Wiki Tags Archives: Public libraries

Municipal World

By Katie Wood on November 21, 2020 in

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

The Washington Post

By Bethany Baker on November 15, 2020 in

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

Governing

By Katie Wood on November 8, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Governing: The Future of States and Localities

ISSN: 1930-6954 ¹

Website: http://www.governing.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Governing: The Future of States and Localities takes on the question of what state and local government looks like in a world of rapidly advancing technology. Governing is a resource for elected and appointed officials and other public leaders who are looking for smart insights and a forum to better understand and manage through this era of change. Governing’s beat is the collision of technology and society and the fallout consequences, intended and unintended, that confront public leaders and increasingly influence their policy, legislation and strategies to govern. ” ²

Target audience: Governing’s audience consists of governors, mayors, county executives, city and county council members, state legislators, state and local agency executives and those holding key professional government positions.³

Publisher: e.Republic, Inc.⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: Civilian publication.

Medium: “Governing’s information platform includes a robust website, newsletters and custom content. Governing magazine ended its 32 year run as a print publication in August 2019.” ⁶

Content: “The scope of topics we cover are as broad as the challenges we face: artificial intelligence, privacy, big data, security, the future of work, urban planning, financial systems and more.” ⁷

Frequency of publication:

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Voices of the Governing Institute

Types of contributions accepted: Governing content is staff written and the publication does not typically accept unsolicited submissions for publication. However, submitted material is occasional accepted for the Voices of the Governing Institute section of the website. “Voices is curated by the Governing Institute, which seeks out practitioners and observers whose perspective and insight add to the public conversation about state and local government.”⁸

Submission and review process: “For more information or to submit an article to be considered for publication, please contact editor John Martin.”⁹

Editorial tone: Journalistic.

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication offers great potential for increasing the visibility of public libraries with the government administrators who fund and support them (or not). Library leader Ken Haycock highly recommends Governing, saying that “We need to read and reflect but also contribute to these important publications.” Haycock points out that public librarians have much to gain by writing for such publications “to ensure that their celebrations and concerns are front and center with those who make decisions affecting their future.”¹⁰ (**Note, as of November 8, 2020, this resource link is inactive.**)

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Governing has 4.6million annual online visitors and over 7million annual page views, which means about 500k monthly visitors and 692k average monthly page views. There are 94k newsletter subscribers and 97k social media followers. ¹¹

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Audience is American, and the text is written in English.

Reader characteristics: According to the current media kit, about 80% of Governing’s audience works in the public sector, 55% are elected and senior government officials. Of those involved in government, approximately 70% are at the state and local levels. ¹²

Reader knowledge of LIS subject matter: Knowledge of specialized LIS subject matter will be little. LIS jargon should be kept to a minimum. This is a well-educated, intelligent, and influential audience who would be interested in library issues pertaining to policy and government in local or state jurisdictions.

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

Readers of this journal represent all levels of government and hold positions in management, as elected or appointed officials, or staff. An audience of decision-makers such as these provides an excellent opportunity for an LIS author to not only further his/her/their career, but to possibly influence real change for local or state libraries.

Last updated: November 8, 2020

References

Show 12 footnotes

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

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

USA TODAY

By Bethany Baker on October 18, 2020 in

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

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

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INALJ (I Need a Library Job)

By Katie Wood on September 8, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: INALJ (formerly I Need A Library Job)

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://inalj.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: INALJ was started in 2010 by Naomi House as a way for librarians to find jobs in the LIS field.¹ In its tenth year now, Naomi and volunteers strive to find and share jobs that are traditional and outside the box for LIS professionals, staff and students.²

Target audience: LIS professionals and students.

Publisher: The website and its LinkedIn and social media pages are run by Naomi House, Elizabeth Leonard and many other volunteers.³

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: LIS professional or trade publication.

Medium: Electronic / online.

Content: INALJ is not just for job postings, the site also features interviews, job hunting tips, articles and blog posts within the LIS field.⁴

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: **Update 9/8/2020-INALJ is not accepting guest submissions at this time. the Wiki Core Team will update submission guidelines as they become available**

Types of contributions accepted: **Update 9/8/2020-INALJ is not accepting guest submissions at this time. the Wiki Core Team will update submission guidelines as they become available**

Submission and review process: **Update 9/8/2020-INALJ is not accepting guest submissions at this time. the Wiki Core Team will update submission guidelines as they become available**

Editorial tone: Professional yet casual.

Style guide used: N/A

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

INALJ publishes articles across a broad array of LIS topics. Its casual, straightforward, “no BS” approach to all aspects of the LIS field may be refreshing and helpful for many potential authors looking for an outlet for their writing.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: INALJ covers all fifty states, Canada and features international jobs, as well.⁵

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: INALJ‘s audience is primarily in the United States, but it does feature coverage for Canada and some international jobs.

Reader characteristics: Readers come to INALJ for all sorts of reasons other than job hunting. Articles published span a broad range of topics. LIS students and professionals come to INALJ for career advice and ever changing, relevant information about the field.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Strong, but varied–INALJ is used by both professionals and students.

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

Considering the wide coverage of topics and issues that INALJ covers, potential authors can expect readers to be eager for new voices in the LIS field, no matter what area you are writing about.

Last updated: September 8, 2020

References

Show 5 footnotes

Collection and Curation

By Phyllis Pistorino on May 11, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Collection and Curation (renamed in 2018 from Collection Building)

ISSN: 2514-9326 (Print) and 2514-9334 (Online)¹

Website: https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/acronym/CC

Purpose, objective, or mission: Per the publication website, “Collection and Curation provides well-researched and authoritative information on the rapidly-changing conceptions of what collection development is in libraries, archives, museums and galleries.”²

Target audience: Academics and professionals concerned with collection development in libraries, museums, archives, and galleries. ³

Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes⁵

Type: LIS scholarly⁶

Medium: Print and online⁷

Content: Topics of study include but are not limited to the collection and management of files, data, and artifacts in academic, special, and public libraries; the assessment of those collections; development of and public engagement with collections; and the appropriate use of space in libraries.⁸

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Author Guidelines

Types of contributions accepted: The journal publishes research papers, opinion pieces, technical product reviews, conceptual papers, case studies, literature reviews, and general reviews of a more instructional nature. Most articles are between 1,000 and 3,000 words in length.¹⁰

Submission and review process: Submissions are made through ScholarOne Manuscripts, an online submission and peer review system. To help authors ensure their submissions are complete, Emerald Publishing offers an Article Submission Checklist.¹¹ Once a submission is deemed suitable for publication by the editor, it is “sent to at least one independent referee for double blind peer review. Conference reports and columns are not subject to a formal review procedure.”¹²

Editorial tone: Articles are written in a highly professional and academic style. The journal publishes articles that are “well-researched and authoritative.”¹³

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Collection and Curation is a peer-reviewed, authoritative research journal. As the journal covers practical and academic issues, it is a suitable venue for both LIS professionals’ views on current trends in the field and library school students’ research in collection development and curation.

Collection and Curation does not list abstracting or indexing data.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: No circulation information is available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Language of text is English.¹⁴ This journal reaches a worldwide audience, with an editorial team based in Australia, Greece, the United Kingdom, India, Canada, and the United States, ¹⁵

Reader characteristics: Readers of this journal are information professionals and academics who share an interest in collection development, curation, and management.¹⁶

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: While the focus of this journal is generally on LIS subjects and topics, since broadening its scope in 2018 to include a curation aspect, the journal now includes non-LIS specific content that those in museums and galleries will find helpful. Looking at recent issues shows a broad scope, including traditional LIS subjects such as collection development, but also discussions on European women photographers and Mexican photojournalism. Therefore deep knowledge of LIS subject matter would be helpful, but not required.¹⁷

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

Readers will have a high level of knowledge of LIS issues and a practical need of collection assessment tools and advice. The prospective author should remember the specialized needs of the audience and the expectation of well-researched, high-quality writing.

Last updated: May 11, 2020

References

Show 17 footnotes

Collection Management

By Lisa Lowdermilk on May 11, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Collection Management

ISSN: 0146-2679 (Print) and 1545-2549 (Online)¹

Website: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/aboutThisJournal?journalCode=wcol20

Purpose, objective, or mission: The website of Collection Management states that the publication “offers library professionals of all types crucial guidance in the fast-changing field of collection management, including the latest developments in sharing and providing access to resources, creating digital collections, preserving both traditional and digital library resources, applying technological developments to managing collections, training and developing staff, and managing and analyzing the administrative data associated with building collections, such as usage, licensing or rights, access, and financial issues.”²

Target audience: Librarians and information specialists working in access services, interlibrary loan, and special collections; library administrators and educators; archivists, curators, bibliographers, academics, students, and publishers who work with libraries.³

Publisher: Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes⁵

Type: LIS scholarly⁶

Medium: Print and online⁷

Content: Collection Management covers topics on collection management, planning, allocation of resources, selection, and acquisitions, development of virtual collections, consortia, resource sharing, preservation, and other relevant topics⁸

Frequency of publication: Quarterly⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?show=instructions&journalCode=wcol20

Types of contributions accepted: Per the publication website, “The journal welcomes articles that provide library professionals with crucial guidance about the latest developments in sharing and providing access to resources, creating digital collections, preserving both traditional and digital library resources, applying technological developments to managing collections, training and developing staff, and managing and analyzing the administrative data associated with building collections, such as usage, licensing or rights, access, and financial issues.”¹⁰

Submission and review process: Collection Management does not require initial queries or proposals; it accepts completed manuscripts. Using the ScholarOne Manuscript software, Taylor and Francis offers an extensive website, Authors Services, that provides guidance beyond the submission guidelines for this specific journal and is full of helpful information.¹¹

Editorial tone: Scholarly, suitable for practitioners and academics in the LIS field.¹²

Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style, latest edition¹³ See the recommended reference guide here.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Collection Management is an authoritative and credible LIS scholarly publication. This peer-reviewed journal publishes articles on collection development and related topics. With this in mind, potential authors may contribute articles on a broad variety of topics, from electronic resource acquisitions to recreational reading collections to book preservation. Authors need to be certain they submit work that contributes to the body of knowledge on collection management.

The journal is indexed/abstacted in De Gruyter Saur; IBZ; EBSCOhost; Academic Search Complete; CINAHL; H.W. Wilson; Library, Information science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA); MasterFILE Complete; RILM Abstracts of Music Literature; TOC Premier; Elsevier BV; Scopus; OCLC; ArticleFirst; Education Index; Electronic Collections Online; ProQuest; Aerospace Database; Civil Engineering Abstracts; Engineering Research Database; FRANCIS; LISA: Library & Information Science Abstracts; METADEX and VINITI RA.¹⁴

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation information not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The journal is published in English in the United States, but has an international audience.¹⁵ The issues covered are of interest to librarians whether they are in United States, Taiwan, or Germany, with topics including how to manage collection development in a digital environment, selection versus censorship, and the use of circulation statistics and interlibrary loan data in collection management.¹⁶

Reader characteristics: Readers range from associate university librarians to assistant professors to electronic resources librarians. Often the audience will have earned several degrees: BA, MLS or MLIS, MA, and perhaps PhD. Readers often have supervisory functions with purchasing responsibility, either selecting or authorizing resources for purchase. Readers of Collection Management will most likely have several publications of their own in their portfolio and therefore expect to see well-thought-out and well-researched articles.¹⁷

The readers of Collection Management have the same professional interests in common, building their library collections in support of the research and teaching agendas of their parent institutions. They meet the challenge of changing technology, providing the latest publications, and staying within limited library budgets. Collection Management has well-researched theoretical and practical articles that help librarians of any rank succeed in their work. It explores “the future and emerging trends in the field and provides reviews of relevant books, technological resources, and software. This useful resource examines technological advances that help librarians manage and assess collections, such as electronic resource management modules, utilities that provide journal coverage data, and developments in the preservation of library materials.”¹⁸

Collection Management is geared towards librarians and information professionals who are interested in articles that help them understand how collection assessment tools and methods can help improve their overall resource management and planning for the future, including how to effectively use staff, facilities, and computing resources.¹⁹

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Collection Management is a peer-reviewed publication that focuses on collection development in college, university, and research libraries of all types. The main readers are librarians and information specialists working in access services, interlibrary loan, and special collections; library administrators and educators; archivists, curators, bibliographers, academics, students, and publishers who work with libraries. These readers have a strong background on LIS topics and issues. Not only will they understand library jargon, but they will expect to find it in articles written for this journal.²⁰

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

Prospective authors for Collection Management would do best to consider the education level of the audience and the journal’s reputation for addressing the challenges of their profession. Successful submissions will target current issues in collection management.

Last updated: May 11, 2020

References

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