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Canadian Law Library Review

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Canadian Law Library Review/Revue canadienne des bibliothèques de droit

ISSN: 1180-176X

Website: https://callacbd.ca/Publications

Purpose, objective, or mission: CLLR is the official journal of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries/Association de bibliothèques de droit (CALL/ACBD), and publishes news, developments, articles, reports and reviews of interest to its members.

Target audience: Law librarians and other law library staff, primarily in Canada.

Publisher: Canadian Association of Law Libraries/Association de bibliothèques de droit. This is the national association for Canadian law libraries and law librarians.

Peer reviewed? Articles may be peer-reviewed by the request of the author.

Type: Scholarly1 and professional.2

Medium: Online. Formerly in print (until 2015).3

Content: Topics have included training and instruction programs in Canadian law libraries; current events and/or legislation as they pertain to Canadian law libraries or librarians; collection development; and legal research tools and technologies (e.g. artificial intelligence). While submissions may be made in either English or French, the majority of submissions are in English. The Editor’s and President’s messages are published in full in both English and French; the abstracts of featured articles are published in both English and French, while the full text of the article is presented in the language in which it was submitted.

Frequency of publication: Three times annually (March, July, and November).

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.callacbd.ca/Publications. See also the style guide.

Types of contributions accepted: Articles, reports and book reviews. Bibliographic information on relevant publications (especially government documents and material not widely publicized) is requested. Contributions may be from members or non-members of CALL/ACBD, and from library staff in any kind of library, so long as the content is relevant to the law library field. Submissions may be in either English or French.

Submission and review process: Submissions are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. All articles are subject to review, and editors may recommend revisions. Article may receive peer review if requested by the author. Authors receive no payment for publications, nor are they required to pay any fees as part of the submission, review, or publication process. 

Editorial tone: Scholarly, but may also be conversational.

Style guide used: CLLR uses the Canadian Uniform Guide to Legal Citation (“the McGill Guide”). The Canadian Style: A Guide to Writing and Editing may be used as support.4

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

CLLR is an excellent choice for students or recent graduates of LIS programs who have done coursework in legal librarianship or who are working in law libraries. Legal professionals (lawyers, judges, paralegals or law clerks, law students) may also be interested in writing for this journal. The subject matter covered is specialized, but relevancy to those working outside law libraries is often evident in the books reviewed and featured articles published, which often touch on topics outside a narrow definition of legal librarianship. The publication’s bilingual policy may encourage francophone Canadian authors to submit more broadly outside of unilingual French library journals. Authors interested in Canadian law and legal research, and/or social issues in Canada with a legal aspect, will find CLLR an excellent open-access option for publication.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: CLLR circulates to 475 members of CALL/ACBD. Indexed in the Index to Canadian Legal Literature, Index to Canadian Legal Periodical Literature, Legal Information and Management Index, Index to Canadian Periodical Literature, Library and Information Science Abstracts, HeinOnline5, CanLII6, EBSCOhost, and GALE7.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The audience is primarily Canadian, though issues discussed may also be relevant to readers in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. As submissions may be made in either English or French, it can be assumed that some segment of the readership is francophone.

Reader characteristics: Most readers are librarians or other library staff working in law libraries—either academic, government, or corporate—and engaged in current awareness of issues in Canadian law. There is no official political stance taken by the journal, but featured articles with a progressive slant have been published; total neutrality is not required of authors nor expected of readers.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Cultural and social issues with legal ramifications are of interest to readers. Pedagogy and research methodologies are also of interest for librarians engaged in teaching legal research skills to law students, whether they work in law schools or in law firms. Readers will generally have an understanding of legal and LIS terminology alike.

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

CLLR‘s readership are largely law library professionals who keep abreast of developments in Canadian law and best practices in librarianship. Most articles and reviews are written in a relatively accessible tone, but readers expect articles to display a thorough understanding of the legal system in Canada.

Last updated: November 15, 2022


References

Show 7 footnotes

  1. Canadian Law Library Review, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed November 12, 2022, https://www.ulrichsweb.com/ulrichsweb/analysis/.
  2. Publications, Canadian Association of Law Libraries, accessed November 12, 2022, https://www.callacbd.ca/Publications.
  3. Publications, Canadian Association of Law Libraries, accessed November 12, 2022, https://www.callacbd.ca/Publications.
  4. Style Guide for Canadian Law Library Review, Canadian Association of Law Libraries, accessed November 13, 2022.
  5. Publications, Canadian Association of Law Libraries, accessed November 12, 2022, https://www.callacbd.ca/Publications.
  6. Canadian Law Library Review, CanLII, accessed November 12, 2022, https://www.canlii.org/en/commentary/journals/17/.
  7. Canadian Law Library Review, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed November 12, 2022, https://www.ulrichsweb.com/ulrichsweb/analysis/.
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Library Juice Press

Publisher analysis


About the publisher

Name: Library Juice Press

Website: http://libraryjuicepress.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: Library Juice Press is an imprint of Litwin Books, “specializing in theoretical and practical issues in librarianship from a critical perspective, for an audience of professional librarians and students of library science.” They publish topics such as “library philosophy, information policy, library activism, and in general anything that can be placed under the rubric of ‘critical studies in librarianship.'”1

Target audience: Professional librarians and students of library science. 2

Owner: Litwin Books, LLC. 3

Are published books peer reviewed? “Our book publishing does not currently have a peer review process in place.” 4

Types of books published: LIS-specific books and manuscripts. 

Medium: Print.

Topics covered: Library philosophy, information policy, library activism, and any topics under the rubric of “critical studies in librarianship.” 5

Number of titles published per year: In 2020, Library Juice Press published four titles. 6

Location of submission guidelines: https://litwinbooks.com/authors/

About the publisher’s submission guidelines

Types of submissions accepted: The publisher accepts book proposals and full manuscripts on topics that are within its editorial scope.7 

Submission and review process:

If you would like to submit a manuscript, email it as an attached MS Word or RTF file using the appropriate email address below. Please follow the Litwin Books Submission Guidelines in formatting your manuscript. Please also attach 1) your CV, and 2) a separate document stating the intended audience and purpose of the book.

Book proposals should include the following:

  • The title of the proposed book
  • An outline
  • A list of already-published materials that you plan to include
  • Proposed deadline for submission of the final manuscript
  • A description of the book of between 100 and 500 words, stating the book’s subject matter, intended audience, intended purpose, and approach to the topic
  • A description of other works already published on the same topic that yours will be competing with.
  • A list of your prior publications
  • A relevant writing sample
  • Your CV8

Please send general book proposal submissions to inquiries@litwinbooks.com.

For book proposal submissions for the Series on Gender and Sexuality in Information Studies, contact series editor Emily Drabinski, at edrabinski@gc.cuny.edu.

For book proposal submissions for the Series on Critical Book, Publishing, and Literacy Studies, contact series editor Robert Montoya, at montoya@gseis.ucla.edu

For book proposal submissions for the Series on Archives, Archivists and Society, contact series editor Richard J. Cox, at rjcox111@comcast.net.

For book proposal submissions for the Series on Critical Race Studies and Multiculturalism in LIS, contact series editors Rose L. Chou, at roselovechou@gmail.com or Annie Pho, at anniepho@gmail.com.

For book proposal submissions for the Series on Critical Information Organization in LIS, contact series editors Violet Fox and Kelsey George at CritCat.InclusiveMetadata@gmail.com.

Editorial tone: Academic and professional.

Style guide used: “We do not require the use of a specific style guide. We do require that your chosen style is consistently and correctly applied throughout the work, whether a single authored work or an edited volume.” 9

Conclusion: Evaluation of publisher’s potential for LIS authors

Library Juice Press titles focus on theoretical investigations into library activism, social justice, feminist pedagogy, as well as practically oriented books like So You Want to Be a Librarian. The publisher produces serious, in-depth works with alternative perspectives. “Our independence from larger institutions gives us the freedom to offer critical perspectives that cut against the grain, as well as occasionally to give a scholar free rein with a work that is outside their usual publishing stream.” 10

A related and worthwhile opportunity to submit writing that is not book-length is Library Juice’s annual paper contest (2,000 to 10,000 words), which is designed “to encourage and reward good work in the field of library and information studies, humanistically understood, through a monetary award and public recognition.”11 The contest is open to librarians, library students, academics, and others. “Acceptable paper topics cover the full range of topics in the field of library and information studies, loosely defined. Any type of paper may be entered as long as it is not a report of an empirical study. Examples of accepted forms would be literature review essays, analytical essays, historical papers, and personal essays. The work may include some informal primary research, but may not essentially be the report of a study.”12

 

Audience analysis


About the publisher’s audience

Size (as measured by average number of copies per title published): Publishing since 2006, Library Juice Press has approximately 60 published titles. 13

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: While the publisher is based in California and books are published in English, recent Library Juice Press titles focus on international perspectives—i.e., academic librarian labor activism in Canada, and librarianship in the context of the Cuban revolution.

Reader characteristics: Readers are interested in content that addresses: social responsibility; information as a public good; intellectual freedom and civil liberties; print culture, web culture, visual culture, and the meaning of literacy; information policy and ethics; and the state of the library profession (issues of identity, work life, and de-professionalization).

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are professional librarians and students of library science who likely have a very strong knowledge of or strong interest in specific LIS subject areas.

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

Library Juice Press originated as a webzine and blog, covering “topics of interest to passionate librarians from a political left perspective that is linked to the fundamental values of the profession.” LIS authors seeking to publish works that are politically oriented or rooted outside the cultural mainstream may potentially find an audience through Library Juice Press.

Last updated: March 1, 2021


References

Show 13 footnotes

  1. “About Us,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed March 1, 2021, http://litwinbooks.com/about.php.
  2. “About Us.”
  3. “About Us.”
  4. “Policies,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed March 1, 2021,  https://litwinbooks.com/our-policies/
  5. “About Us.”
  6. “Books,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed March 1, 2021, https://litwinbooks.com/publisher/ljp/
  7. “Authors,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed March 1, 2021, https://litwinbooks.com/authors/
  8. “Authors.”
  9. “Submission Guidelines,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed March 1, 2021, https://litwinbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Litwin-Books-Submission-Guidelines-version-2.0.pdf
  10. “About Us.”
  11. “Library Juice Annual Paper Contest,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed September 15, 2015, https://litwinbooks.com/grants-and-awards/paper-contest/
  12. “Library Juice Annual Paper Contest.”
  13. “Books.”
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Los Angeles Times

**Please Excuse the Mess, Profile Update in Progress**

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Los Angeles Times (LA Times)

ISSN: 0458-3035 1

Purpose, objective, or mission:The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Times has been covering Southern California for more than 138 years.”2

“Bringing truth to power through creative storytelling, original reporting and accountability journalism that impacts lives and pushes change.” 3

Website: http://www.latimes.com/

Target audience: Residents of Southern California and beyond. “Millennials, Gen X, Multicultural Influencers, Affluent Consumers, Families and Parents, Boomers.” 4

Publisher: Los Angeles Times Media Group.5

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian publication.

Medium: Print and online. Archives are available online from the founding of the paper in 1881.6

Content: News reports, investigative journalism, editorials, reviews, and various columns. The website’s sections include news at the Local, Nation, World level, as well as Business, Climate & Environment, Entertainment & Arts, Food, Housing & Homeless, Lifestyle, Opinion, Politics, Science, Sports, and Travel. Several more options can be found viewing the Site Map. 7 Of interest to LIS writers, there is a special Books sub-section under Entertainment, including fiction and nonfiction book reviews and features.

Frequency of publication: Daily. 8

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.latimes.com/oe-howtosubmitoped-story.html

Types of contributions accepted: Op-ed articles are welcome on any subject. Per the website, “Most articles are about 750 words in length, though some are shorter, and on Sundays we can sometimes run pieces as long as 1,200 words 9 For more information on op-ed pieces, see former editor Nicholas Goldberg’s explanation of op-ed processes and goals. 10

Letters to the Editor are another option if you wish to respond to anything already published. They are limited to 150 words. 11

Blowback, is another opportunity to publish within the Times. “Got a beef with the L.A. Times? Read something in the paper that really ticked you off, but haven’t got a place to make your opinion heard? Want to write an article about it and get it into The Times? Blowback is The Times’ forum for full-length responses to our articles, editorials and Op-Eds. It is the missing link between the 150-word letter to the editor and the Op-Ed piece, and you’re invited to participate. We’re willing to post Blowback items on both news and opinion pieces, but our focus is on opinion. The idea is to present countering opinions, not to provide a forum for pointing out errors or critiquing bias in the Times’ news coverage.12

Submission and review process:  Op-Ed articles: Email op-ed submissions to oped@latimes.com. We make every effort to read manuscripts promptly. If the article is accepted for publication, you will hear from a Times editor within five days. We regret that the volume of submissions we receive means that we cannot respond individually to each article, nor can we provide feedback to proposals or queries. 13

Letters to the Editor: Complete the form located here . “We generally do not publish more than one letter from a single person within any 60-day period. Letters become the property of The Times and may be republished in any format. They typically run 150 words or less and may be edited. You will be contacted if your letter is a candidate for publication.” 14

Blowback: Email Blowback submissions to blowback@latimes.com. 15

Editorial tone: Journalistic.

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Los Angeles Times is read by a general audience (not necessarily confined to Southern California) who wants to be ahead of the local and world news. Op-ed pieces about new digital collections, expanded library services, or opening of a new library branch would benefit LIS authors. You might also consider submitting a press release or event listing regarding a library event.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The Los Angeles Times is “the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 1.3 million and 2 million on Sunday, more than 30 million unique latimes.com visitors monthly and a combined print and online local weekly audience of 4.6 million.” 16

According to their current media kit, The Times has 46 Million unique visitors, 90 Million page views, 7 Million+ social followers, 332,000 monthly shares on Apple News, 845,000 video views, 4.4 Million weekly print + digital readers in Los Angeles, 2.9 million weekly print readers, 1.8 million Sunday print readers, and 1.2 Million daily print readers. 17

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Los Angeles Times is regional to Southern California, but it’s journalism and reporting covers content on a global scale. While printed in English, Los Angeles Times En Español is also available.

Reader characteristics: “We reach distinct, affluent and diverse audiences of multiple generations, demographics, preferences and interests.” 18

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Being a lay publication, Los Angeles Times will require LIS jargon-free contributions. While readers may be familiar with library issues, like Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) and Dewey call numbers, generally authors should avoid writing on heavily specialized library topics such as OpenURL link resolver software technology or collection management.

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

The newspaper’s readers are spread all over the world. They are everyday patrons and potential donors, suggesting they may wish to keep their submissions LIS jargon free and stay away from highly specialized topics. There is potential for publishing on a myriad of topics through the Op-Ed avenue that may be of interest to readers.

Last updated: December 5, 2020


References

Show 18 footnotes

  1. Los Angeles Times, WorldCat.org, accessed March 24, 2018, https://www.worldcat.org/title/los-angeles-times/oclc/474112039
  2. “About,” LATimes.com, accessed October 3, 2016, https://www.latimes.com/about
  3. “Media Kit,” LATimes.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://mediakit.latimes.com/
  4. “Media Kit.”
  5. “About.”
  6. “Archives,” LATimes.com, accessed October 23, 2018, https://latimes.newspapers.com/
  7. “Site Map,” LATimes.com, accessed October 3, 2016, http://www.latimes.com/about/la-sitemap-htmlstory.html
  8. “About Us.”
  9. “Submitting an article to Op-Ed,” LATimes.com, accessed October 3, 2016, http://www.latimes.com/oe-howtosubmitoped-story.html
  10. “Op-Ed, Explained,” LATimes.com, accessed October 3, 2016, http://www.latimes.com/news/la-oe-pages23oct23-story.html
  11. “Submitting an article to Op-Ed.”
  12. “About Blowback,” LATimes.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-op-blowback-about-story.html
  13. “Submitting an article to Op-Ed.”
  14. “Submit a letter to the Editor,” LATimes.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.latimes.com/opinion/submit-letter-to-the-editor
  15. “About Blowback.”
  16. “About.”
  17. “Media Kit.”
  18. “Media Kit.”
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Mental Floss

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Mental Floss

ISSN: Print: 1543-4702 (ceased), Online: N/A 1

Website: http://www.mentalfloss.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Whether we’re covering history, science, pop culture, language, music, true crime, or entertainment, we help our audience feel smarter. Our New York City-based team of editors and writers—as well as our worldwide network of contributors—answers life’s big questions, uncovers fascinating facts, and finds stories so interesting that our readers absolutely must share them.”2

Mental Floss delivers smart, fun and shareable content in an upbeat and witty environment. An encyclopedia of everything, we answer life’s big questions and uncover stories so interesting our readers absolutely must share them. We take all culture and make it pop culture.” 3

Target audience: “Curious People.” 4

Publisher: Minute Media. 5

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian publication.

Medium: Online. Print issues ceased in 2016. 6

Content: Fun and informative pieces on a wide variety of subjects with a focus on shareability.7

Frequency of publication: Daily.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/625670/how-to-pitch-mental-floss

Types of contributions accepted: “We’re always looking for new voices to write about the diverse verticals we cover, whether that’s history, science, entertainment, language, pop culture, art, or beyond.” 8

PITCHES WE CAN USE 9
Lists

Lists are an overview of a topic in digestible-nugget form. Each list will cover the who, what, when, and where of the subject, plus its significance, and pay particular attention to quirky or little-known facts about the subject. Pitches may focus on the below topics:

Subjects that have a major anniversary coming up
Historical figures and events
Movies and TV series
Music
Literature and art
Language
Food and drink
Helpful tips and life hacks
Scientific discoveries, phenomena, and figures
Pop culture fads, events, and personalities

Features

Features are reported stories that delve into a topic from a particular angle and with strong characters and storytelling. Features can be short (500 words) or longer (800-1500 words). Areas ripe for features include:

Historical events that put current events into perspective
Exploring and/or answering a big question
Science stories that explain a new field of research or highlight a scientist’s ongoing work
A deep dive into a pop culture event or phenomenon in history
True crime and unsolved mysteries
Features about odd, unique, or little-known historical events and people

PITCHES WE CAN’T USE 10
Short, timely news stories: these pieces are covered by our staff writers
Science articles based on a single study: these are also covered by staff writers
First-person articles or personal essays
Fiction, memoir, or poetry
Current politics or political opinion
Stories based solely on PR pitches

Tips provided by Mental Floss: Keep your pitch short (1-2 paragraphs) and let them know if you have a particular expertise on the subject. Include a link to your portfolio/work samples. Do not pitch or send completed articles.  Take the time to brainstorm a possible headline for your story, and include that as part of the subject line, i.e. Freelance Pitch: 50 Amazing Facts About Animals. Having a headline can help us better understand the angle you plan to use with your story. 11

Submission and review process: “Expect a response to your pitch within two weeks. If you do not receive a response after two weeks, you can assume it’s a pass. Due to the number of pitches we receive each day, we are unfortunately not able to respond to every pitch we receive.” 12

Editorial tone: Informal and conversational. Witty, humorous, and informative.

Style guide used: None stated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This would be an excellent publication for LIS authors. Librarians are knowledge and information brokers and are often referred to as Renaissance people because of their vast array of knowledge. This type of website caters to that deep storehouse of information. And this website in particular might provide a nice respite from the regular scholarly articlesa way to showcase not only your knowledge but your sense of humor.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “Since its founding in a Duke University dorm room in 2001, Mental Floss has reached more than 1 billion readers with smart, quirky content presented in a witty, upbeat voice. We reach more than 19 million users per month across our site, social media accounts, and popular YouTube channel.” 13

According to Visitor’s Worth website, Mental Floss has approximately 58,000 daily visitors, with 154,000 daily page views. 14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: According to Visitor’s Worth website, the most traffic for the publication comes from audiences in the United States, but the website also has a following in the UK, Canada, India, and Germany. 15 The website publishes in the English language.

Reader characteristics: In general, readers want to expand their knowledge in easily digested tidbits without having to read a whole book on a subject. For example, a past issue boiled down complex theories such as chaos theory, string theory, evolution, game theory, and artificial intelligence into one-to-two-page summaries that mix facts with wit and humor. There are no particular biases in the readership of this publication, except a propensity for trivia and Jeopardy-like knowledge.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers’ LIS knowledge would vary depending on their interest and work environment. It would be safe to assume a number of librarians read and enjoy this publication, but as the focus is on providing intelligent, humorous articles, use of LIS jargon should be avoided.

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

Potential authors should keep in mind that readers already have a vast amount of information and wish to add to that knowledge in an enjoyable way. When writing articles for this publication, try to mix education with entertainment. No topic is off limits if you can approach it with new or interesting information presented in a fun way.

Last updated: December 5, 2020


References

Show 15 footnotes

  1. Mental Floss, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed December 5, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1521935574828/407043
  2. “About Us,” mentalfloss.com, accessed December 5, 2020, http://mentalfloss.com/about-us
  3. “Mental Floss,” MinuteMedia.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.minutemedia.com/mentalfloss
  4. “About Us.”
  5. “Mental Floss.”
  6. “Life After Print for Mental Floss,” FolioMag.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.foliomag.com/life-after-print-for-mental-floss/
  7. “About Us”
  8. “Pitch,” MentalFloss.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/625670/how-to-pitch-mental-floss
  9. “Pitch.”
  10. “Pitch.”
  11. “Pitch.”
  12. “Pitch.”
  13. “About Us.”
  14. “www.mentalfloss.com,” VisitorsWorth.com, accessed December 5, 2020,  http://visitorsworth.com/www.mentalfloss.com
  15. “www.mentalfloss.com.”
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Book Riot

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Book Riot

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.bookriot.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Book Riot is the largest independent editorial book site in North America, and home to a host of media, from podcasts to newsletters to original content, all designed around diverse readers and across all genres.” 1

“We’re dedicated to the idea that writing about books and reading should be just as diverse as books and readers are. We began with the goal of leading a new discussion around books, readers, and publishing. Individually and collaboratively, we do the work each day to innovate fresh content and services to our readers, amplify marginalized voices, and challenge ourselves and our community to be inclusive.” 2

Target audience: People who love books and reading about books.

Publisher: Riot New Media Group. 3

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian publication.

Medium: Online.

Content: “The content is comprised of humor, reviews, commentary, and news as well as editorials on topics related to the reading experience. Book Riot addresses new technology in the literary space and developments in the publishing industry.” 4

Frequency of publication: New content is posted daily.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://bookriot.com/write-for-book-riot

Types of contributions accepted: “If you can write something smart or funny or interesting or provocative about books in the space of about 600-800 words, we’re interested in hearing from you. Your samples should be things you think could go up on Book Riot just as they are. We recommend that one be an entry for the Our Reading Lives series, and the other on any topic of your choosing.” 5

DO NOT submit “traditional book reviews, interviews, or links to Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon, etc. Also, please do not submit image-heavy pieces; we want to get a feel for your voice and writing style.”6

DO NOT send “writing samples unrelated to books and reading. Your samples should show us that you understand how we do things here at the Riot and that you can do it too. Want to learn more about who we are? Poke around the site, and check us out on InstagramTwitterFacebook, and our content on Goodreads.” 7

Submission and review process: “Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond to each one. We’re currently accepting applicants on a rolling basis. If you are accepted, you’ll hear back within one month of submitting your application.” 8

Editorial tone: Sometimes serious, sometimes silly, but never stuffy or boring.

Style guide used: None given.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

If you love books and have blogging experience, this is a great place to submit writing. The pieces are fun, cover a wide range of books, and aren’t limited to just reviews: the site loves top 10 lists of all flavors, introductions to authors you’ve never read, giveaways, and posts about current events like Amazon acquiring Goodreads and how that will affect readers. The site isn’t peer reviewed and might not help you gain tenure, but it’s a wonderful community of book lovers who will most likely appreciate an LIS writer’s perspective on reading.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: According to the 2020 Media Kit, 3.2m+ global monthly unique visitors, 1.1M+ email subscribers, 1.5m+ Social connections. 9 

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Book Riot states it is the largest independent editorial book site in North America. 10

Reader characteristics: According to the 2020 Media Kit, 50% of readers are between the ages of 18-35, 16% of readers are between the ages of 35-45, 64% are female, 51% have children, 45% attended college with 26% attended grad school. Readers have “above average” household income. Reader industries include education and library, business services and retail. Reader interests include books and literature, comics and animation, cooking, and pets. 11

Audience Bookish Habits: Average 80 books read per year, spend an average of $371 per year on books, 34% are currently in a book club, 46% have subscribed to a book subscription service. 12

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will most likely have some knowledge, but this is strictly a civilian publication that doesn’t want to be too stuffy, so keep the LIS jargon out of your submissions.

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

If you have blogging experience and a good social media presence, this would be an ideal site to pitch ideas. Think beyond mere book reviews; Book Riot is the place for more thoughtful, interesting, or just plain fun commentary around reading or books. Readers will be receptive to a librarian’s perspective and insight, and the field is wide open for LIS-related ideas that can appeal to a lay reader.

Last updated: November 27, 2020


References

Show 12 footnotes

  1. “About Us.”, BookRiot.com, accessed November 27, 2020, https://bookriot.com/about/
  2. “Join Us.”, BookRiot.com, accessed November 27, 2020, https://bookriot.com/join-us/
  3. “About Us.”
  4. “Advertise.”, BookRiot.com, accessed November 27, 2020, https://bookriot.com/advertise/
  5. “Write for Book Riot.”, BookRiot.com, accessed November 27, 2020, https://bookriot.com/write-for-book-riot
  6. “Write for Book Riot.”
  7. “Write for Book Riot.”
  8. “Write for Book Riot.”
  9. “Media Kit.”, BookRiot.com, accessed November 27, 2020, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fFONL49_WYqrqOhjDjc6oxZechhDbdq-/view
  10. “Media Kit.”
  11. “Media Kit.”
  12. “Media Kit.”
Continue Reading

Municipal World

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Municipal World

ISSN: 0027-35891

Website: http://www.municipalworld.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: Municipal World is a magazine “devoted to promoting effective municipal government.”2. Founded in 1891, it is the oldest continuously published monthly municipal magazine in the world.3

“Each month, Municipal World examines the issues that impact communities: new federal and provincial policies and legislation; new theories about economic development and renewal; new strategies and emerging best practices from communities like yours across the nation.” 4

Target audience: This publication is aimed at elected and appointed officials involved in municipal government interested in providing effective service to their constituents.5

Publisher: Municipal World, Inc., Ontario, Canada.6

Peer reviewed? No.7

Type: Civilian publication for those involved in the municipal sector.

Medium: Print, with current issue TOC, keyword, and article search available online at their website. Digital editions of Municipal World Magazine are also available, but to subscribers only. 8

Content: According to their website, “articles addressing the pressing problems of the municipal sector” and regular features concerning the environment, governance, management, and procurement. Contents also include upcoming events, Canadian Municipal Code, professional directory, job board, and sources for forms and supplies.9

Frequency of publication: Monthly.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://municipalworld.com/magazine/editorial-guidelines/

Types of contributions accepted:Municipal World welcomes contributed articles from individuals working in the municipal sector or aligned to the field. Submissions may be considered for our online feature articles, print/digital editions, or special themed publications.” 11

“The scope of potential topics for article submissions is very wide; submissions can focus on any subject area that will be of interest to senior municipal administrators and local government elected officials and in Canada. We do have several ‘theme’ issues throughout the year, which may be relevant for something you are contemplating. Contact the Editor for more information.” 12

“Most articles published in Municipal World are in the range of 1,200 to 2,000 words. As a rule of thumb, 1,400-1,800 words is ideal. However, exceptions can be made at the editor’s discretion to accommodate longer or shorter articles. Our best advice: brevity enhances the prospect of publication.” 13

Submission and review process: “The editor ultimately decides upon the content of the publication, including your article, and reserves the right to reject any submission, or to edit your submission for length, content that may have been covered in a previous article, inappropriate information for the interest of our readership, or style.” 14

“As topics for each issue are selected on a ‘what’s hot’ basis, we cannot guarantee a definite date for publication of articles. Periodically, we schedule special feature issues. For example human resources, heritage, technology, environment, or economic development. These factors also determine our selection of articles.” 15

Editorial tone: As noted in style guide entry, publication prefers “streamlined and straightforward” writing.  Authors are encouraged to “present convincing documentation to prove the point” and nothing else. 16

Style guide used: No style guide specified. This guidance provided: “Our preferred style is streamlined and straightforward, to minimize legal and technical jargon, and to spell out all acronyms on the first reference. Use the simplest word that makes the point. For example: “use” instead of “utilize”; “rain” instead of “precipitation event.” Articles should be as specific as possible, and use active voice, rather than passive voice. Articles written in the first person (e.g., using “I” or “we” throughout) are generally inappropriate…Do not include personal opinions and organizational position statements. Rather, present convincing documentation to prove the point.” 17

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This magazine, like others of its kind, offers great potential for increasing the visibility of Canadian public libraries with the government administrators who fund and support them (or not). As library leader Ken Haycock pointed out in a blog post, 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.”18

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The website draws an audience of more than 53,000, the weekly newsletter has more than 18,000 subscribers, and the publication has more than 19,000 social media followers. 19

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Canada. Given the geographic location, English speaking authors from outside Canada would be best served respecting the Canadian spelling of English words. While municipal governments throughout the world bear similarities, contributors should have an understanding of issues specific to Canadian municipal government.

Reader characteristics: As appointed and elected officials in Canadian government and others working in municipal government, readers would share a strong sense of service to their community and are likely proud of being a Canadian. Readers will likely possess education beyond high school, often a professional degree in law, accounting, engineering, architecture, planning, or management. Workplace likely a government agency or entity. Interest would likely be broad, any topic that effects their community and constituents including: election process, environmental concerns, provision of social services, and changes in legislation.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Knowledge of LIS subject matter will vary widely and authors should not assume any LIS background. As professor emeritus and former director at San Jose School of Library and Information Science Ken Haycock often reminded SLIS students, our LIS degree could support a number of job titles and careers beyond “librarian;” librarians, information professionals, and individuals with LIS degrees, due to the economy and the ever changing LIS field, are finding themselves in leadership positions in civil service.

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

Given that the readership of Municipal World is, by and large, an educated group committed to serving the public, they would likely have an understanding of the needs of other organizations, such as libraries, that serve the public. LIS authors could utilize this common understanding and promote the value of libraries when writing for Municipal World, as long as they also ensure the topic of their article is relevant and their authoritative voice is well grounded in experience. Authors will need to ensure they establish their link to the municipal government world, their authority on the article topic as well as the relevance to the readership of this publication.

Last updated: November 21, 2020


References

Show 19 footnotes

  1.  Municipal World, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 24, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1521936758490/17162
  2. “About Municipal World,” MunicipalWorld.com, accessed October 16, 2016, https://municipalworld.com/about_us
  3. “About Municipal World.”
  4. “Municipal World Magazine,” MunicipalWorld.com, accessed November 21, 2020, https://municipalworld.com/magazine
  5. “About Municipal World.”
  6. “About Municipal World.”
  7. “Editorial Guidelines,” MunicipalWorld.com, accessed October 16, 2016,  http://www.municipalworld.com/magazine/editorial-guidelines/
  8. “Municipal World Magazine.”
  9. “Municipal World Magazine.”
  10. “Municipal World Magazine.”
  11.   “Editorial Guidelines.”
  12. “Editorial Guidelines.”
  13. “Editorial Guidelines.”
  14. “Editorial Guidelines.”
  15. “Editorial Guidelines.”
  16. “Editorial Guidelines.”
  17. “Editorial Guidelines.”
  18. “One Way to Raise Your Profile,” Ken Haycock Blog, April 16, 2012, http://kenhaycock.com/one-way-to-raise-your-profile/
  19. “Advertise.”, municipalworld.com, accessed on November 21, 2020, https://www.municipalworld.com/advertise/
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The Washington Post

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: The Washington Post 

ISSN: 0190-8286 (Print).1

Website: https://www.washingtonpost.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “The Washington Post engages, informs and entertains the most influential minds. We shape the world through our news coverage and analysis. Our tradition of journalistic excellence and unparalleled access, paired with cutting-edge engineering, make The Washington Post the trusted source for our audience.”2

Target audience: Local Washington D.C. readers, regional readers, national readers, and global readers. 

Publisher: Nash Holdings, LLC.3

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian newspaper. 

Medium: Print and online. 

Content: The Washington Post covers a variety of topics from politics, technology, sports, arts and entertainment, and business, to world news and more. 

Frequency of publication: Daily print publication and a website with content that is updated frequently. 

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submission guidelines for op-eds can be found at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/submit-an-op-ed/ and submission guidelines for letters to the editor can be found at https://helpcenter.washingtonpost.com/hc/en-us/articles/236004788-Send-a-letter-to-the-editor

Types of contributions accepted: Op-eds and letters to the editor are the accepted submission types. 

Submission and review process

Op-eds should be submitting using the op-ed submission form found on The Washington Post’s website. Information required in the submission form is as follows: author’s name, contact email address, contact phone number, the subject of the op-ed, and the op-ed text. The maximum length of the op-ed is 800 words and should be input in the text box as plain text without brackets.4

Letters to the editor can be sent to The Washington Post via mail, however, The Washington Post mentions that they strongly encourage authors to send their submission via email instead. Email submissions can be sent to letters [at] washpost.com (include the text of the letter in the email’s body; letters sent as email attachments will not be opened) and mailed letters can be addressed to Letters to the Editor, The Washington Post, 1301 K Street NW, Washington DC 20071.5

Letters should be 200 words or less, must include the writer’s name, and cannot have been published elsewhere. Additionally, “for verification purposes, they must include the writer’s home address, email address and telephone numbers, including a daytime telephone number.”6 Letters may be edited for length or clarity if necessary and, time permitting, editors at The Washington Post will confer with the author regarding the changes. For the best chance at getting your letter published, “Letters editor Jamie Riley looks for concise letters that offer a new perspective or add depth to the discussion of an issue.”7 If you haven’t heard back from editors at The Washington Post within 2 weeks, your letter most likely did not get selected for publication. 

Editorial tone: A review of the current articles reflects an informal but informational tone. 

Style guide used: Several articles alluded to a Washington Post style guide existing, however, it could not be located. 

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

Publishing a piece in The Washington Post would be an excellent way for authors to present LIS issues and topics to a global audience and a great addition to an author’s resume or CV. Pieces can focus on LIS topics and issues on a national level, global level, or be specific to the Washington D.C. area. Examples of LIS articles published in The Washington Post are “COVID-19 took away our family’s second home: The library” and  “Six ways to get to know D.C.’s beautifully renovated MLK Library — from a distance”. 

For tips on how to get your piece published in The Washington Post, take a look at this guide that The Washington Post released in January of 2020. 

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 1.6 million print readers per week, 104 million unique monthly visitors nationwide and 38 million international unique monthly visitors.8

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The Washington Post has a national and global readership and is published in English. 

Reader characteristics: The Washington Post divides its readers into four audience groups: Global, Leadership, Local/Washington, D.C. Market and International/Non-US.9  

Global

As stated by The Washington Post Media Kit, their publication is the “fastest growing news site in the world.”10

Leadership:

The Media Kit for the Washington Post asserts that the paper is “. . . the #1 news source for reaching opinion leaders and decision makers in the beltway.”11

Local/Washington, D.C. Market:

1.6 million people in the D.C. market area read the print version of The Washington Post weekly and there are 2 million unique digital visitors from the D.C. market area per month.12

International/Non-US:

The Washington Post sees 38 million unique international visitors per month. “This international coverage unfolds around the clock seven days a week with timely, accessible and original coverage from bureaus on every continent.”13

Readers’ knowledge of LIS subject matter: Authors should assume that readers do not have knowledge of, and/or are not familiar with, LIS topics, issues or jargon. 

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

The Washington Post provides authors with the potential to reach a large audience with diverse viewpoints, lifestyles, and cultures. Pieces tailored to one (or more) of the four audience groups will do well, for instance, leadership in the LIS field, how COVID-19 has affected libraries in the US or library accessibility in other countries. 

Last updated: November 15, 2020

Show 13 footnotes

  1. “The Washington Post”, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed November 2, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1604370915478/406763
  2. “About”, WashingtonPost.com, accessed November 2, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/mediakit/about/
  3. The Washington Post.
  4. “Submit an Op-Ed”, WashingtonPost.com, accessed November 07, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/submit-an-op-ed/
  5. “Send a letter to the editor”, WashingtonPost.com, accessed November 7, 2020, https://helpcenter.washingtonpost.com/hc/en-us/articles/236004788-Send-a-letter-to-the-editor
  6. Send a letter to the editor.
  7. Send a letter to the editor.
  8. “2020 Media Kit”, WashingtonPost.com, accessed November 7, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/mediakit/
  9. 2020 Media Kit.
  10. “Global” , WashingtonPost.com, accessed November 15, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/mediakit/audience-global/
  11. “Leadership”, WashingtonPost.com, accessed November 15, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/mediakit/audience-leadership/
  12. “Local Dominance”, WashingtonPost.com, accessed November 15, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/mediakit/audience-local/
  13. “International”, WashingtonPost.com, accessed November 15, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/mediakit/audience-international/
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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/
Continue Reading

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.
Continue Reading

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
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  4. “The Denver Post Ethics Policy,” DenverPost.com, accessed October 5, 2020, https://www.denverpost.com/ethics-policy/#freelance
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  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.”
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