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Boing Boing

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Boing Boing

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://boingboing.net/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “A Website devoted to technology and culture. We publish feature articles, links to things we find interesting online, podcasts, videos and comics created by the Boing Boing editorial team and other invited contributors. We also provide a discussion forum so you can participate in the conversation; and sell merchandise in the Boing Boing Shop.”1 Boing Boing allows users to submit interesting, cool, newsworthy links to articles, videos, and any minutia you find interesting.

Target audience: If you’re interested in anything outside the mainstream, this would be the place to look. The website is hailed as a bastion of free speech and imagine sharing; it was founded by an editor of Make Magazine, which is dedicated to all things DIY, and the four primary editors have all written for Wired Magazine.2

Publisher: Happy Mutants, LLC.3

Peer reviewed? No.4

Type: Civilian publication / online forum.5

Medium: Online

Content: A blog/forum that shares member-reader links of all sorts -informational, fun, noteworthy.

Frequency of publication: Blog updated with at least several new posts per day.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Forum Rules

Types of contributions accepted: Any kinds.

Submission and review process:

“You can browse the Site without logging in. However, to participate in our Discussion Forum, you need to create an account. We use the Discourse.org forum platform and the creators CDCK host it on their servers and run it for us. To participate in the forum, you may create a new account, use an existing Discourse.org user name and password or log-in using one of your social networking user name and passwords.” 6

Editorial tone: As informal, but informative, as possible. Headlines and pictures are purposely titillating or attention grabbing. Example: under the “Science” category is the headline: “Anne of Green Gables Had Herpes (and you probably do, too),”an article about herpes. Or “The Librarian and the Hot Rod Shop,” a post about a mobile initiative that provides library resources to people who are unaware of the library, or can’t make it to the local branch.

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

If you have any little library related tidbit to share, this is a great website on which to post it. These are non-reviewed blog posts, so it’s not a site that will help towards your tenured work or that you should cite in a scholarly article, but it’s a great source for getting and sending information to a curious, intelligent, and supportive audience. It would be a great first start for book reviews, for example, or just to write about or re-post some interesting library-related news.

Creative Commons License: non-commercial sharing, with attribution. Just make sure you say where your link/review/article originated.7

Of note to LIS writers: a team from the American Library Association ran a Boing Boing member interest group called Library Boing Boing from 2012 to 2014. See Library Boing Boing, and their first Boing Boing post; the full collection is tagged LIBRARYLAB. To learn more, see the LibraryLab community on the ALA Connect website.

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: In an article in Fast Company, according to Quantcast data, it gets about 2.5 million unique visitors a month. The article also states that, in 2004-2005, it “had become one of the most-read and linked-to blogs in the world.”8

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: According to Quantcast data, Boing Boing reaches an international audience, though 63% of its readers are in the United States.9 English is the primary language, but as the site also links to websites, videos, etc., as long as you explain the reason for submitting your article/website/repost, the language of the thing itself isn’t too strict. Culture is progressive and friendly, hacker-ish and non-mainstream.

Reader characteristics: Quantcast data reports that the majority of readers are white, male, and highly educated.10 Hackers, DIY-ers, those who like to stay current on news/gadgets/things, and anyone with an eye on web culture and interesting news of all kinds will gravitate towards the blog. The blog’s bias lies on the side of being, for the most part, uncensored and relishing in re-posting links that test freedom of speech and censorship in the online community. They are very much an “anything goes” site, as long as “anything” is interesting to readers.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: More civilian than professional; LIS jargon should be kept to a minimum, use layman’s terms and just get your point across in the least scholarly tone possible. The readership comprises a savvy group of people, but they are not all LIS aficionados, so use regular, everyday terms when describing your link and why you find it interesting.

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

Boing Boing would be a great place to post information relevant to the library community: its readers, while very much an online-loving group, seem to enjoy hearing about LIS-related news, particularly if it has to do with free speech, public access, or challenges to the LIS community. They are well-read, spoken, and intelligent, and, with the inclusion of the LIS-specific posting group, would appreciate links coming from the Library world. Although not scholarly in tone, the links posted can be of scholarly caliber, and the blog has garnered attention and awards, and holds a certain status in the blogosphere; posts here are likely to be reposted elsewhere and shared.

Last updated: September 1, 2020


References

Show 10 footnotes

  1. “Boing Boing Terms of Service.”, BoingBoing.net, accessed September 10, 2016, http://boingboing.net/tos
  2. “Boing Boing.”, Wikipedia, accessed October 24, 2014, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boing_Boing
  3. “Boing Boing Terms of Service.”
  4. “Boing Boing Terms of Service.”
  5. “Boing Boing Terms of Service.”
  6. “Boing Boing Terms of Service.”
  7. “Boing Boing Terms of Service.”
  8. “10 Tips from Boing Boing on Making Online Content Sing.”, FastCompany.com, accessed September 10, 2016, http://www.fastcompany.com/3005636/10-tips-boing-boing-making-online-content-sing
  9. “boingboing.net.”, Quantcast.com, accessed September 10, 2016, https://www.quantcast.com/boingboing.net
  10. “boingboing.net.”
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Writer’s Digest

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Writer’s Digest

ISSN: 0043-9525 (Print)1

Website: https://www.writersdigest.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Founded in 1920, Writer’s Digest is the comprehensive, multi-platform resource for professional and aspiring writers of all media, genres and skill levels. Our mission is to help ignite writers’ creative vision and connect them with the inspiration, resources and community they need to bring it to life.

  • Fiction
  • Nonfiction
  • Poetry
  • Screenwriting

From inspiring prompts, practical techniques and insightful interviews, to lucrative markets, publishing secrets, instructional workshops and professional services—plus a robust online forum for networking with fellow writers—we help writers develop their craft and hone their business skills at every stage of their career.”2

Target audience: Writers interested in developing their craft or learning more about the business side of publishing.

Publisher: Active Interest Media.3

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian magazine for writers.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: First-person essays, interviews with bestselling authors, profiles with emerging talent, practical technique articles, and tips and exercises on fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and the business-side of writing and publishing.4

Frequency of publication: 8 times a year.5

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.writersdigest.com/submission-guidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Opinion pieces, technique articles, market reports, author profiles, and more. Read the guidelines for more information.

Submission and review process: “We consider completed manuscripts on spec as well as original pitches. A query should include a thorough outline that introduces your article proposal and highlights each of the points you intend to make. Your query should discuss how the article will benefit our readers, why the topic is timely and why you’re the appropriate writer to discuss the topic. Although we welcome the work of new writers, we believe the established writer can better instruct our reader. Please include your publishing credentials related to your topic with your submission, along with a brief bio.” 6

Send email queries to the acquisitions editor at wdsubmissions [at] fwmedia.com. Include your name, address, daytime telephone number, and email address. Do not send attachments. Allow two to four months for a response.7

Editorial tone: “Our style is confident, authoritative yet conversational. Our voice is that of one publishing industry insider speaking to another—your trusted friend in the business.”8

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

For those who want to write better, get published, and participate in the vibrant culture of writers, this publication intends to inform, instruct, and inspire readers. Readers look to Writer’s Digest for specific ideas and tips that will help them succeed, whether success means getting into print, finding personal fulfillment through writing, or building and maintaining a thriving writing career and network.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 56,000 paid magazine circulation and 1.56 million page views monthly. 9

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: “We have a worldwide readership, but the majority of our readers live in the U.S. and Canada.”10 Writer’s Digest is published in English and would appeal to those who want to be better writers, and develop their skills and learn about publishing.

Reader characteristics: “The Writer’s Digest . . . community is highly educated and affluent, ranging from aspiring beginners to full-time professionals earning a living from their writing.”11 Readers are 69% female, college-educated, and 31% have been writing for more than 20 years.12 Writer’s Digest appeals to writers or those who wish to be writers. A reader would have to be interested in either becoming a writer or those working in the publishing industry.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: While writers, in general, are fans of libraries, an in-depth knowledge of LIS subject matter should not be assumed.

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

Many of the readers will have the need for research services and library materials, indicating a familiarity if not a love of libraries. This suggests articles by LIS writers would be well received and presents an opportunity to promote all things library or discuss writing and publishing from a librarian’s perspective.

Last updated: September 24, 2020


References

Show 12 footnotes

  1. Writer’s Digest, Urlichsweb Global Series Directory, accessed September 24, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1601000979437/55546
  2. “About Us,” WritersDigest.com, accessed September 24, 2020, https://www.writersdigest.com/resources/about-us
  3. Writer’s Digest.
  4. About Us.”
  5. Writer’s Digest.”
  6. “Submission Guidelines,” WritersDigest.com, accessed September 24, 2020, http://www.writersdigest.com/submission-guidelines
  7. Submission Guidelines.”
  8. Submission Guidelines.”
  9. “2020 Media Kit,” Aimmedia.com, accessed September 24, 2020, https://aim-mediakits.s3.amazonaws.com/WD-MEDIA+2020+rebuild+6.29.20.pdf
  10.  “Submission Guidelines.”
  11. 2020 Media Kit.”
  12. 2020 Media Kit.”
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San Francisco Chronicle

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: San Francisco Chronicle

ISSN: 1932-8672 (Print) 1

Website: http://www.sfchronicle.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The San Francisco Chronicle is, “…committed to coverage of subjects that are uniquely important to our readers: local issues and those topics with national impact such as economy, politics, technology, ecology, as well as breaking news, crime, education, national and foreign news.”2

Target audience: Readers throughout the Bay Area.3

Publisher: Hearst Communications, Inc.4

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian newspaper.

Medium: Print and online.5

Content: Local, state and national news, sports, politics, business, travel, entertainment and food. Online version also includes blogs.6

Frequency of publication: Daily in print; updated more frequently online.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/

Types of contributions accepted: The Chronicle accepts Letters to the Editor and Op-Ed pieces.7

Submission and review process: Submission is via an online form on the website and the review process depends on the type of submission. Limit on length of articles is: Op-Ed pieces (700 words), Letters to the editor (200 words).8 No information is provided as to acceptance rates or method of acceptance.

Editorial tone: Freewheeling. The newspaper, and especially the online edition, takes a tone of local interest that may mirror its audience. The Bay Area community is thought to be more liberal than other parts of the country.

Style guide used: None specified for the type of contributions accepted.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication’s participation in Chronicle in Education,9 which provides teacher lessons and information, suggests an active community involvement and would make the Chronicle a possible publication for an LIS-related article.

Chronicle readers pride themselves on being intelligent and well educated and keeping abreast of current events, especially at the local level. Publication in this newspaper offers a unique opportunity for those in the library field to inform and instruct a huge lay audience about issues facing libraries today. The Sunday edition’s Insight section “aims to provide a forum to shake up conventional wisdom and provoke fresh thinking.”10 This might be an excellent arena for librarians to bring library-related issues to the forefront of the public’s awareness.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Print version: daily circulation of  176,721; Sunday circulation of 211,774.11. Online version: 3.4 million unique visitors a month and 14.5 million pageviews a month.12

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: San Francisco, California, United States; online features are available worldwide. English.

Reader characteristics: 57$ of the readers have a college degree, with a median household income of $127,036. The median age of readers is 50, and 77% do not have children.13 It is likely that the interests of the Chronicle’s readers are local issues, and those affecting middle-class families. Considering the industries of San Francisco and the Bay Area, readers are likely to work in technology and computer jobs, the arts, and tourism. San Francisco is famous for being politically, socially, and economically progressive. Overall, its constituents are antiwar, pro-equal rights (including gay marriage), and San Francisco was one of the first cities in the country to give library cards to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The newspaper does not regularly focus on LIS subject matter, but local library issues and concerns might be raised in an editorial piece.

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

The audience of the San Francisco Chronicle are educators, parents, cab drivers, in the mayor’s office; they are you and me. With this in mind, authors should avoid library jargon (e.g., MARC, CONSER, AACR2) and specialized library science themes. Topics dealing with promoting library services, such as lobbying for the public’s free and open access to information, new reading programs, and issues with banned books, would be appropriate as this newspaper is targeting the general public.

Last updated: September 13, 2020


References

Show 13 footnotes

  1. San Francisco Chronicle, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 27, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1522201781182/551873
  2. “San Francisco Chronicle,” Hearst.com, accessed September 16, 2018, http://www.hearst.com/newspapers/san-francisco-chronicle
  3. San Francisco Chronicle.”
  4. San Francisco Chronicle.”
  5. San Francisco Chronicle.”
  6. San Francisco Chronicle.”
  7. “We Welcome Your Opinion,” SFGate.com, accessed September 13, 2020, https://www.sfchronicle.com/submit-your-opinion/
  8. We Welcome Your Opinion.”
  9. “San Francisco Chronicle,” NIEonline.com, accessed November 4, 2016, http://nieonline.com/sfchronicle/
  10. We Welcome Your Opinion.”
  11. “Media Kit 2020,” Hearst.com, accessed September 13, 2020, https://marketing.sfgate.com/hubfs/Media_Kit_and_File_Assets/MEDIA_KIT_GENERAL.pdf?hsLang=en
  12. Media Kit 2020.”
  13. Media Kit 2020.”
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