Wiki Categories Archives: Civilian Publications

The New Yorker

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: The New Yorker

ISSN: 0028-792X (Print) and 2163-3827 (Online)1

Purpose, objective, or mission:The New Yorker is considered by many to be the most influential magazine in the world, renowned for its in-depth reporting, political and cultural commentary, fiction, poetry, and humor.”2

Website: http://www.newyorker.com/

Target audience: General public.

Publisher: Conde Nast Publications.3

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian magazine.

Medium: Print and online.4

Content: The New Yorker features articles about various subjects concerning popular culture, world politics, and social issues, not necessarily in that order. Each issue also includes a short story, poetry, literary reviews, cartoons, and short news reports.

Frequency of publication: The New Yorker is published 47 times per year (number of issues per month varies.)5

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.newyorker.com/contact/contactus

Types of contributions accepted: Poetry, news-breaks, short stories, and letters to the editor, cartoons, and satirical pieces.6

Submission and review process: Send submissions via email as a pdf attachment.7

Editorial tone: Can range from silly to erudite, depending on the piece.

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

At first glance at the magazine’s submission guidelines, it would seem that there isn’t really any opportunity for LIS authors to contribute to The New Yorker, since they don’t accept nonfiction articles due to the large volume of manuscripts they would probably receive. However, this publication does accept short news reports and commentaries so there is an opportunity for everyone, LIS professionals and students included, to submit short articles that deal with interesting occurrences or developments in their own communities.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “…more than a million subscribers to the weekly magazine and nearly twenty-one million readers every month on newyorker.com.”8

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Although it might seem that The New Yorker primarily serves residents of New York City, its scope is diverse and wide enough for it to have become one of the best-selling magazines nationwide. The New Yorker is an English publication and primarily serves residents of the United States but it covers issues from both a national and global perspective, making it accessible to the diverse population of the U.S. that come from a variety of different backgrounds and cultures.

Reader characteristics: The readers of The New Yorker are 45% male and 55% female. The average household income is $129,631. From the demographic statistics of its subscribers, we can assume that subscribers of this publication are typically educated middle to upper-class adults.9 This publication is considered politically left-leaning, and a review of the recent issues supports this assumption.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: It is safe to assume that the majority of subscribers are probably not LIS professionals and have little or no knowledge of LIS topics and issues. The magazine obviously has a diverse audience and LIS professionals only make up a small percentage of this group. The New Yorker sometimes prints articles about libraries or librarians and the important issues of the profession, but with an absence of, or, at least minimal, LIS jargon for the benefit of all its readers.

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

Statistics show that the average reader of The New Yorker is financially well off, with age ranges across the spectrum. That said, being a popular magazine across the nation, its readers are still a diverse group of people with different backgrounds and interests. Since the magazine is only soliciting poetry, fiction, news breaks, commentaries, and letters to the editor, potential authors do not have to write scholarly pieces; the tone is informal but writing should exhibit intelligence and a sophisticated mastery of language.

Although it is not a LIS-oriented magazine, LIS authors are still welcome to submit interesting commentaries or activities in their own communities and institutions.

Last updated: September 6, 2020


References

Show 9 footnotes

  1.  The New Yorker, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed September 6, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/search/431086251
  2. “About Us,” NewYorker.com, accessed September 12, 2018, http://www.newyorker.com/about/us/?src=tny-footer
  3. “The New Yorker,” NewYorker.com, accessed November 26,  2016, http://www.newyorker.com/
  4. About Us.”
  5. “Subscribe to The New Yorker,” NewYorker.com, accessed September 12, 2018, https://subscribe.newyorker.com/subscribe/newyorker/108815?source=AMS_NYR_GLOBAL_NAVBAR_GI_BlackFriday_Holiday16&pos_name=AMS_NYR_GLOBAL_NAVBAR
  6. “Contact Us,” NewYorker.com, accessed September 6, 2020, http://www.newyorker.com/contact/contactus
  7. Contact Us.”
  8. Conde Nast Publications. (2018). Media Kit. The New Yorker. Retrieved from http://www.condenast.com/brands/the-new-yorker/
  9. “Advertise Locally in The New Yorker,” mediamaxnetwork.com, accessed September 6, 2020, https://mediamaxnetwork.com/publications/the-new-yorker/
Continue Reading

Wired Magazine

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Wired Magazine

ISSN: 1059-1028 (Print)1

Website: http://www.wired.com/magazine/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Per the website, “Wired is the ultimate authority on the people and ideas changing our world.”2 The magazine examines technology and its effect on all aspects of culture, from social and recreational to business and politics.

Target audience: Readers who have an interest in technology and its effect on cultures worldwide.

Publisher: Conde Nast Publications Inc. and Wired Ventures Ltd.3

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian publication.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: Articles on the intersection of technology and business, culture, politics, science, etc.

Frequency of publication: Monthly.4

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.wired.com/2016/08/how-to-submit-to-wired-opinion/

Types of contributions accepted: Op-eds which are no longer than 1,000 words, and argue a certain point of view.5

Submission and review process: Pitches and/or completed pieces should be sent to opinion [at] wired.com. If sending a pitch, clearly state your thesis and why you specifically are writing about it. Include your biographical information; they want to know who you are and why you’re writing. Mark the subject of your email as “Op-Ed Pitch: Sentence Describing Your Opinion.”6

Editorial tone: Informal but polished.

Style guide used: None noted.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Wired is for the writer with fresh, definitive ideas about how the various cultures of our world will respond, influence, and share the future of technology and science. LIS authors who are passionate about innovations in the information field and how these ideas affect people will enjoy writing for this publication. Wired allows LIS authors to release themselves from the rigid boundaries of academic styles and create anecdotes rich with cultural, moral, or institutional conflict within digital technologies. Publishing for this popular magazine will also create contacts beyond the LIS field and expand the breadth of publication opportunities for the LIS writer.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Print circulation of over 870,000, with a digital monthly reach of 20 million.7

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The magazine is based in San Francisco, CA, but international subscriptions are available. Although the magazine is in English, international subscriptions are available.8 Audience demographic information doesn’t include geographic location.

Reader characteristics: Readership is roughly 70% male, 30% female. Most have graduated from college and are fairly affluent.9 Readers are described as “globally-minded thought leaders, innovators, bloggers, and connectors” who are “constantly seeking new ideas.”10

The assumption that this audience works mainly in tech industries should not be made, as this publication covers a diverse range of subjects that are affected by technology, such as culture, cars, politics, and entertainment.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Library terminology or other discipline-specific language will need to be defined for this more general audience. This popular, civilian publication may have many LIS readers who are interested in gaining a new perspective on technology from a civilian viewpoint. However, this would not be an appropriate venue to discuss LIS subject matter in detail. The majority of readers will not be familiar with LIS issues.

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

This group of readers may be very interested to learn how technology is affecting their possibly preconceived ideas of what the library offers and represents. An interest in librarian issues may be cultivated through the technology issues. Readers might be interested in technological innovations within libraries as well as other issues such as privacy concerns.

Last updated: August 30, 2020


References

Show 10 footnotes

  1.  Wired, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 28, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1522261645312/211317
  2. “Wired Advertising,” Wired.com, accessed December 5, 2016, https://www.wired.com/wired-advertising
  3. “Wired,” Ulrichsweb.com, accessed December 5, 2016, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1416948580144/211317
  4. “Wired Magazine Subscription,” Subscribe.Wired.com, accessed December 5, 2016, https://subscribe.wired.com/subscribe/wired/109077?source=AMS_WIR_GLOBAL_NAVBAR&pos_name=AMS_WIR_GLOBAL_NAVBAR
  5. “Here’s How to Submit to Wired Opinion,” Wired.com, accessed December 5, 2016, https://www.wired.com/2016/08/how-to-submit-to-wired-opinion/
  6. Here’s How to Submit to Wired Opinion.”
  7. “2017 Media Kit,” Wired.com, accessed December 5, 2016, https://www.wired.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/WMG_Media_Kit_2017_v3.pdf
  8. Wired Magazine Subscription.”
  9. 2017 Media Kit.”
  10. 2017 Media Kit.”
Continue Reading

McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern

ISSN: 2325-25881

Purpose, objective, or mission:McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern began in 1998 as a literary journal that published only works rejected by other magazines. That rule was soon abandoned, and since then the Quarterly Concern has attracted work from some of the finest writers in the country. At the same time, the journal continues to be a major home for new and unpublished writers; we’re committed to publishing exciting fiction regardless of pedigree.”2 They are committed to finding new voices, publishing work of gifted but under-appreciated writers, and pushing the literary form forward at all times.3

Website: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/books

Target audience: Smart, open-minded readers.4

Publisher: McSweeney’s Publishing.5

Peer reviewed? No.6

Type: Civilian publication, literary journal.

Medium: Print journal.7

Content: Literary and experimental fiction and nonfiction, with the format and editorial focus changing for each issue.8 Fiction pieces include short stories and screenplays, while nonfiction works include essays and journalistic pieces. The journal has won multiple literary awards, including two National Magazine Awards for fiction9, so it’s safe to say that anything published in McSweeney’s will be of high literary quality.

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/pages/guidelines-for-quarterly-submissions

Types of contributions accepted: Fiction and nonfiction. Memoirs, poetry, book reviews, and previously published work will not be accepted.11

Submission and review process: **Note: as of October 2020, submissions are temporarily closed**

Submission guidelines to McSweeney’s are highly informal. There are no rules or length restrictions, although they recommend reading the magazine to get a sense of what kinds of work they’re interested in.12. Submit via the website. According to the website, “We gladly consider unsolicited works, but because we are a very small organization with an even smaller editorial department, it often takes us a long time to respond to our submitters.”13

Editorial tone: Offbeat, eccentric, and inventive.

Style guide used: None indicated. “It’s better if you don’t use colors or Fun Fonts or strange formatting. We discourage submissions of art or submissions containing art.”14

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

LIS authors may have as good a chance as anyone for getting a submission accepted in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern. Their whole publication process seems to be highly informal, but the quality is certainly on par with journals that have higher subscription/circulation rates. An exploration of McSweeney’s multiple related websites is a must to see if your writing project is a match for their style. LIS authors might contribute a fiction or nonfiction piece inspired by their experience as library professionals, keeping in mind that the purpose of such pieces should ultimately be to entertain the reader, rather than function as straightforward articles on an LIS-related issue.

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The print journal has 8,000 subscribers, while the website receives one million unique visitors per month.15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Published in San Francisco, California16, and in English.

Reader characteristics: While no information regarding reader demographics is provided, a review of publication suggests readers are intelligent, open minded, literary, and comfortable thinking outside of the box.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Limited, the same as the general public.

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

Eclectic and open to new and creative thought is one way to describe the readers of McSweeney’s. The journal’s readers are literary and well-read, and it’s safe to assume that they generally support and appreciate libraries. A visit to the multiple McSweeney’s websites will give any writer interested in submitting work a better sense of whether or not their work will be a match.

Last updated: October 2, 2020


References

Show 16 footnotes

  1. McSweeney’s.”, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 24, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1521935067563/698788
  2. “Timothy McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern Official Media Kit for Issue 49.”, McSweeneys.net, accessed October 14, 2016, https://d3thpuk46eyjbu.cloudfront.net/uploads/production/2461/1450206417/original/mcswysqtly49_MEDIAKIT_adv.pdf?1450206417
  3. “McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern.”, McSweeneys.net, accessed October 13, https://www.mcsweeneys.net/books
  4. “McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern.”
  5. “Timothy McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern Official Media Kit for Issue 49.”
  6. “Guidelines for Quarterly Submissions.”, McSweeneys.net, accessed October 13, 2016, https://www.mcsweeneys.net/pages/guidelines-for-quarterly-submissions
  7. “Timothy McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern Official Media Kit for Issue 49.”
  8. “McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern.”
  9.  “Timothy McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern Official Media Kit for Issue 49.”
  10. “Quarterly Concern Subscription.”, Store.McSweeneys.net, accessed October 13, 2016, https://store.mcsweeneys.net
  11. “Guidelines for Quarterly Submissions.”
  12. “Guidelines for Quarterly Submissions.”
  13. “Guidelines for Quarterly Submissions.”
  14. “Guidelines for Quarterly Submissions.”
  15. “Timothy McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern Official Media Kit for Issue 49.”
  16. “Contact Us.”, McSweeneys.net, accessed October 14, 2016, https://www.mcsweeneys.net/pages/contact-us
Continue Reading

Bright Lights Film Journal

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Bright Lights Film Journal

ISSN: 0147-4049 (Print) and 2376-8290 (Online)1

Websitehttp://brightlightsfilm.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Bright Lights is a “popular-academic hybrid of movie analysis, history, and commentary looking at classic and commercial, independent, exploitation, and international film.”2 The goal in creating the magazine was to “feature great photos and combine popular and academic styles, with humor and progressive politics tossed into the mix.”3

“Bright Lights is one of the most widely read, quoted, and respected movie sites on the Web, mixing savvy pop reviews with in-depth analysis of current and classic, edgy and indie, international and experimental cinema – with wit and a political edge.” 4

Target audience: “Amateur film fans to students and professors to Academy members.”5

Publisher: Bright Lights Film Journal.6

Peer reviewed? No. “We do not formally peer-review submissions, though occasionally and informally we send articles to one or more reviewers for reaction. Examples would be pieces that seem promising but are heavily theorized, outside our area of expertise, or written by someone whose native language is not English (to determine if it’s worth being made intelligible).”7

Type: Civilian publication.

Medium: Online. Print magazine was discontinued in 1995.8

Content: Reviews, editorials, think pieces, articles, and film festival reports.

Frequency of publication: Content is updated frequently, with no set schedule.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelineshttp://brightlightsfilm.com/about/submission-guidelines/

Types of contributions accepted: “We are interested in short pieces (reviews of single movies, DVDs, books) and more substantial studies of directors and other key production figures (cinematographers and producers, for example), analyses of genres, studios and studio style, and topics like gender and minority contributions to film. We always need overviews of international and minority cinemas, in-depth director interviews, discussions of the impact of multimedia on film, breakthrough technologies, animation, and studies of neglected or misinterpreted figures in film history. We have no set taboos and prefer passionate, opinionated, even ranting pieces that are intelligently and engagingly written. Political, anti-capitalist, pro-sex tirades always welcome. Typically, we have no particular theme, preferring a potpourri made up of what your editor, our regular writers, and other contributors are thinking and writing about.”10

Submission and review process: Submissions are accepted via email and should be in 12-pt Times New Roman (or similar font) and double-spaced. No PDFs, RTFs, Google Docs, or HTML files. “Straightforward reviews (single film, DVD, book) might be in the 1,000-2,000 range; profiles of individuals, production histories, and think pieces can run as long as the material dictates (within reason).”11

Response Time: “For new authors, we try to respond within two to four weeks; could be sooner or later depending on the existing pile. Feel free to nudge us if you think we’re taking too long.” 12

Editorial tone: Smart and educated, but still accessible to a wide audience. “Bright Lights is not an academic ghetto, and looks more for idiosyncratic style, and the ability to make ideas available to the widest possible audience, than bone-dry scholarly analysis. We are most interested in bringing ideas to a readership hungry for information but put off by standard, navel-gazing academic writing. We greatly value wit and look for literary value in submissions.”13

Style guide used: “Footnote/references style can be MLA or any other style as long as it’s consistent. However, a Works Cited approach (avoiding footnotes) is generally preferred, if possible.” 14

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This is not a LIS publication, so its potential for LIS authors is limited. The wide range of article types and writing styles that it accepts do, however, make it an intriguing possibility for LIS scholars and practitioners with a professional (archivists, media librarians, film studies librarians, etc.) or personal interest in film. Bright Lights is friendly to first-time authors and employs forms similar to those found in LIS publications (reviews, reports, etc.), so it could be a good place for a writer to cut his or her authorial teeth. In addition to not being an LIS publication, this journal isn’t nearly as well established in the field of film and media studies as some other publications, so it might not meet the requirements of all tenure committees. Well-written articles about “librarians in the movies” might be accepted by this publication.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “One of the Web’s most popular film sites, BLFJ averages 2,000 daily visitors and serves over 2,600 pages per day. Over 85% of our page hits are from new visitors.” 15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: “Our readers hail from 190 countries around the world including, most prominently, the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. We also receive thousands of hits from European, South American, and Asian countries where English is a second language, for example, Germany, India, Turkey, France, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, China, Spain, and Brazil.”16 Bright Lights is written in English.

Reader characteristics: No information was available on the individual characteristics of the readers of Bright Lights. Writers can assume that the readers of Bright Lights have a professional or personal interest in academic film studies. They are likely to work in an academic environment. Bright Lights is left leaning and favors progressive, anti-capitalist politics.17

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: LIS authors writing for this publication cannot assume that their readers have any knowledge of LIS topics, jargon, or terminology.

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

As noted in the “Publication Analysis” section of this entry, Bright Lights Film Journal has potential for LIS authors who wish to write about LIS topics as they relate to film. That said, LIS authors need to remember that LIS subjects will always be of secondary importance to the readers of this publication; writers should take care to avoid jargon, provide background for any discussion of LIS subjects, and firmly ground their articles in the world of cinema.

Possible topics for LIS authors to write about for this publication include subjects pertaining to film archives; library media centers and/or collections; libraries and/or librarians as represented in film or in specific films; information gathering strategies for filmmakers, film studies scholars, or movie lovers; bibliographies for film and/or film studies topics; reviews of books, films, periodicals movie soundtracks, or other materials that the LIS author might work with as a librarian.

Last updated: September 20, 2020


References

Show 17 footnotes

  1.  Bright Lights, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/search/162922392
  2. “Advertise.”, BrightLightsFilm.com, accessed September 15, 2016, http://brightlightsfilm.com/about/advertise/
  3. “History.”, BrightLightsFilm.com, accessed September 15, 2016, http://brightlightsfilm.com/about/history/
  4. “Submission Guidelines.”, BrightLightsFilm.com, accessed September 20, 2020, http://brightlightsfilm.com/about/submission-guidelines/
  5. “Advertise.”
  6. “Bright Lights Film Journal.”, BrightLightsFilm.com, accessed September 15, 2016, http://brightlightsfilm.com/
  7. “Submission Guidelines.”
  8. “History.”
  9. “Submission Guidelines.”
  10. “Submission Guidelines.”
  11. “Submission Guidelines.”
  12. “Submission Guidelines.”
  13. “Submission Guidelines.”
  14. “Submission Guidelines.”
  15. “Advertise.”
  16. “Advertise.”
  17. “Submission Guidelines.”
Continue Reading

The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle 

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://hsjchronicle.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “We strive to always provide you with the latest news, entertainment, world events & videos at your convenience.”1

Target audience: “The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle is the San Jacinto Valley’s local source for news and information.”2

Publisher: As of 2019, The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle “newspaper is not connected in any way with the recently defunct The Valley Chronicle or its publisher, Eric Buskirk . . . .”3

The current publisher of The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle is Pati Galarza.4

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian.

Medium: Print and online.5

Content: The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle provides local news, world news, and news on arts and entertainment, politics, and sports. Legal notices are also published in the newspaper.6

Frequency of publication: Printed weekly and an online version that is updated daily.7

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://hsjchronicle.com/contact/

Types of contributions accepted: Letters to the editor, article submissions, and event submissions.

Submission and review process: Submit letters to the editor using the online Letters to the Editor submission form.

Articles can be submitted by emailing editor [at] hsjchronicle.com

Events in the Hemet and San Jacinto area can be submitted to the newspaper using this submission form. Include a detailed description of the event, the date and time of the event, cost, and address of the event. “Due to space limitations, only a portion of the events posted online will be published in our weekly print edition.”8

Editorial tone: There are no guidelines listed. The current articles reflect a conversational and informal tone.9

Style guide used: A specific style guide was not indicated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle serves the Hemet and San Jacinto communities in California and aims to appeal to those communities. The paper supports local issues and has had a couple of articles about the public library and related events appear over the past year it has been in publication. Any LIS authors in the area wanting to write articles for the paper should have a good reception from the newspaper staff. Letters to the editor and articles should avoid technical library jargon in order to appeal to readers who most likely do not have a grasp on LIS jargon.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: No information on the circulation of the newspaper could be located.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The headquarters for The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle is located in Hemet and the paper serves the cities of Hemet and San Jacinto. Although readership may extend outside of these areas, the majority of readers are in the San Jacinto Valley. The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle is published in English and is considerate of the diverse cultures within the communities it serves. This is reflected in the variety of articles they publish and events that are covered in the community.10

Reader characteristics:  The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle serves individuals in Hemet and San Jacinto. Their level of education, places of employment, and professional interests vary widely. The United States Census estimated Hemet’s 2020 population to be 85,334 with a median household income of $39,179. The population is mostly White (74.9%), female (52.6%), and between the ages of 19 to 64 (45.4%).11

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: This is a lay publication and therefore it does not specialize in library and information science. Readers may be library users and may have knowledge of library service from their own personal experiences. It is unlikely that the majority of readers will have knowledge of LIS subject matter therefore, LIS jargon should be avoided.

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

The majority of the readers are high school graduates with some college and few have graduate degrees.12 Authors must be aware that The Hemet and San Jacinto Valley Chronicle’s purpose is a focus on the local community. There is an excellent chance of being published if the articles submitted are relevant to local news or events in the San Jacinto Valley.

The community this paper serves is somewhat diverse and has readers that represent a range of different cultures, ages,  and varying educational backgrounds. Authors that are interested in submitting articles may want to write articles that inform potential patrons about library services and programs directed to underserved populations. Other possibilities are articles that highlight Friends of the Library events to publicize the need for volunteers or additional funds.

Last updated: October 3, 2020


References

Show 12 footnotes

  1. The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle,” HSJChronicle.com, accessed October 3, 2020, https://hsjchronicle.com/
  2. “The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle.”
  3. Copy Editor. “Important notice to all newspaper readers in Hemet and San Jacinto.” The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle, June 14, 2019. https://issuu.com/hsjchronicle/docs/20190614/10
  4. “Directory,” HSJChronicle.com, accessed October 3, 2020, https://hsjchronicle.com/directory/
  5. “1 Year Subscription,” HSJChronicle.com, accessed October 3, 2020, https://hsjchronicle.com/product/subscription/
  6. “The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle.”
  7. Michael Peterson. “Letters.” The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle, June 24, 2019. https://issuu.com/hsjchronicle/docs/20190614/10
  8. “Event Submissions,” HSJChronicle.com, accessed October 3, 2020, https://hsjchronicle.com/event-submissions/
  9. The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.”
  10. The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle.
  11. “QuickFacts Hemet City, California,” Census.gov, accessed October 3, 2020, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/hemetcitycalifornia
  12. “QuickFacts Hemet City, California.”
Continue Reading

Harper’s Magazine

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Harper’s Magazine

ISSN: 0017-789X1

Purpose, objective, or mission:Harper’s Magazine, the oldest general-interest monthly in America, explores the issues that drive our national conversation, through long-form narrative journalism and essays, and such celebrated features as the iconic Harper’s Index. With its emphasis on fine writing and original thought Harper’s provides readers with a unique perspective on politics, society, the environment, and culture.”2

“Our mission is to inform, to argue, to interest and to question conventional wisdom. In doing this, we establish an emotional bond with readers, drawing them into the pages and challenging them to think differently on the widest possible spectrum of topics.” 3

Website: http://harpers.org/

Target audience: According to the 2016 Media Kit, Harper’s speaks to “readers looking for perspectives not generally found in mainstream media. Harper’s is “written with the belief that readers still care about issues, are still willing to risk changing their views and are still willing to participate in our democracy.”4

Publisher: Current publisher is John R. MacArthur, with Harper’s Magazine Foundation. 5

Peer reviewed? No.6

Type: Civilian.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: Essays, fiction, and reporting. Topics covered include politics, society, the environment, and culture. 7

Frequency of publication: Monthly 8

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submissions Information can be found here:  http://harpers.org/submissions/

Types of contributions accepted: According to their website, “Writers wishing to submit nonfiction to Harper’s Magazine are invited to send queries to the address below, accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The magazine will neither consider nor return unsolicited nonfiction manuscripts. Harper’s will consider unsolicited fiction. Unsolicited poetry will not be considered or returned. 9

Submission and review process: All fiction submissions and nonfiction queries must be sent by mail to:

Harper’s Magazine.
666 Broadway, 11th Floor
New York, NY 1001210

Editorial tone: This magazine’s tone lends itself to high literary thought. Harper’s prides itself “on (its) fine writing and original thought, (and) provides readers with a unique perspective on politics, society, the environment, and culture.”11

Style guide used: None offered.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Although this publication does not accept unsolicited nonfiction, potential contributors are invited to send nonfiction queries. The LIS author may win a solicitation for nonfiction if the query is unusual and exceptional enough to pique the editor’s interest. As unsolicited fiction will be considered, this may provide a more realistic opportunity for the LIS writer. A work of fiction that involves libraries or library issues could prove to be a unique contribution to this forum. Although this is not a scholarly publication, Harper’s has been in publication for 170 years and enjoys a prestigious position in the literary publishing industry.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: According to its 2020 Media Kit, Harper’s  has a “total audience” of over 600,000.12

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: It seems that the readership is primarily based in the United States, there is an international subscription option that is also available.13 The magazine is published in English.

Reader characteristics: Ratio of readership is 66% male and 34% female, with a median age of 48 years old. Mean household income is $116,200, with professional or managerial careers represented by 26.75% of readers. Readers are educated, with 39% holding post-graduate degrees. Readers are presented as more cultured and well-traveled than the average American with comparison statistics outlined in the Media Kit.14

Reader knowledge of LIS subject matter: Most readers are unlikely to have extensive knowledge of LIS subject matter. However, as this is an affluent, informed, and intelligent audience, they have likely formed opinions on general LIS topics.

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

Readers of Harper’s Magazine are a highly educated, affluent group. They have graduate degrees, are professionals and managers, and are financially well-off. They are a politically- and civically-engaged audience. In its Media Kit for advertisers, Harper’s bills itself as a “tool for change, a place for ideas and the people who have them. We attract the finest writers today and encourage them to do their best.”15

For these reasons, authors’ queries and submissions should be unique, well-written, directed to a well-educated audience, and limited in library jargon. The LIS writer who can provide a different viewpoint, that challenges mainstream thinking, would find an engaged audience at Harper’s Magazine.

Last updated: September 8, 2020


References

Show 15 footnotes

  1.  Harper’s Magazine, WorldCat, accessed September 8, 2020, https://www.worldcat.org/title/harpers-monthly-magazine/oclc/803607184
  2. “About.”, Harpers.org, accessed September 8, 2020, http://harpers.org/about
  3. “2016 Media Kit.,” Harpers.org, accessed September 8, 2020, http://harpers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2016-Media-Kit.pdf
  4. “2016 Media Kit.”
  5. “About.”
  6. “Submissions Information.”, Harpers.org, accessed September 8, 2020, http://harpers.org/submissions/
  7. “About.”
  8. “About.”
  9. “Submissions Information.”
  10. “Submissions Information.”
  11. “About.”
  12. “2020 Media Kit.”, Harpers.org, accessed September 8, 2020, https://harpers.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Harpers-Magazine-2020-Media-Kit.pdf
  13. “Subscribe.”, Harpers.org, accessed September 8, 2020, https://w1.buysub.com/pubs/HS/PRS/USCanada_Subscription_wDiscount_v2.jsp?cds_page_id=235595&cds_mag_code=PRS&id=1599597480653&lsid=32521538006082768&vid=1
  14. “2016 Media Kit.”
  15. “2016 Media Kit.”
Continue Reading