Wikis Archive

Marketingprofs

By Katie Wood on November 8, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: MarketingProfs

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.marketingprofs.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “MarketingProfs is the one source that individual marketers, marketing teams, and some of the world’s largest organizations turn to for modern marketing tools, training, strategies, articles, online seminars, discussion forums, and much more. Our educational materials will give you or your team real-world solutions to common and not-so-common marketing problems. Our experts also provide strategies for various types of marketing, from email to social media and beyond. For upcoming events, professional development, and industry trends, check out our resources below and prepare to take your marketing to a new level of excellence.”¹

Target audience: Marketing, business professionals, small business owners, and entrepreneurs.²

Publisher: MarketingProfs LLC. ³

Peer reviewed? No. ⁴

Type: Civilian website and newsletter for business professionals and others interested in marketing. ⁵

Medium: Online. ⁶

Content: Articles and opinion pieces about marketing, as well as summaries of research findings and infographics. ⁷

Frequency of publication: MarketingProfs Today publishes daily content and MarketingProfs Weekly combines the best articles of the week. ⁸

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.marketingprofs.com/write-for-us

Types of contributions accepted: “MarketingProfs focuses on enterprise (i.e., large-company) business-to-business (B2B) marketing-related content (and on some topics that broadly apply to all marketing). The following are the topics MarketingProfs covers. If the subject of your contributed “how to” article or thought-leadership piece does not relate to one of the following, we’re unlikely to consider it for publication. What we don’t publish: case studies and press releases. ” ⁹

“Do think of these, however, as broad categories rather than narrow topics:

Demand Generation & Management
Marketing Metrics & Measurement
Email Marketing
Marketing Operations & Management
Account-Based Marketing (ABM)
Marketing Automation
Social Media/Influencer Marketing
Competitive Analysis/Competition
Content Marketing
Marketing Strategy
Types of Content We Publish

Here’s a list of what we publish from guest contributors:

Bylined “how-to” articles for our website and thrice-weekly newsletter, MarketingProfs Today
Summaries of research findings based on polls, surveys, and research studies conducted by marketers, academia, PR firms, and other researchers
Bylined thought-leadership articles (op/ed-type pieces), but we accept only those that offer particularly valuable insights and views that can’t easily be found elsewhere
Infographics” ¹⁰

Submission and review process: “Our publication queue for contributed articles can be up to 3-4 months long. To ensure our article backlog doesn’t grow, we publish only the most useful articles for our audience; accordingly, we tend to be highly selective. Articles should be at least 800-1,000 words, but not much more than 1,200 or so. Feel free to include images, charts, graphs, and the like—but only if they help convey a point. Include a brief bio of 25 words, including LinkedIn and Twitter contact info, if available, and a recent headshot (make sure the upper half of your torso is also in the picture).” ¹¹

“If your article is accepted for publication, we will inform you; expect to hear from us within a week or two of our having received your email. If we don’t accept your article, you may or may not hear from us, depending on how crowded our inbox is. If you haven’t followed the guidelines, you likely won’t hear back.” ¹²

Editorial tone: None Specified.

Style guide used: Be sure to read through all of the instructions on the Write for MarketingProfs web page. Failure to adhere to their guidelines could result in a rejection. “Your article will be edited for clarity and brevity, and to conform to the MarketingProfs house style.”¹³

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication would have potential for a writer with a background or interest in marketing. Most librarians have experience in marketing, if not formal training, to ensure their libraries survive and thrive. For example, an author could write about their experience and how it can be applied outside the library.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 400,000 registered subscribers, with 8,000 new subscribers each month, and 330,000 unique website visitors a month. MarketingProfs has 600,000+ followers on social media. ¹⁴

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: MarketingProfs has a global reach, though 67% of users reside in North America. More than 40% are Director-level or above, half come from businesses with over 250 employees, with readership within the top three industries for marketing: technology, manufacturing, and banking/financial. ¹⁵ Authors should be aware of the corporate culture, as many readers are employed at businesses and large organizations. Marketing language and jargon might be used and understood among the readers of this publication.

Reader characteristics: Readers are marketing professionals. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, marketing professionals usually have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business with an emphasis on marketing. Most of these professionals would also have strong computer and technological skills, and people in this field are “creative, highly motivated, resistant to stress, flexible, and decisive.”¹⁶ Considering that the site is designed for a very specific audience, it can be assumed that the readers will share similar professional interests.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will likely not be familiar or have knowledge of library and information science subject matter, unless the reader works in a library.

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

An author should write very professional level articles that address new and exciting ideas in marketing. An article on marketing library services may be well received, but only if the article contains marketing approaches that can be applied to other types of organizations and businesses. Another type of article that might be well received is an article on technology in the library, and the use of technology to market the library effectively. Many of the articles published in MarketingProfs are technology oriented.

Last updated: November 8, 2020

References

Show 16 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

Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL)

By David Ballantine on November 2, 2020 in

Publisher analysis

About the publisher

Name: Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL)

Website: http://acrl.org

Purpose, objective, or mission: From the About page: ACRL is a professional association dedicated to enhancing the ability of academic library and information professionals to serve the information needs of the higher education community and to improve learning, teaching and research.”¹ From the ACRL Guidelines & Standards, “ACRL is the source that the higher education community looks to for standards, guidelines and frameworks on academic libraries.”²

Target audience: Academic Libraries and the LIS field practitioners.³

Owner: Association of College & Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association (ALA).⁴

Are published books peer reviewed? One subset of ACRL book publishing is their Publications in Librarianship (PIL) program, which is a peer reviewed series of monographic volumes.⁵

Types of books published: ACRL publishes books under three programs: ACRL general book imprint, Publications in Librarianship (PIL), and College Library Information on Policy and Practice (CLIPP).

Generally the book types is related to LItS Professional Development. This includes monographs of interest to the LIS field and academic libraries that are based on research, ideas, and scholarly thinking. They publish books that offer “practical, prescriptive advice” to help academic libraries worldwide function optimally; showcase “innovative research;” take on contemporary issues; and envision the future of libraries. are research studies, theoretical monographs, or practical tools-based volumes for the practitioner. ⁶ ACRL publishes monographs for academic librarians so they can advance in career development, effectively manage institutions, and stay tuned on what’s happening in librarianship.⁷

Medium: Print is their main medium. There are also currently a handful of digital publications available in pdf format, but that is not ACRL’s primary publishing method.⁸

Topics covered: Information literacy, copyright and scholarly communication, research in academic librarianship, trends in academic libraries, leadership and organizational development, management, collection development, information access, and information literacy.⁹

Number of titles published per year: ACRL published 14 books during the two year period of 2018-2019¹⁰

About the publisher’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.ala.org/acrl/publications/publishing

Types of submissions accepted: Proposals, completed manuscripts, or dissertations, accompanied by a Publication Proposal Form. See ACRL’s Call for Book Proposals for specifics on suggested topics for Publications in Librarianship.¹¹

Submission and review process: From the guidelines: “The first step in proposing your book is reaching out to ACRL Content Strategist Erin Nevius at enevius@ala.org to discuss your idea.”¹² Then complete a proposal form. ACRL recommends to have an outline ready that shows organization of the proposed book and subjects covered.¹³ The ACRL Content Strategist will work with you fo clarify or add any additional information, until the proposal review is finalized which can take about 4 weeks. Then it will be submitted to the relevant editorial review board ¹⁴

Editorial tone: ACRL asks “that it fits into ACRL’s prescriptive ethos, and will contain how-to tips and strategies that readers can immediately apply to their work.”¹⁵

Style guide used: ACRL uses The Chicago Manual of Style, for endnotes and bibliography.¹⁶

Conclusion: Evaluation of publisher’s potential for LIS authors

Authors with a proposal for an academic library topic, or a proposal for furthering the professional development of any librarian or information professional would do well to consider ACRL for publication. ACRL is an outstanding ALA division with a large member base,¹⁷ and reaches hundreds of libraries. In addition, the editorial staff is able to provide dedicated support and editing assistance to authors to ensure the most professional product possible.¹⁸ ACRL publications are promoted through its catalog,¹⁹ and at the ALA store,²⁰ meetings and conferences, with articles and promotional notices appearing in C&RL at the time of publication. ACRL is a trusted organization, excellent to consider for publication.

Audience analysis

About the publisher’s audience

Size: ACRL has a large audience: Through their marketing program, they send out a press release, make an announcement on social media and newsletters, send about 100 copies to libraries, made available online such as the ALA Store and Amazon; as well as with international distributors, send review copies to journals, and will be featured at ALA/ACRL Conferences.²¹

In addition, ACRL is the largest division of the ALA, with more than 10,000 members.²²

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: National and, on occasion, global. ACRL is based, like ALA, in Chicago, IL.²³ American English, leaning towards issues in American academic libraries.

Reader characteristics: The association, as an ALA organization and publisher, is interested in continuing the education and providing professional development for academic librarians and information professionals.²⁴ Academic libraries and scholarly research. Strongly dedicated to providing high quality LIS information.²⁵

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Strong. Not only is ACRL devoted to academic libraries, but it is part of the ALA.²⁶ Expect editors and eventual readers to be very knowledgeable about LIS topics.

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

Any publishing group that calls the ALA home is a good place to query your LIS proposal, and ACRL is no exception. The largest division of the ALA, ACRL currently has a membership of more than 10,000 members, accounting for nearly 20% of the total ALA membership.²⁷ Readers will be keen to hear of new titles from this small, discriminating imprint.

Last updated: November, 2, 2020

References

Show 27 footnotes

Inside Higher Ed

By Bethany Baker on October 31, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Inside Higher Ed

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://www.insidehighered.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Delivering independent news and analysis that informs the world about higher education, while providing essential tools and services to help organizations and professionals be more effective.”¹

Target audience: “. . . all of higher education — individuals, institutions, corporations and nonprofits. . . .”²

Publisher: Inside Higher Ed Inc.³

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian publication.

Medium: Online.

Content: News articles, recommendations and advice columns focused on topics and issues in higher education. The website also features job postings and career advice columns.

Frequency of publication: Content is added to the website frequently.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.insidehighered.com/content/general-guidelines-submissions-inside-higher-ed

Types of contributions accepted: Submissions for the Views, Letters to the editor, and Careers sections are accepted.

Submission and review process: All submissions should be between 1,000 and 1,500 words. Articles and proposals for pieces should be sent to editor [at] insidehighered.com, letters to the editor should be sent to letters [at] insidehighered.com and all submissions should be sent as an attachment with “the author’s name, title, organizational affiliation and contact information on that attachment.”⁴ Only pieces that have not been published in other online or print publications will be accepted (personal blogs excluded). Additionally, footnotes are not published and authors should instead link to their sources of information within their pieces. It can take up to two weeks for editors to review the submission and discuss among themselves; after that period, editors will inform the submitter of their decision to publish the piece or not.

Views are articles “that have a strong point of view and that give our readers recommendations for new policies, strategies, actions or ways of thinking about issues in higher education.”⁵ Authors are encouraged to submit pieces that cover new topics, dispute the current way of thinking, and debunk myths.⁶

Articles in the Career section should be focused on giving advice to faculty and staff at higher education institutions, as well as graduate students. “Topics include searching for a job, managing and reporting to others, publishing, the graduate school experience, and other subjects related to careers in higher education.”⁷ Inside Higher Ed is also interested in pieces with a focus on teaching and working with students virtually or in person.

Letters to the editor should be used to respectfully challenge the views or opinions that were included in an article published on Inside Higher Ed’s website. The letter should also refer back to the article being challenged. “We will aim to publish letters that add to the debate on an issue and say something different from what’s been said to date. A letter that simply repeats the points made by previously [sic] letters may not be printed.”⁸

Editorial tone: There are no guidelines listed, however, Inside Higher Ed states that the readers enjoy the publication because of the independent voice, and “. . . thoughtful and substantive analysis on the pressing issues facing higher education today.”⁹

Style guide used: A style guide could not be located.

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

A search of the term “library” on the site only returned a few results directly related to academic libraries. Authors could capitalize on this gap and bring more exposure to issues, news, and careers within academic libraries at higher education institutions. Timely examples include discussion of the shift from in-person to virtual library services, how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the author’s library (funding, staffing, services offered, etc.), or unconventional services being offered by academic libraries.

Additionally, graduate students can gain publication experience by submitting pieces to the Careers section that give graduate school advice, whether LIS specific or general.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: On a monthly basis, Inside Higher Ed’s website sees 3.67 million unique visitors and a total of 7.5 million visitors.¹⁰ Inside Higher Ed’s Daily News Update is a daily email to subscribers that includes news, opinions, and jobs.¹¹ There are 175,000 subscribers to the Daily News Update and 41% of subscribers read the Daily News Update every day.¹² 78% of these subscribers also read Inside Higher Ed at least once each week.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Inside Higher Ed reports that 80% of readers are domestic and 20% are international.¹³

Reader characteristics: Readers of Inside Higher Ed are educated individuals with decision making and/or purchasing power at their institutions: “88% of our administrative and faculty readers have purchasing influence; 64% of readers with budgetary influence are directly responsible for making the ultimate purchase decision; 66% of our higher ed readers are administrators and 29% are in faculty, teaching or research positions; 83% of our readers have a master’s degree of [sic] higher. 37% have a doctorate.”¹⁴

Readers’ knowledge of LIS subject matter: While readers of Inside Higher Ed are very familiar with higher education, and therefore probably with academic libraries, readers will most likely not be familiar with LIS topics or jargon.

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

Publishing in Inside Higher Ed gives authors the opportunity to capitalize on the lack of articles on academic libraries and gain experience publishing in a well-read civilian publication.

Last updated: October 31, 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

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

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

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

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