Publication analysis
About the publication
Title: Governing: The Future of States and Localities
ISSN: 1930-6954 1
Website: http://www.governing.com/
Purpose, objective, or mission: “Governing: The Future of States and Localities takes on the question of what state and local government looks like in a world of rapidly advancing technology. Governing is a resource for elected and appointed officials and other public leaders who are looking for smart insights and a forum to better understand and manage through this era of change. Governing’s beat is the collision of technology and society and the fallout consequences, intended and unintended, that confront public leaders and increasingly influence their policy, legislation and strategies to govern. ” 2
Target audience: Governing’s audience consists of governors, mayors, county executives, city and county council members, state legislators, state and local agency executives and those holding key professional government positions.3
Publisher: e.Republic, Inc.4
Peer reviewed? No.5
Type: Civilian publication.
Medium: “Governing’s information platform includes a robust website, newsletters and custom content. Governing magazine ended its 32 year run as a print publication in August 2019.” 6
Content: “The scope of topics we cover are as broad as the challenges we face: artificial intelligence, privacy, big data, security, the future of work, urban planning, financial systems and more.” 7
Frequency of publication:
About the publication’s submission guidelines
Location of submission guidelines: Voices of the Governing Institute
Types of contributions accepted: Governing content is staff written and the publication does not typically accept unsolicited submissions for publication. However, submitted material is occasional accepted for the Voices of the Governing Institute section of the website. “Voices is curated by the Governing Institute, which seeks out practitioners and observers whose perspective and insight add to the public conversation about state and local government.”8
Submission and review process: “For more information or to submit an article to be considered for publication, please contact editor John Martin.”9
Editorial tone: Journalistic.
Style guide used: None specified.
Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors
This publication offers great potential for increasing the visibility of public libraries with the government administrators who fund and support them (or not). Library leader Ken Haycock highly recommends Governing, saying that “We need to read and reflect but also contribute to these important publications.” Haycock points out that public librarians have much to gain by writing for such publications “to ensure that their celebrations and concerns are front and center with those who make decisions affecting their future.”10 (**Note, as of November 8, 2020, this resource link is inactive.**)
Audience analysis
About the publication’s readers
Publication circulation: Governing has 4.6million annual online visitors and over 7million annual page views, which means about 500k monthly visitors and 692k average monthly page views. There are 94k newsletter subscribers and 97k social media followers. 11
Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Audience is American, and the text is written in English.
Reader characteristics: According to the current media kit, about 80% of Governing’s audience works in the public sector, 55% are elected and senior government officials. Of those involved in government, approximately 70% are at the state and local levels. 12
Reader knowledge of LIS subject matter: Knowledge of specialized LIS subject matter will be little. LIS jargon should be kept to a minimum. This is a well-educated, intelligent, and influential audience who would be interested in library issues pertaining to policy and government in local or state jurisdictions.
Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors
Readers of this journal represent all levels of government and hold positions in management, as elected or appointed officials, or staff. An audience of decision-makers such as these provides an excellent opportunity for an LIS author to not only further his/her/their career, but to possibly influence real change for local or state libraries.
Last updated: November 8, 2020
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