Wiki Tags Archives: Opinion

Monterey County Weekly

By Katie Wood on November 8, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Monterey County Weekly

ISSN: N/A

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

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The Press Democrat

By Katie Wood on November 8, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Press Democrat

ISSN: 0747-220X (Print)¹

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

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

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

Publisher: Sonoma Media Investments, LLC.⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: Civilian newspaper.

Medium: Print and online.⁶

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

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

About the publication’s submission guidelines

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

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

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

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

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

Editorial tone: Informative.

Style guide used: None stated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

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

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last updated: November 8, 2020

References

Show 14 footnotes

The Chronicle of Higher Education

By Katie Wood on November 7, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Chronicle of Higher Education

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

Website: http://chronicle.com/

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

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

Target audience: Higher education faculty and administration.⁴

Publisher: Chronicle of Higher Education, Inc.⁵

Peer reviewed? No. ⁶

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

Medium: Print and online.⁸

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

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

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

About the publication’s submission guidelines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Editorial tone: Journalistic and conversational.

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

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

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

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

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

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last updated: November 7, 2020

References

Show 21 footnotes

Budget Travel

By Katie Wood on October 25, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Budget Travel

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.budgettravel.com

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

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

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

Target audience: Travelers within the United States.

Publisher: Lonely Planet Global, Inc. ⁴

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian.

Medium: Online.

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

Frequency of publication: Frequent, almost daily online content.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

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

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

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

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

Style guide used: Not specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

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

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

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last updated: October 25, 2020

References

Show 7 footnotes

Pittsburgh City Paper

By Katie Wood on October 25, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Pittsburgh City Paper

ISSN: 1066-0062¹

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

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

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

Target audience: Pittsburgh city residents.

Publisher: Eagle Media Corp.⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: Civilian, alternative newspaper.

Medium: Print and online.

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

Frequency of publication: Weekly.⁷

About the publication’s submission guidelines

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

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

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

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

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

Editorial tone: Informal and clever.

Style guide used: Not specified in guidelines.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

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

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 58,000.¹²

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

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

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

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

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

Last updated: October 25, 2020

References

Show 13 footnotes

The Denver Post

By Bethany Baker on October 13, 2020 in

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

The New York Times

By Katie Wood on October 3, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The New York Times

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

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

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

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

Website: http://www.newyorktimes.com

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

Publisher: The New York Times Company. ⁵

Peer reviewed? No. ⁶

Type: Civilian daily newspaper for the general public.

Medium: Print and online.

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

Frequency of publication: Daily.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

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

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

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

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

Submission and review process:

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

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

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

Editorial tone: Informational and investigative.

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

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

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

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

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last updated: October 3, 2020

References

Show 17 footnotes

Mother Jones

By Katie Wood on October 2, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Mother Jones

ISSN: 0362-8841 (Print) and 2169-7396 (Online)¹

Website: http://www.motherjones.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: America’s longest-established investigative news organization. , Mother Jones “goes deep on the biggest stories of the moment, from politics and crime and justice, to education, climate change, and food.”²

“Our mission is to deliver hard-hitting reporting that inspires change and combats ‘alternative facts’.” ³

“Mother Jones’ founders envisioned a magazine devoted to a new brand of socially conscious journalism—one that took on corporate as well as political power. Twenty-five years later, that mission remains as timely as ever.” ⁴

“Mother Jones has also remained a strong voice for social justice: Racial discrimination, women’s rights, environmental justice, and the plight of immigrant farmworkers are all issues you will find covered in the magazine from its first year of publication to the present. Another major theme over the years has been the bloated American military budget and the way the United States uses its superpower influence overseas.” ⁵

“Our bias is for the truth, for fairness and justice, for a democracy in which facts matter and all can participate. It’s not a partisan position—we believe these values are bigger than party—but it is a point of view, and we believe journalism should be transparent about its values. We also believe in investigating any story worth digging into, and in rigorously following the facts where they lead; our fact-checking and verification protocol is one of the most extensive in the industry.” ⁶

Target audience: Readers who are interested in politics, environmental issues, and social justice.

Publisher: The Foundation for National Progress.⁷

Peer reviewed? No. ⁸

Type: Civilian news magazine.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: Investigative journalism covering politics, the environment, and culture.⁹ “We’re interested in just about anything that will raise our readers’ eyebrows, but we focus especially on these areas: national politics, environmental issues, corporate wrongdoing, human rights, and political influence in all spheres.” ¹⁰

Frequency of publication: Bimonthly.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://motherjones.com/about/writer-guidelines

Types of contributions accepted: “While much of our content comes from staff writers and freelancers with whom we’ve had long-standing relationships, Mother Jones magazine and MotherJones.com will consider solidly reported, hard-hitting, groundbreaking news stories. We’re also open to thought-provoking, timely opinion and analysis pieces on important current issues.” ¹¹

“Our readership is nationwide, so please, no local issues unless they have national interest or implications. At the same time, anything that has already been covered extensively in the major national media will probably not work for us, unless you have some new unique angle. We will look at cultural essays, but not travel pieces. Save yourself and us time and effort by taking a good look at our site and/or the magazine before you send a query.”¹²

Submission and review process: Freelance writers should submit a query by email. Per their guidelines, “Tell us in no more than a few paragraphs what you plan to cover, why it’s important and interesting, and how you will report it. The query should convey your approach, tone, and style, and should answer the following: What are your specific qualifications for writing on this topic? What ins do you have with your sources? If other major stories have been done on this topic, how will yours be different—and better? Please also include a line or two about your background and two or three of your most relevant clips (links are fine).” ¹³

Web pieces are generally fewer than 1,500 words. Because we have staff reporters it is extremely rare that we will pay for a piece whose timeliness or other qualities work for the web only. Magazine pieces can range up to 5,000 words. There is at least a two-month lead time.” ¹⁴

Editorial tone: Investigative and Informative

Style guide used: No style guide is mentioned.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Although first-time authors may have a difficult time getting published with Mother Jones, the magazine has a large base of politically-conscious readers, which would provide a wonderful stage for any LIS authors who have a very specific agenda. Since the scope of the publication involves investigative and informative journalism, LIS authors could potentially write about field trends, controversies, and challenges to LIS. For example, here are some recent publications pertinent to LIS: The Library Worker Whose Bosses Blew Her Off When She Asked Questions, Books Have the Power to Rehabilitate. But Prisons Are Blocking Access to Them, and A Library Straddling the Border is Giving Immigrant Families a Safe Place to Reunite.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “Mother Jones has expanded its audience reach from 600,000 to nearly 14 million readers in the past decade. This includes over 13 million unique online visitors each month and 200,000 print subscribers.” ¹⁵

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Published in the United States.¹⁶ Published in English.

Reader characteristics: “Mother Jones readers are informed about key issues and are concerned about their impact on public life. Interested in many subjects, from politics and social justice to education and the environment, our readers seek news coverage that provides an accurate and nuanced view of the world around them.” ¹⁷

Per their media kit, 53% are women, 94% attended college, 80% are homeowners. “According to recent subscriber studies, Mother Jones readers say/do the following: 98% willing to pay more for high-quality items, 84% consider themselves intellectuals, 84% environmental impact is important when considering a purchase, 80% social responsibility influences how they invest, 73% advise their friends and family on books, music, movies, TV, and other media, 84% willing to pay more for organic food.” ¹⁸

“Mother Jones readers are more engaged in public life than most. 83% vote in federal, state, and municipal elections and sign petitions for various causes. 75% of readers say they were motivated to take an action in the real world as the result of a Mother Jones article.” ¹⁹

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Though it is likely there are a number of LIS professionals that read this publication, the primary audience would not be informed about LIS issues.

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

Authors need to keep in mind the readers of Mother Jones are well-educated and expect straightforward, thoughtful writing that broadens their knowledge of the world. Readers care about social issues and will most likely be receptive to stories about libraries and library advocacy.

Last updated: October 2, 2020

References

Show 19 footnotes

The Christian Science Monitor

By Katie Wood on September 19, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Christian Science Monitor

ISSN: 2166-3262¹

Website: http://www.csmonitor.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: An independent international news organization, the aim of which is to “embrace the human family, shedding light with the conviction that understanding the world’s problems and possibilities moves us towards solutions.”² Though owned by the Christian Science church, the Monitor purports to be secular in its reporting save for one “clearly labeled religious article” published each weekday.³

“We want to help you to see news events as starting points for constructive conversations. We seek to cut through the froth of the political spin cycle to underlying truths and values. We want to be so focused on progress that together we can provide a credible and constructive counter-narrative to the hopelessness-, anger-, and fear-inducing brand of discourse that is so pervasive in the news.” ⁴

“We are not about promoting any specific set of policies, actions or ideologies. The founder of the Monitor was convinced that what reaches and affects thought ultimately shapes experiences and moves our world forward. News, therefore, should be thought-provoking, trustworthy, and engaging.” ⁵

Target audience: General public. “The Monitor assumes its readers are people who care, who want to care, regardless of their religious or political mindset.”⁶

Publisher: The First Church of Christ, Scientist.⁷

Peer reviewed? No.⁸

Type: Civilian publication.

Medium: We deliver global news via our website and mobile site, daily edition, weekly print magazine, and free newsletters.”⁹

Content: Independent national and international news, articles, book reviews, op-eds, essays, and letters to the editor.¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.csmonitor.com/About/Contributor-guidelines

Types of contributions accepted: The Monitor accepts articles on national and international news, personal essays, short poems, book reviews, letters to the Editor, and articles on People Making a Difference. ¹¹

Here are some details about some of the contributions:

International News Contributor Guidelines: Departments include Europe/Baltics/Russia, Asia and Africa, Middle East, and Latin America. ¹²

“We are interested in a variety of pieces, from 500-word news stories to longer news analysis and news feature pieces for our weekly magazine. We want stories to cover the ‘who, what, when, where, why’ but we expect stories to focus on the ‘why.’ The goal here is to either explain the broader meaning of an event or to explain what’s at stake. We are particularly interested in understanding the ways of thinking or perspectives that are driving your story.” ¹³

National News Contributor Guidelines: Departments include U.S. Regional News, Justice, and Religion, US Politics, Economy, Education and Culture, and Science/Technology/Environment. ¹⁴

“We’re interested in stories of national import from all over the country. We want to stay on top of what is in the news – and in public thought – as much as possible, but there’s also an opportunity for news features with a sense of place. Regardless of the setting or situation, though, we look for history and an eye for detail that show what makes peoples and places the way they are, influencing events.” ¹⁵

The Home Forum:

“The Home Forum is looking for upbeat, personal essays from 400 to 800 words. We also welcome short poems. All material must be original and previously unpublished. For seasonal material, be aware that if you submit something that is about a particular month, holiday, event (back to school, graduation), or season, we need to receive it a minimum of six weeks ahead. We accept essays on a wide variety of subjects, and encourage timely, newsy topics. However, we don’t deal with the topics of death, aging and disease.” ¹⁶

A Christian Science Perspective:

“This is the column where the theology and practice of Christian Science are discussed in articles that respond to events in the news as well as those that address everyday issues such as companionship, comfort, home, work, relationships, the healing of physical ailments, and dealing with difficult financial times.” ¹⁷

People Making a Difference:

“We’re interested in stories about people who are making a positive difference all over the world, working on solutions to problems from hunger and education to the rights of people with disabilities. These profiles, approximately 1,200 words in length, should include an in-depth, in-person interview with the subject. We’ll also want to learn why the individual is so passionate about his or her work as well as gain an understanding of the problem he or she is trying to solve.” ¹⁸

Submission and review process: Submissions are welcomed on a continual basis. The Monitor website asks that articles be targeted to their specific departments and guidelines be followed based on the specific section’s editorial teams. Editors attempt to respond to submissions quickly but are often inundated. If your article is time sensitive please call this to the attention of the editor. ¹⁹

Editorial tone: Journalistic to conversational.

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Due to the clear contributor guidelines, the volume of freelance work they consume, and the forward approach to covering the world’s news, the Monitor is a promising publication to consider when writing about libraries for the general public. They often cover issues of interest to information professionals and concerning information access. Past articles include a report on a library being created in a small village in Vietnam, the limits being placed on library e-books, Google Books, and membership libraries. The most recent article published in 2020, Pandemic pen pals: How Colombian libraries lift spirits, discusses how libraries are providing services in the wake of COVID-19.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: approximately 50,000 subscribers.²⁰

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The majority of readership is located in the US, although content covers international news so some international readership is likely.

Reader characteristics: The Monitor attracts both readers with religious affiliations and those who do not. Their audience includes, “anyone who cares about the progress of the human endeavor around the world and seeks news reported with compassion, intelligence, and an essentially constructive lens.” ²¹

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Range would include professionals, but your audience would most likely be individuals who do not understand LIS subject matter and field jargon.

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

The readers of the Monitor, in reviewing the articles of the publication, appear to be educated, open-minded and well-read. This is the same audience that often supports and recognizes the value of libraries, making this a potentially place to promote libraries, the work they do, and the challenges they face within communities around the world. Readers of this publication are looking for stories that tie into national and global perspectives, including social, cultural, economical, and environmental issues, all of which have context within the field of LIS.

Last updated: September 20, 2020

References

Show 21 footnotes

Bookmarks

By Katie Wood on September 8, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Bookmarks

ISSN: 1546-0657¹

Purpose, objective, or mission: The magazine offers a guide to the best in books, both new and old, by summarizing book reviews, highlighting the best works by classic authors, and polling experts on non-fiction recommendations. “Bookmarks magazine is a decidedly unstuffy, glossy magazine delivered right to your doorstep every two months. Simply put, we are the best source of ideas for your reading list: we summarize book reviews so you can make an informed decision about what to read next, highlight classic and contemporary authors, uncover readers’ everyday favorites, and much more.” ²

“Bookmarks magazine was the brainchild of Jon Phillips and Alison Nelson, who envisioned a magazine for book lovers: readers who spend countless hours combing bookshelves, clipping book reviews, and studying author biographies and reading lists. Jon and Alison searched high and low for a comprehensive source they could trust for literary advice and pictured a research team hard at work for them: summarizing book reviews, highlighting the best works of classic and contemporary authors, presenting books in different genres and on different topics, and uncovering everyday readers’ favorite books. They looked everywhere, but that team, that one source, that dream magazine, didn’t exist. So they created it, and that editorial team become a reality.” ³

Website: http://www.bookmarksmagazine.com

Target audience: Adults who are active readers; the “intelligent mainstream.”⁴

Publisher: Bookmarks Publishing LLC. ⁵

Peer reviewed? No

Type: General interest, civilian. The content is written in simple but engaging language intended for book lovers and readers with some knowledge of authors current and past. Generally the magazine is free of LIS or scholarly jargon.

Medium: Print magazine⁶ with some content, such as reading lists and guides, posted online.

Content:

“Our readers enjoy summaries of hundreds of opinions from every major newspaper and magazine for a comprehensive look at 50 new fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, all designed to give you the information you need to make the best reading choices. We highlight the books that receive a lot of attention, but we always search for that great unsung book that quietly gets just a few enthusiastic reviews.

We also present in-depth profiles on classic as well as contemporary authors, discussing their lives and major (and not so major) works. Bookmarks also covers different topics, from the best American biographies to new fiction in English translation to great mystery, fantasy, and historical fiction series.

Since the best books become known by word-of-mouth, Bookmarks publishes unique lists of our subscribers’ favorites—terrific, little-known gems. Each issue also features a different book club discussing the books its members loved … and the ones that caused the most awkward silences.” ⁷

Frequency of publication: Every 2 Months. ⁸

About the publication’s submission guidelines

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

Types of contributions accepted: “The magazine is structured in its content and will rarely consider pitches that fall outside of that structure. We do not publish original reviews; rather, our mission is to summarize existing reviews from major newspapers and magazines (in our opinion, the last thing the world needs … is another opinion). Within a fairly structured format, we also publish classic and contemporary author profiles as well as specific articles on various topics (Historical Fiction About the Renaissance, Best New Crime Writing, What’s New in Europe, Feminist Fiction, Books of World War II, etc.).” ⁹

From the website ¹⁰:

Letters to the Editor
Please send letters to letters@bookmarksmagazine.com or to our editorial address: Bookmarks Magazine, 2625 Alcatraz Avenue, #362, Berkeley, CA 94705. Please indicate in your letter if you do not wish the contents of your letter to be considered for publication in the “Letters to the Editor” section of the magazine.
Book Club Submissions
Please include the following information for your book group profile: your name and contact information, the name of the book group, the group’s location, and a photo. Email your information to letters@bookmarksmagazine.com or send it to to our editorial address: Bookmarks Magazine, 2625 Alcatraz Avenue, #362, Berkeley, CA 94705.

Submission and review process: “You may submit a resume and short (fewer than 1,000 words) book- or literary-related writing sample in the text of your email message. We will NOT consider applications without a writing sample. No phone calls or email attachments, please. Address your email to service@bookmarksmagazine.com. ¹¹

Editorial tone: Casual but informed, as if you were talking in a book club, and “decidedly unstuffy.”¹²

Style guide used: None given.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Anyone who is interested in reviewing books for a book-loving audience would likely have success at Bookmarks. LIS authors would be particularly well-suited for the mining and synthesizing of information required for the consensus-oriented book reviews.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: More than 40,000.¹³

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The magazine is based in the United States and printed in English. Because Bookmarks is mostly a compilation of other media reviews, there would be little variety in cultural considerations.

Reader characteristics: The magazine’s media kit states, “Active readers are generally better educated and more affluent consumers. It has been proven they are more interested in travel, science, arts and the community.”¹⁴

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The general reader may be aware of public library terms, but not specific jargon. Many will have an interest in libraries due to the free access to books that have just been reviewed. Some could be aware of the financial struggles that libraries face and the competition from Internet entertainment.

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

The defining characteristic of the Bookmarks audience is a love of reading. For a librarian who is skilled at readers advisory or collection development, this should be an easy audience to reach and a pleasurable topic to write about. Authors with a special knowledge or interest in certain topics (non-fiction, suspense novels, etc.) could be asked to write on those, but writing brief reviews on any books would be the main desire. Readers expect reviewers to have a confidence about books they recommend (or criticize!). A general magazine about books features classic books in a genre, but also upcoming books, which is one of the main interests of voracious readers. Those who are passionate about a genre or an author want to know what is coming next. Authors and reviewers should be able to excite a reader about a book, while being entertaining but not giving away major plot surprises! Bookmarks has a witty and casual tone, and its habit of compiling reviews from other sources gives the audience “soundbites” for books, instead of in-depth analysis. Potential authors should therefore be clever and concise.

Last updated: September 8, 2020

References

Show 14 footnotes

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