs.com, accessed October 11, 2016,  http://www.marketingprofs.com/write-for-us
  5. “MarketingProfs.”
  6. “About Us.” MarketingProfs.com, accessed October 11, 2016, https://www.marketingprofs.com/about/
  7. “Write for MarketingProfs.”
  8. “Newsletter.”, MarketingProfs.com, accessed November 8, 2020, https://www.marketingprofs.com/newsletters/marketing/
  9. “Write for MarketingProfs.”
  10. “Write for MarketingProfs”
  11. “Write for MarketingProfs.”
  12. “Write for MarketingProfs.”
  13. “Write for MarketingProfs.”
  14. “Our Audience,” Services.MarketingProfs.com, accessed November 8, 2020, http://services.marketingprofs.com/our-audience/
  15. “Our Audience.”
  16. “Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers,” BLS.gov, accessed October 11, 2016, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm
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The Chronicle of Higher Education

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: The Chronicle of Higher Education

ISSN: 0009-5982(Print) and 1931-1362 (Online)1

Website: http://chronicle.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “The Chronicle of Higher Education has the nation’s largest newsroom dedicated to covering colleges and universities. As the unrivaled leader in higher education journalism, we serve our readers with indispensable real-time news and deep insights, plus the essential tools, career opportunities, and knowledge to succeed in a rapidly changing world.” 2

“Higher-ed professionals rely on The Chronicle for unbiased, engaging content to help their students, institutions, and careers.”  3

Target audience: Higher education faculty and administration.4

Publisher: Chronicle of Higher Education, Inc.5

Peer reviewed? No. 6

Type: Civilian; though it does sometimes carry articles of interest to or authored by librarians, it is mainly for the general administration and faculty. 7

Medium: Print and online.8

Content: The website contains news, featured stories, opinion pieces, advice columns, job listings, and career-building tools such as online CV management and salary databases. The print magazine includes news, jobs, and The Chronicle Review. 9

The Chronicle Review is a weekly magazine of ideas. We publish essays, review essays, book reviews, and reporting on academic, intellectual, and cultural affairs. 10

Frequency of publication: The Chronicle updates its website daily and is available bi-weekly in print. 11

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.chronicle.com/page/contact-us

Types of contributions accepted: The Chronicle welcomes correspondence, manuscripts, and proposals for articles from our readers. Articles and letters may appear in our print edition, our website, or both. We publish essays, review essays, book reviews, and reporting on academic, intellectual, and cultural affairs. We consider unsolicited submissions; however, please read The Review before submitting your work to familiarize yourself with what we publish. 12

Commentary and Views:
“We consider articles or proposals for articles that express an opinion on issues and policies affecting higher education as well as those that explore, through the author’s personal experience, some aspect of the larger academic community. All Commentary and Views submissions should be 1,000 to 1,200 words and should contain URL links to source material for facts and figures mentioned in the essay.” 13

Advice
“We publish first-person and advice columns on topics including the job market and the hiring process in academe; the graduate-school experience, tenure and promotion, the administrative career path, and career options for Ph.D.’s; professional challenges in research, publishing, teaching, and service work; academic culture; and balancing work and family. Essays should be 1,000 to 1,500 words and written in a conversational, journalistic style.” 14

Letters
“Please make your points as concisely as possible. We will not publish letters longer than 350 words, and all letters will be edited to conform to our style.” 15

“The Chronicle welcomes news pitches that pertain to higher education, but note that in a typical week, our reporting staff receives hundreds of them. We’re writing for a national audience, so a successful pitch will not only point out a compelling local story, but will also be relevant to administrators, professors, and higher-education observers across the country.” 16

Submission and review process: The decision to accept or reject a manuscript rarely takes more than a week. All accepted essays and articles are rigorously edited and fact-checked. Authors have the opportunity to review and approve a manuscript before it’s published. The editors of The Review will decide where and when the piece is published, with some articles appearing only online.17

Editorial tone: Journalistic and conversational.

Style guide used: None specified. “While we cover the academy, we are not a scholarly journal. Essays should be written in a clear, informal style free of jargon and accessible to nonspecialists.” 18

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Because of the publication frequency and the audience that this newspaper serves, this is a good place for the new author to publish. You don’t necessarily have to work in academe, but it helps. Academic librarians, along with information professionals with an interest in education or pedagogy, would be welcomed here. This publication is an informal counterpart to academic journals, a sort of cocktail hour where academics can mull over or vent about relevant issues within and outside of their field. Interested authors will be intelligent, educated and independent thinkers with something interesting to say.

Also, the wide variety of pieces found in the The Chronicle makes it very easy to find something to write about that, if written in a clear prose style, has a decent chance of being published. Book reviews are a natural, but the longer commentary pieces on some topical tempest occurring in the academy are always a good bet. Because so many write under pen names, the odds of a new author being accepted seem high.

Because of its eclectic content, others working in academe will also find something interesting in The Chronicle of Higher Education. While this publication is definitely written for those with careers in higher education, LIS authors with an interest in teaching will find something of interest here as well.

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “Our award-winning journalism is well-known at colleges and universities: More than 2 million people visit our website every month, and 1,650 organizations across the country make our journalism available to every one of their employees and students.”19

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Though The Chronicle claims to be the main source of the goings on in higher education, it does tend to concentrate on the English-speaking world of the United States and sometimes Canada and the United Kingdom.20

Reader characteristics: According to The Chronicle’s advertising materials, “86% of readers are decision makers and influencers at their institutions. 54% are in senior leadership positions at their institutions. 92% hold a master’s degree or higher. 60% have a doctorate degree. Readership includes 90% of the buying power in all of U.S. higher education and 90% of the top 300 research institutions in the U.S.” 21

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: While the readership may garnish accolades in the higher education arena, they may still lack knowledge in LIS jargon, processes, and trends/innovations.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

The readers are well educated and very interested in their profession and the culture of academe as a whole. Writing for The Chronicle would be an excellent way to increase understanding of library issues (such as information literacy) and market the library’s relevance to other professions. Intellectual and academic freedom, new issues in purchasing and providing content such as e-journals, information literacy, and services to disadvantaged groups would be other issues that would resonate with this readership.

An LIS professional writing for this audience would not have much additional work to do, so long as he or she has something interesting and informed to write about. While this is not the place for scholarly work, readers do enjoy learning about new research or reading critiques of articles they’ve read in an entertaining format. They want to read shop talk, stay informed in their field, and feel connected to issues in the larger world.

This would be a good place to write an opinion piece about an LIS issue that touches on education, society or academe, or review a work that touches on these same issues. Todd Gilman, Librarian for Literature in English at Yale University and a Lecturer at San Jose State University, has published articles about distance education, special collections, research skills and information literacy, and other topics that connect libraries and academe in The Chronicle.

Last updated: November 7, 2020


References

Show 21 footnotes

  1.  The Chronicle of Higher Education, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed November 7, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/search/1601911248
  2. “About Us.”, www.chronicle.com, accessed November 7, 2020, https://www.chronicle.com/page/about-us/
  3. “Advertising.”, chronicle.com, accessed November 7, 2020, https://marketingsolutions.chronicle.com/
  4. “About Us.”
  5. “About Us.”
  6. “Contact Us.”, Chronicle.com, accessed November 7, 2020, https://www.chronicle.com/page/contact-us
  7. “About Us.”
  8. “About Us.”
  9. “About Us.”
  10. “Contact Us.”
  11. “About Us.”
  12. “Contact Us.”
  13. “Contact Us.”
  14. “Contact Us.”
  15. “Contact Us.”
  16. “Contact Us.”
  17. “Contact Us.”
  18. “Contact Us.”
  19. “About Us.”
  20. “About Us.”
  21. “Advertising.”
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Inside Higher Ed

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Inside Higher Ed 

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://www.insidehighered.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission:  “Delivering independent news and analysis that informs the world about higher education, while providing essential tools and services to help organizations and professionals be more effective.”1

Target audience: “. . . all of higher education — individuals, institutions, corporations and nonprofits. . . .”2

Publisher: Inside Higher Ed Inc.3

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian publication.

Medium: Online.

Content: News articles, recommendations and advice columns focused on topics and issues in higher education. The website also features job postings and career advice columns. 

Frequency of publication: Content is added to the website frequently. 

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.insidehighered.com/content/general-guidelines-submissions-inside-higher-ed

Types of contributions accepted: Submissions for the Views, Letters to the editor, and Careers sections are accepted.

Submission and review process: All submissions should be between 1,000 and 1,500 words. Articles and proposals for pieces should be sent to editor [at] insidehighered.com, letters to the editor should be sent to letters [at] insidehighered.com and all submissions should be sent as an attachment with “the author’s name, title, organizational affiliation and contact information on that attachment.”4 Only pieces that have not been published in other online or print publications will be accepted (personal blogs excluded). Additionally, footnotes are not published and authors should instead link to their sources of information within their pieces. It can take up to two weeks for editors to review the submission and discuss among themselves; after that period, editors will inform the submitter of their decision to publish the piece or not. 

Views are articles “that have a strong point of view and that give our readers recommendations for new policies, strategies, actions or ways of thinking about issues in higher education.”5 Authors are encouraged to submit pieces that cover new topics, dispute the current way of thinking, and debunk myths.6

Articles in the Career section should be focused on giving advice to faculty and staff at higher education institutions, as well as graduate students. “Topics include searching for a job, managing and reporting to others, publishing, the graduate school experience, and other subjects related to careers in higher education.”7 Inside Higher Ed is also interested in pieces with a focus on teaching and working with students virtually or in person. 

Letters to the editor should be used to respectfully challenge the views or opinions that were included in an article published on Inside Higher Ed’s website. The letter should also refer back to the article being challenged. “We will aim to publish letters that add to the debate on an issue and say something different from what’s been said to date. A letter that simply repeats the points made by previously [sic] letters may not be printed.”8

Editorial tone: There are no guidelines listed, however, Inside Higher Ed states that the readers enjoy the publication because of the independent voice, and “. . . thoughtful and substantive analysis on the pressing issues facing higher education today.”9

Style guide used: A style guide could not be located. 

Conclusion: Evaluation of the publication’s potential for LIS authors

A search of the term “library” on the site only returned a few results directly related to academic libraries. Authors could capitalize on this gap and bring more exposure to issues, news, and careers within academic libraries at higher education institutions. Timely examples include discussion of the shift from in-person to virtual library services, how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the author’s library (funding, staffing, services offered, etc.), or unconventional services being offered by academic libraries. 

Additionally, graduate students can gain publication experience by submitting pieces to the Careers section that give graduate school advice, whether LIS specific or general.

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: On a monthly basis, Inside Higher Ed’s website sees 3.67 million unique visitors and a total of 7.5 million visitors.10 Inside Higher Ed’s Daily News Update is a daily email to subscribers that includes news, opinions, and jobs.11 There are 175,000 subscribers to the Daily News Update and 41% of subscribers read the Daily News Update every day.12 78% of these subscribers also read Inside Higher Ed at least once each week. 

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Inside Higher Ed reports that 80% of readers are domestic and 20% are international.13

Reader characteristics: Readers of Inside Higher Ed are educated individuals with decision making and/or purchasing power at their institutions: “88% of our administrative and faculty readers have purchasing influence; 64% of readers with budgetary influence are directly responsible for making the ultimate purchase decision; 66% of our higher ed readers are administrators and 29% are in faculty, teaching or research positions; 83% of our readers have a master’s degree of [sic] higher. 37% have a doctorate.”14

Readers’ knowledge of LIS subject matter: While readers of Inside Higher Ed are very familiar with higher education, and therefore probably with academic libraries, readers will most likely not be familiar with LIS topics or jargon. 

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors 

Publishing in Inside Higher Ed gives authors the opportunity to capitalize on the lack of articles on academic libraries and gain experience publishing in a well-read civilian publication. 

Last updated: October 31, 2020


References

Show 14 footnotes

  1. “About Us”, InsideHigherEd.com, accessed October 24, 2020, https://about.insidehighered.com/
  2. About Us.
  3. “Ownership Statement”, InsideHigherEd.com, accessed October 24, 2020, https://about.insidehighered.com/ownership-statement
  4. “General Guidelines for Submission to Inside Higher Ed”, InsideHigherEd.com, accessed October 24, 2020, https://www.insidehighered.com/content/general-guidelines-submissions-inside-higher-ed
  5. General Guidelines for Submissions to Inside Higher Ed.”
  6. General Guidelines for Submissions to Inside Higher Ed.
  7. General Guidelines for Submission to Inside Higher Ed.”
  8. General Guidelines for Submission to Inside Higher Ed.”
  9. About Us.
  10. “Marketing Solutions”, InsideHigherEd.com, accessed October 25, 2020, https://about.insidehighered.com/marketing-solutions
  11. “Subscribe to Inside Higher Ed”, InsideHigherEd.com, accessed October 25, 2020, https://www.insidehighered.com/content/sign-inside-higher-eds-newsletters
  12. Marketing Solutions.
  13. Marketing Solutions.
  14. Marketing Solutions.
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Budget Travel

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Budget Travel

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.budgettravel.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: Per their website, “Budget Travel inspires and empowers savvy travelers to see more for less. We specialize in U.S. domestic travel, including great American and Canadian road trips, cool small towns, great deals on hotel rooms, three-day weekends, national and state parks, ‘locals know best’ coverage of mid-size American cities, round-ups of the best budget destinations in America, cruises, island escapes, and start-today tips and how-to stories.”1

“Budget Travel is an award-winning multiplatform media brand that shares its inspiring and empowering message across BudgetTravel.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, free e-newsletters, our “Book a Hotel” tool, and television segments on The Weather Channel, CNBC, New York’s PIX11 Morning News, and more.” 2

“Budget Travel provides readers with the how-to advice they won’t find elsewhere: Destinations where the dollar goes the farthest; authentic, under-the-radar hotels and inns; and a template for getting the most from each travel experience.” 3

Target audience:  Travelers within the United States.

Publisher: Lonely Planet Global, Inc. 4

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian.

Medium: Online.

Content: Each issue contains feature articles and a number of short items presented in regular columns and departments. Articles cover regional, national (USA), and international destinations; travel tips; strategies for planning and economizing; and events and trends in the travel industry that may affect consumers. The website is similar in scope and includes a number of “quick hit” items along with various tools to plan and to book travel and accommodations.

Frequency of publication: Frequent, almost daily online content.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: The “Contact Us” page provides a generalized submissions form.

Types of contributions accepted: No information is provided. Writers should likely send a query through the submission form on the “Contact Us” page.

Submission and review process: No current information is provided, previously the website has stated, “To be considered, email a copy of published work as a sample, your pitch (not a completed article) and a cover letter to info@BudgetTravel.com .”5

Editorial tone: This is not mentioned in the submissions information on the website. A review of sample articles gives an impression of a breezy, chatty tone. Some articles consist of very short descriptive listings built around a theme; some are written in the first or second person. The approach is informative, but subjective rather than authoritative and impartial.

Style guide used: Not specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The potential here is possibly more for personal satisfaction than for career development. Those needing scholarly venues would find this of little benefit. But it could be a good fit for someone working in a public library or similar context. Libraries can be useful for gathering information about travel destinations, transportation, accommodations, and a variety of travel-related odds and ends. One can imagine articles describing how to effectively use library resources for travel preparation, but it may be more productive for a library writer to do the research and compile the results into a variety of lively, practical articles. For example, a writer might find ways to package research around different themes, including destinations, tips and tricks, lists, short annotations, and reviews of publications (e.g., bed and breakfast directories, travel writing).

Example of an article published in 2019: 8 Quirky Hotel Libraries You’ll Want to Book a Flight Just to Visit

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The 2020 media kit states the website has 150k unique website visitors per month, 450k email subscribers, and an engaged audience across platforms of over 4.5 million. 6

Audience location and language or cultural considerationsBudget Travel publishes content regarding travel destinations within the United States, as well as information and travel tips for US-Americans who want to travel internationally. The content is published in English. There are some cultural considerations in the articles published, but only as it pertains to travel destinations.

Reader characteristics: The 2020 media kit provides audience demographic information collected in 2019. It shows the average household income for readers is $100k or less and the average age range of reader’s is 25-55. 7

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: None expected nor indicated. It would be highly unlikely the general audience would understand LIS subject matter and/or LIS Jargon.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Busy and time-sensitive readers suggest a need for specifics on what to do and how to it. In a jargon-free approach, authors can remind readers that information organizations can provide a lot of knowledge on travelling and destinations. There is the added possibility of promoting specific institutions for their unique features and services. People who travel for pleasure are typically interested in touring/observing architecture and design, as well as places that can provide history and story.

Last updated: October 25, 2020


References

Show 7 footnotes

  1. “About Us.”, BudgetTravel.com, accessed September 21, 2018, http://www.budgettravel.com/about-us/
  2. “About Us.”
  3. “Media Kit.”, BudgetTravel.com, accessed October 25, 2020,  https://www.budgettravel.com/media-kit
  4. “Legal.”, lonelyplanet.com, accessed October 25, 2020, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/legal/website-terms
  5. “Contact Us”
  6. “Media Kit.”
  7. “Media Kit.”
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Pittsburgh City Paper

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Pittsburgh City Paper

ISSN: 1066-00621

Website: http://www.pghcitypaper.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: This publication provides weekly information on current local news about entertainment, events, politics, sports, and other local interests. Most readers look to this as a guide for weekly events.2

“As Pittsburgh’s independent voice, we offer a unique prospective on local politics and news, intelligent and fresh cultural reporting, the most comprehensive calendar of events, and stories you will not find anywhere else.” 3

Target audience: Pittsburgh city residents.

Publisher: Eagle Media Corp.4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: Civilian, alternative newspaper.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: Information on local music, art, entertainment, sports, news, and politics.6

Frequency of publication: Weekly.7

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/FreelanceInternGuide/Page

Types of contributions accepted: The guidelines state: “We use freelance talent every week, and we value the contributions made by our freelancers. But we don’t just take freelancers from off the street; that’s how we hire editors. When a prospective freelancer wants to write for us, we have two questions: Is this person able to bring us stories we can’t get on our own? and Is this person capable of actually writing the story? To answer the first question, you need to bring us some story pitches. These should be stories you think we’ll want — and stories we don’t already have.”8

“How can you tell what sort of material qualifies? The easiest way is to look at the paper. See what we already publish … and what we don’t. Tailor your ideas accordingly. Here are a few hints to get you started. What we are interested in: Stories about local artists. Stories about local news and politics. Stories about Pittsburgh, in all its love and squalor. What we’re not interested in: Political screeds about how great President Obama is. Political screeds about how awful President Obama is. First-person essays. Your problems.”9

“As to that second question — can this person write the story themselves? — we’re looking for skilled writers and thorough reporters who know the territory. The best proof of these qualities is clips of previously published work. Articles for your college newspaper, freelance stuff you did for community papers, Pulitzer Prize-winning multi-part series from The New York Times … we’ll look at almost anything.”10

Submission and review process: Submission method depends on the type of article. The guidelines provide the editors responsible for each type and their preferred contact method. Review and acceptance of submissions responsibility of editors.11

Editorial tone: Informal and clever.

Style guide used: Not specified in guidelines.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication provides a fair opportunity for LIS authors residing in Pittsburgh or familiar with the area. Potential for publication of book reviews, local information services, and content about local programming and events that would interest the younger audience of the newspaper. Authors from the Pittsburgh area, with personal knowledge of the area and population, would find it easier to write for this publication. Because this publication is free both in print and online, it has the potential to meet a wide audience within the city.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 58,000.12

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Metro Pittsburgh area.

Reader characteristics: Readers are described as “younger and more affluent,” though the age breakdown in the media kit indicates that readership spans a range of age groups, with 25% between 25 and 34 and 20% over 65.13

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: While some readers will certainly be librarians, library administration and staff, and library students who live in the Pittsburgh area, this publication does not specialize in LIS subject matter, nor are any readers expected to have knowledge of LIS subject matter.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Readers might be interested in technology, local events (possibly library events), interesting stories and news about their local libraries.

Last updated: October 25, 2020


References

Show 13 footnotes

  1.  Pittsburgh City Paper, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 27, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1522198957662/558709
  2. “Pittsburgh City Paper,” PGHCityPaper.com, accessed October 23, 2016, http://www.pghcitypaper.com/
  3. “Advertise.”, PGHCityPaper.com, accessed October 25, 2020, https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/Advertise/Page
  4. “Pittsburgh City Paper.”, Contact Us, accessed September 15, 2018, https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/ContactUs/Page
  5. “Freelance/Intern Guide,” PGHCityPater.com, accessed October 23, 2016, http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/FreelanceInternGuide/Page
  6. “Pittsburgh City Paper.”
  7. “Subscriptions,” PGHCityPaper.com, accessed October 23, 2016, http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/Subscriptions/Page
  8. “Freelance/Intern Guide.”
  9. “Freelance/Intern Guide.”
  10. “Freelance/Intern Guide.”
  11. “Freelance/Intern Guide.”
  12. “Pittsburgh City Paper Media Kit,” PGHCityPaper.com, accessed October 23, 2016, http://www.pghcitypaper.com/general/pdfs/CP-Web-Media-Kit-07-01-16.pdf
  13. “Pittsburgh City Paper Media Kit.”
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USA TODAY

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: USA TODAY or USA Today 

ISSN: 0734-7456 (Print).1

Website: https://www.usatoday.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “USA TODAY’s mission is to serve as a forum for better understanding and unity to help make the USA truly one nation.”2

Target audience: Those residing in the US or anyone interested in US News. 

Publisher: Gannett Co., Inc.3

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian publication. 

Medium: Print and online. 

Content: USA TODAY covers national and worldwide news as well as sports, entertainment, life, money, and tech.4 USA TODAY also has affiliates that provide local news such as AZCentral and The Coloradoan.5

Frequency of publication: Daily.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/12/04/submit-letters-columns-and-comment-social/2608825001/

Types of contributions accepted: Types of submissions accepted are columns and letters to the editor. 

Submission and review process: Columns are essays, analyses, or arguments on a variety of topics. USA TODAY is specifically looking for columns that have or exhibit one of the following: “. . . timeliness (pegged to news), persuasion pitched to the other side, new information, novel arguments, revelatory insights, passion without partisanship, first-person experience, original reporting that reveals fresh angles and makes news, expert knowledge, and/or a topic that will drive conversation on social media and in the real world.”6 Submissions for columns should be 550 to 750 words and sent to theforum [at] usatoday.com. Headlines and footnotes are not accepted, instead, authors should include URLs to back up quotes or statements made. In conjunction, a short biography (two sentences max) should be included in your submission to be run at the end of the column. If there is any conflict of interest on the author’s side, it should be fully disclosed within the email. Most importantly, “we only accept pieces that are submitted exclusively to USA TODAY. We do not accept material that has been published on blogs, social media or anywhere else.”7

Letters of 200 words or less can be sent to letters [at] usatoday.com. Include the author’s name, address and phone number with the submission. USA Today may edit the submission for accuracy, clarity or length.8

Editorial tone: The USA TODAY Communications Guidelines directs authors to be “clear, factual and get to the point” and to “avoid flowery language and insider jargon.”9

Style guide used: While a style guide could not be located, USA TODAY’s Brand Guide might be useful for potential authors to review. 

Conclusion: Evaluation of the publication’s potential for LIS authors

As a national publication with worldwide readership, authors who get published in USA TODAY would reach a large audience. Publication in USA TODAY would also look excellent on a resume or CV. 

Additionally, publishing in USA TODAY could help authors introduce readers to LIS issues and topics, thereby bringing more exposure to the LIS field. Examples of published articles in USA TODAY related to the LIS field are, “Libraries are needed more than ever. But many aren’t sure how to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic,” “Reader: Librarians aren’t going anywhere,” and “Banned Books Week: Is your favorite one of the decade’s most censored?”. 

Due to the somewhat extensive submission guidelines, authors may be wary of submitting pieces to USA TODAY. If that is the case, consider checking out these guidelines from the public relations company Cision for tips on pitching a piece to USA TODAY.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Daily paid print circulation averages at 1,424,407 and total print circulation is estimated to be 2,862,229.10 Additionally, “USA TODAY and USATODAY.COM reach a combined seven million readers daily.”11

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Although the content in  USA TODAY is primarily focused on news and issues within the US, the publication does cover World and International News which would also appeal to readers outside of the US. USA TODAY also provides an international issue, aimed at “Americans abroad [or] anyone interested in news, investments, sports, and entertainment from the USA.”12 Therefore, authors should assume the majority of the readership resides within the US, but should also take into consideration that readers may be US citizens residing outside of the US, or may be individuals from other countries who are interested in US news. 

Reader characteristics: “USA TODAY  readers are mission-oriented productive people who are trying to advance their lives every day in a time of change and difficulty.”13

In conjunction, “The USA TODAY audience is comprised of everyday Americans and business travelers who are:

  • Busy, on-the-go and connected
  • Responsible, smart and practical
  • Annoyed by biased and noisy argumentation in news
  • Visual learners who like their news ‘straight up’ and are highly suspicious of fluff
  • Driven, social and independent
  • Self-reliant, hardworking and resourceful
  • Quick to see between the lines and spot the agenda behind ‘news’.”14

In regard to reader demographics, a 2018 report compiled by the advertising agency Russell Johns Associates examined both the print and online version of the publication. For the print version, the publication found that 66.8% of the readers are male, the majority of the readers are between the ages of 25-54 (56%), and 66.2% of readers are employed. 63% of readers of the print publication also have a household income of at least $75,000, and 64.4% have at least some college education.15

For the online version, the report by Russell Johns Associates indicates that 58.8% of readers are male, the majority of readers are between ages 25-54 (54.3%), and 66.6% of readers are employed. 61.7% of the readers of the online publication have a household income of at least $75,000, and 65.2% have at least some college education.16

Readers’ knowledge of LIS subject matter: Authors should err on the side of caution and assume that most readers of USA TODAY are not familiar with LIS issues, topics, or jargon. 

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Authors will benefit from submitting pieces that will appeal to national readers, if not worldwide readers. Readers will be from diverse backgrounds with varying interests, some of which will have an interest in LIS issues and topics. USA TODAY provides authors with an excellent opportunity to introduce a large audience to LIS issues and topics. 

Last updated: October 18, 2020 


References

Show 16 footnotes

  1. “USA Today”, Urlichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed October 6, 2020,http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1602029185264/406783
  2. “About USA TODAY,” USAToday.com, accessed October 6, 2020, https://static.usatoday.com/about/#:~:text=Founded%20in%201982%2C%20USA%20TODAY’s,digital%2C%20social%20and%20video%20platforms.
  3. About USA TODAY.
  4. “USA TODAY,” USAToday.com, accessed October 18, 2020, https://www.usatoday.com/
  5. “Brands”, Gannet.com, accessed October 18, 2020, https://www.gannett.com/brands/
  6. “How to submit content,” USAToday.com, accessed October 6, 2020, https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/12/04/submit-letters-columns-and-comment-social/2608825001//
  7. How to submit content.
  8. How to submit content.”
  9. ”USA Today Corporate Brand Guidelines,” gannett-cdn.com, accessed October 6, 2020, https://www.gannett-cdn.com/uxstatic/usatoday/images/marketing/pdfs/USAT_Online_Brand_GL-2-2013.pdf
  10. About USA TODAY.”
  11. About USA TODAY.”
  12. “USA TODAY International Edition, Service.USATODAY.com, accessed October 17, 2020,  https://service.usatoday.com/international/welcomeint.jsp
  13. ”USA Today Corporate Brand Guidelines,” gannett-cdn.com, accessed October 6, 2020, https://www.gannett-cdn.com/uxstatic/usatoday/images/marketing/pdfs/USAT_Online_Brand_GL-2-2013.pdf
  14. USA Today Corporate Brand Guidelines.”
  15. “USA TODAY NETWORK TOPLINE METRICS REPORT,” russelljohns.com, accessed October 12, 2020, https://www.russelljohns.com/pdfs/demographics/Topline_Metrics_Report_October_2018.pdf
  16. USA TODAY NETWORK TOPLINE METRICS REPORT.
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The Denver Post

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: The Denver Post or Denver Post 

ISSN: 1930-2193 (Print).1

Website: https://www.denverpost.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “To be Colorado’s most trusted source for information that educates, entertains and inspires our readers for the betterment of our community.”2

Target audience: Past or present residents of the Denver metropolitan area, residents of Colorado outside of the Denver metropolitan area, and those interested in news regarding Colorado’s capital city. 

Publisher: MediaNews Group, Inc.3

Peer reviewed? Articles written by Denver Post staff may be reviewed by a source for the purpose of accuracy. For example, “. . . an engineer might be sought to review a technically descriptive passage in an environmental story that details how sewer piping allows toxic chemicals to flow into public waters.”4 It is unlikely that pieces submitted for publication by outside authors will be peer reviewed, however. 

Type: Civilian. 

Medium: Print and online. 

Content: Categories for articles include news (local, statewide, national, and global), sports, business, entertainment, lifestyle, opinion, and politics as well as a classifieds section.5

Frequency of publication: Daily print publication and an online version that is updated daily.6

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.denverpost.com/contact-us/

Types of contributions accepted: Letters to the editor, guest commentaries, and news tips. 

Submission and review process: Letters to the editor can be submitted using the form on The Denver Post’s website (https://www.denverpost.com/submit-letter/) or by emailing the letter to openforum [at] denverpost.com. Letters can be up to 250 words and must have the following: full name, home address, and day and evening phone numbers. The Denver Post may edit submitted pieces for length, grammar and accuracy. “If we choose your letter for publication, we will call you to verify authorship.”7

Guest commentaries must be 650 words or less and sent to columns [at] denverpost.com, along with a photo of the author and a short bio. “We favor columns on public policy, social issues, and current news, and give preference to local and regional writers and issues.”8

News tips can be sent to newsroom [at] denverpost.com or by using the form (https://www.denverpost.com/news-tips/)

Editorial tone: There are no guidelines listed. An examination of the current articles shows clear and concise news stories. Editorial pieces reflect a more informal tone. 

Style guide used: A specific style guide is not mentioned. 

Conclusion: Evaluation of the publication’s potential for LIS authors

The Denver Post provides a good opportunity for authors to bring information about libraries and/or library issues to readers within the Denver metropolitan area and across Colorado. Articles pertaining to libraries can be tagged and will populate on the Libraries page, which includes articles such as “Colorado libraries offer free passes, backpacks to Colorado state parks” and “Guest commentary: Newly released e-books could become scarce at Denver libraries with publisher embargoes.” Authors interested in reviewing books will find that the Books page will work well for their pieces.

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: No information could be gathered regarding the circulation numbers for the print publication. However, The Denver Post website reaches close to 6 million visitors per month.9

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Denver is the capital city of Colorado, with an estimated population of 727,211. The population is primarily White (53.7%)  and Latinx (30.3%).10. 26.5% of individuals speak a language other than English.11 

Reader characteristics: In Denver, the median household income is $63, 793 and 47.9% of individuals hold at least a Bachelor’s degree.12 

Colorado’s capital city is typically more progressive than the rest of the state. However, as the newspaper is read by individuals across the state, and not just those in Denver, authors should endeavor to maintain neutrality in their pieces. The same can be said for the education level of the readers–it will fluctuate greatly. Therefore, authors should keep the tone informal in order to appeal to the majority of readers. 

Readers’ knowledge of LIS subject matter: It is unlikely that the majority of the readers of The Denver Post are familiar with the LIS field, therefore LIS jargon should be avoided. 

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

When writing and submitting pieces for publication, authors should, at least, be familiar with the concerns and interests of residents in Colorado, but more preferably with residents in the Denver metropolitan area. The Denver Post provides authors with the potential to reach a large audience with diverse viewpoints, lifestyles, and cultures who will enjoy pieces that are relevant to their communities. 

 

Last updated: October 13, 2020

 


References

Show 12 footnotes

  1. “Denver Post”, Urlichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed October 4, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1601836489095/552254
  2. “Best Practices // Policies and Standards, DenverPost.com, accessed October 5, 2020, https://www.denverpost.com/policies-and-standards/
  3. “The Denver Post,” DenverPost.com, accessed October 4, 2020, https://www.denverpost.com/
  4. “The Denver Post Ethics Policy,” DenverPost.com, accessed October 5, 2020, https://www.denverpost.com/ethics-policy/#freelance
  5. The Denver Post.
  6. “Subscribe,” DenverPost.com, accessed October 4, 2020, https://checkout.denverpost.com/
  7. “Submit a letter to the editor,” DenverPost.com, accessed October 4, 2020, https://www.denverpost.com/submit-letter/
  8. “How to submit a guest commentary,” DenverPost.com, accessed October 5, 2020, https://www.denverpost.com/2013/07/09/submission-guidelines-and-contact-information/
  9. “Our Brands”, DenverPostMedia.com, accessed October 5, 2020, https://www.denverpostmedia.com/services/our-brands/
  10. “QuickFacts Denver city, Colorado,” Census.gov, accessed October 6, 2020, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/denvercitycolorado/PST045219
  11. QuickFacts Denver city, Colorado.”
  12. QuickFacts Denver city, Colorado.”
Continue Reading

The New York Times

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: The New York Times

ISSN: 0362-4331 (Print) and 1553-8095 (Online)1

Purpose, objective, or mission:The New York Times is dedicated to helping people understand the world through on-the-ground, expert and deeply reported independent journalism. This mission is rooted in our belief that great journalism has the power to make each reader’s life richer and more fulfilling, and all of society stronger and more just.” 2

“Open-minded inquiry is at the heart of our mission. In all our work, we believe in continually asking questions, seeking out different perspectives and searching for better ways of doing things.”3

“The goal of The New York Times is to cover the news as impartially as possible — “without fear or favor”. 4

Website: http://www.newyorktimes.com

Target audience: Readers interested in high-quality news, information, and entertainment.

Publisher: The New York Times Company. 5

Peer reviewed? No. 6

Type: Civilian daily newspaper for the general public.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: News – local, national, and worldwide; politics, business, opinion, technology, science, health, sports, arts, books, style, food,  and travel. 7

Frequency of publication: Daily.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.nytimes.com/content/help/site/editorial/op-ed/op-ed.html and http://www.nytimes.com/content/help/site/editorial/letters/letters.html

Types of contributions accepted:The New York Times accepts opinion essays on any topic for both the daily print page and online section as well as the Sunday Review, the International edition (which is edited out of London and Hong Kong), and other themed series. Published pieces typically run from 400 to 1,200 words, but drafts of any length within the bounds of reason will be considered.” 8

“Personal or explanatory essays, commentary on news events, reflections on cultural trends and more are all welcome. We’re interested in anything well-written with a fact-based viewpoint we believe readers will find worthwhile.” 9

The New York Times also accepts Letters to the Editor. “We encourage a diversity of voices and views in our letters. Letters should preferably be 150 to 175 words, should refer to an article that has appeared within the last seven days, and must include the writer’s address and phone number. No attachments, please. Letters should be exclusive to The New York Times or The International New York Times. We do not publish open letters or third-party letters.” 10

Submission and review process:

For Op-Eds: “Due to the large volume of messages we receive, we have to pass on much material of value and interest. If you do not hear from us within three business days, you should feel free to offer it elsewhere.” 11

For Letters to the Editor: “Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified within a week. Letters may be edited and shortened for space. Due to the large volume of submissions we receive, we cannot personally acknowledge each submission. If we decide not to publish your letter you will receive an automated email reply.” 12

Thomas Feyer, the letters editor, gives tips for getting your letter published in his article Editors’ Note; The Letters Editor and the Reader: Our Compact, Updated

Editorial tone: Informational and investigative.

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Difficult due to competition, their popularity, and the limited area/type of submissions accepted. If successful, would be a great platform to speak to a large audience that appears would be supportive of LIS issues. Would also look excellent on a resume or CV.

“We seek people with different backgrounds, different skills, different lived experiences. We need experienced journalists and those beginning their careers. We need people in New York and in countries around the world.” 13

Here are some helpful tips for getting published with The New York TimesHow to successfully pitch The New York Times (or, well, anyone else)

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation:  The New York Times has more than 150 Million monthly global readers, with 6.5 million total subscriptions. 14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Based in New York, NY, with readers across the U.S. and around the world. The print edition is published in English. Online content can be viewed in English, Spanish, and Chinese languages.

The New York Times also has printing locations around the world to build a global audience. “The New York Times International Edition is an English-language newspaper printed at 38 sites throughout the world and sold in more than 160 countries and territories.” 15

Reader characteristics: According to their media kit, The New York Times is “the #1 Destination for Opinion Leaders, 60% of US audience is made up of Gen Z and Millennial readers, and digital affluent visitors wield over $1 trillion in total buying power.” 16

“In a report released by Pew Research, 32 percent of those who regularly read the New York Times are less than the age of 30. Approximately 56 percent are college graduates and 38 percent are high-income earners.” 17

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: While is is likely some librarians read The New York Times, the majority of readers will have limited knowledge of LIS issues and jargon.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Writers need to submit work that will appeal to the worldwide audience. The New York Times is a popular and influential publication with readers from varying backgrounds, some of which will likely have an interest in library related pieces pertaining to current issues and ideas.

Last updated: October 3, 2020


References

Show 17 footnotes

  1. The New York Times.”, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed October 3, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1601744699857/223674
  2. “Mission and Values.”, nytco.com, accessed October 3, 2020, https://www.nytco.com/company/mission-and-values/
  3. “Mission and Values.”
  4. “Ethical Journalism.”, NYTimes.com, accessed October 3, 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/editorial-standards/ethical-journalism.html
  5. “Copyright Notice.”, NYTimes.com, accessed October 17, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/content/help/rights/copyright/copyright-notice.html
  6. “How to Submit an Op-Ed Article.”, NYTimes.com, accessed October 17, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/content/help/site/editorial/op-ed/op-ed.html
  7. “New York Times.”, NYTimes.com, accessed October 17, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/
  8. “How to Submit an Op-Ed Article.”
  9. “How to Submit an Op-Ed Article.”
  10. “How to Submit a Letter to the Editor.”, NYTimes.com, accessed October 3, 2020,  https://help.nytimes.com/hc/en-us/articles/115014925288-How-to-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor
  11. “How to Submit an Op-Ed Article.”
  12. “How to Submit a Letter to the Editor.”
  13. “News Room”, NYTimes.com, accessed October 3, 2020, https://www.nytco.com/careers/newsroom/
  14. “Company.”, NYTco.com, accessed October 3, 2020, https://www.nytco.com/company/
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