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San Diego Reader

By on March 9, 2013 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: San Diego Reader

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: To cover all aspects of life in San Diego.1

Target audience: People living in, or visiting, the San Diego region.

Publisher: James E. Holman.2

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian weekly alternative newspaper.

Medium: Print and online.3

Content: The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN) describes the content as follows: “Specializing in feature stories, the Reader covers San Diego life in general, with emphasis on politics and the arts and entertainment. The Reader publishes comprehensive listings of movies, events, theater, and music; restaurant and film reviews; and free classifieds.”4

Frequency of publication: Weekly.5

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/contact/

Types of contributions accepted: Their website allows for online submission (requires free registration) of articles in four specific categories: CD or concert review, neighborhood news story, travel story, waterfront story, or cover story.6 They also accept letters to the editor.7 Per their website: “Woo us with actual reporting, not a cover letter written to impress your creative-writing teacher.”8

Submission and review process: There are online submission forms for each type of story.9

Editorial tone: Informal but informative.

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The San Diego Reader celebrates San Diego and its diverse people. It focuses on a variety of ordinary people and places within the county. The potential for publication of San Diego LIS authors by the San Diego Reader exists for a variety of reasons. A call for the commencement of construction on the new central library, designed a decade ago, could be shaped as a letter to the editor. Other issues that librarians and the Reader feel strongly about are equal access to information and censorship. A concise reporting of banned books week events may be framed as a neighborhood story.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 90,000 as of March 2015.10

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The focus of the Reader articles is on local San Diego life, politics, and entertainment. Its reach extends beyond San Diego County, (the sixth-largest county in the United States) into under-represented Imperial County and Baja California.

Although the Reader is written in English, there is an awareness that San Diego is a culturally diverse region. The tone is informal and direct, the vocabulary concrete, and the sentence structure is not complex. The investigative articles usually feature five to ten San Diegans to show how the issue impacts different people from a variety of backgrounds. Frequently, the names of cities and communities, as well as local businesses, are used as examples, without bothering to explain a reference to readers outside the region.

Reader characteristics: Audience demographics are not available, but readers will be residents of the San Diego area. The publication is progressive; its coverage of local politics confronts issues critically. Its bias is inherent in its values. The attitude calls attention to those who exploit the average person. Some topics are intended to evoke outrage.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The level of knowledge of LIS issues will vary and it can be safely assumed that readers have the same level of LIS knowledge as the general public.

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

The Reader has a reputation for high-quality writing that the readers have come to expect, suggesting, even in the limited fashion that contributions are accepted, that quality of writing would play a role in acceptance. Living in San Diego would be important in order to convey the essence of the city and county to readers.

Last updated: September 28, 2020

References

Show 10 footnotes

  1. “San Diego Reader,” SanDiegoReader.com, accessed November 1, 2016, http://www.sandiegoreader.com/ ↩
  2. “San Diego Reader,” Ulrichsweb, accessed November 1, 2016, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1415817959160/559101 ↩
  3. “San Diego Reader.” ↩
  4. “San Diego Reader,” Altweeklies.com, accessed November 1, 2016, from http://www.altweeklies.com/aan/san-diego-reader/Company?oid=80 ↩
  5. “Archives,” SanDiegoReader.com, accessed November 1, 2016, http://www.sandiegoreader.com/archives/ ↩
  6. “Contact Us,” SanDiegoReader.com, accessed November 1, 2016, http://www.sandiegoreader.com/contact/ ↩
  7. “Letters to the Editor,” SanDiegoReader.com, accessed November 1, 2016, http://www.sandiegoreader.com/letter-editor/ ↩
  8. “Contact Us.” ↩
  9. “Contact Us.” ↩
  10. “San Diego Reader.” ↩
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Oakland Magazine

By on March 7, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Oakland Magazine

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.oaklandmagazine.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Oakland Magazine is to speak to Oakland and East Bay (California) residents about “the exceptional beauty, diversity, and quality of life of Oakland and the greater East Bay.”1

Target audience: Oakland and East Bay residents.2

Publisher: Telegraph Media.3

Peer reviewed? No. 4

Type: Civilian, regional magazine.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: Sections include reporting; lifestyle; food and drink; and arts and culture, as they relate to the Oakland area. 5

Frequency of publication: Issues are published in print and online 10 times a year.6

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.oaklandmagazine.com/Oakland-Magazine/About-Us/Jobs/

Types of contributions accepted: “Ideal contributors are based in the East Bay and know the area’s diversions, people, issues and dynamics. It’s also important to be familiar with our magazines. We’re looking for good generalists as well as contributors who want to report on and write news and politics, lifestyle issues, food and drink, and arts and culture.”7

Submission and review process: From the website: “Send a cover letter, resume, a writing sample, and a story idea to judy [at] alamedamgazine.com or judy [at] oaklandmagazine.com. Please write ‘Freelance Writer’ in your e-mail subject line. 8

“BEFORE YOU PITCH any ideas, however, it’s imperative that you familiarize yourself with our magazines, which includes general understanding of what our lifestyle-oriented magazines actually cover and our sections and departments. The editor prefers writers to pitch articles for specific sections of the magazine when possible. All queries should be well thought out and well researched yet short, to the point, and information packed. Upon receipt of a query that may interest the editor, clips and writing samples will be requested as evidence of the writer’s ability to complete the proposed assignment. Those should be sent via e-mail as attachments.”9

“We publish everything from 350-word shorts to 2,500-plus word in-depth features, with most articles somewhere between those extremes. In general, we run a majority of 500-word and 750-word to 1,000-word articles. Our lead-time is about three months. Pay depends on the complexity of the assignment, and Telegraph Media pays upon publication.”10

We publish everything from 350-word shorts to 2,500-plus word in-depth features, with most articles somewhere between those extremes. In general, we run a majority of 500-word and 750-word to 1,000-word articles. Our lead-time is about three months. Pay depends on the complexity of the assignment, and Telegraph Media pays upon publication.”11

Editorial tone: Conversational and informal.

Style guide used: Publication requests submissions be in AP style. 12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Oakland Magazine editors are probably not thinking about libraries when they are setting up their issues. However, as the magazine’s focus is on Oakland culture, the right library-oriented story could work very well, and could be wonderful marketing for local libraries. Potential writers should make sure that their pitches are well crafted and well timed.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 20,000.13

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The readers of Oakland Magazine primarily live in the city of Oakland, CA, but many readers may also live in the greater Bay Area. Writers should live in the area, as the articles are very geographically specific. English language publication for affluent active adults in the Oakland area and Bay Area.14

Reader characteristics: Readers of Oakland Magazine are adults interested in making the most of their time in the Oakland area. Their media kit proudly states that they reach a demographic with plenty of buying power, suggesting a possible source for financial support for libraries.15

Oakland Magazine is not profession-specific. Nonetheless, because of the readership’s demographic, it may be safely assumed that many of the readers are active professionals. Potential writers for Oakland Magazine wishing to write LIS-related essays should avoid technical jargon, and should be general enough in their approach that people from many different professions can find interesting access points into the article. Most readers probably do not consider libraries often but would be interested in strengthening their community (especially if they could see and be seen while doing it). Thus, pieces that emphasize either community responsibility or useful free resources would probably be the most advantageous for this publication.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Scant. Writers will certainly want to avoid LIS jargon and overly in-depth articles.

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

Readers of Oakland Magazine probably have little knowledge of library-oriented challenges and concerns, but are probably interested in community events. As such, Oakland Magazine could be a good venue to promote library events and library-positive opinion pieces. Any writing regarding libraries would have to be spun in a “feel-good-about-yourself” direction, so that the readers’ interests would be held. That said, a library-related article could have a large impact on an affluent, educated group — the very people who often will support libraries and their programs with financial donations.

Last updated: October 10, 2018

References

Show 15 footnotes

  1. “About Us,” OaklandMagazine.com, accessed October 18, 2016, http://www.oaklandmagazine.com/Oakland-Magazine/About-Us/ ↩
  2. “About Us.” ↩
  3. “About Us.” ↩
  4. “Jobs,” OaklandMagazine.com, accessed October 18, 2016, http://www.oaklandmagazine.com/Oakland-Magazine/About-Us/Jobs/ ↩
  5. “About Us.” ↩
  6. “About Us.” ↩
  7. “Jobs.” ↩
  8. “Jobs.” ↩
  9. “Jobs.” ↩
  10. “Jobs.” ↩
  11. “Jobs.” ↩
  12. “Jobs.” ↩
  13. “Media Kit,” OaklandMagazine.com, accessed October 9, 2018, https://www.oaklandmagazine.com/pdf/Media%20Kit-OM%202018.pdf ↩
  14. “Media Kit.” ↩
  15. “Media Kit.” ↩
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Yosemite Highway Herald

By on August 26, 2011 in

Excuse the mess! Profile update in progress.

Per contact with the editor: both the Yosemite Highway Herald and Foothill Express were purchased by the editor and are currently being merged under the name The Yosemite Express. The creation of a website for The Yosemite Express is in progress. This wiki will continue to be updated as we receive information from the editor.

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Yosemite Highway Herald

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.yosemitehwyherald.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The Yosemite Highway Herald is a free monthly newspaper featuring local news and events for Southern Tuolumne County and Northern Mariposa County in California.1

Target audience: The community residents of the greater Yosemite area, including parts of Tuolumne and Mariposa counties.2

Publisher: Yosemite Highway Herald, LLC.3

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian newspaper.

Medium: Print and online.4

Content: Local community news, stories, historical news, and current events news of the greater Yosemite area to the local communities.5

Frequency of publication: Monthly.6

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: None provided.

Types of contributions accepted: Articles and letters to the editor.

Submission and review process: Email submissions to info [at] yosemitehwyherald.com.

Editorial tone: Informal and folksy.

Style guide used: None stated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This newspaper would be of interest to LIS authors who are local to the area and want to promote library services and events or discuss issues facing the library. Past issues have featured library-related articles, including one in support of the Groveland library.7

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “We reach 4,000 households plus 500 extra copies are distributed in local businesses throughout the area.”8

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The Yosemite Highway Herald is published for the local residents of the communities of Big Oak Flat, Buck Meadows, Coulterville, Greeley Hill, Groveland, La Grange, Lake Don Pedro, Moccasin, Pine Mountain Lake, and surrounding area. This publication is printed in English.9

Reader characteristics: The population served by the Yosemite Highway Herald include young people, families, older adults, and retired persons. Professional interests and workplaces would vary widely given the nature of the audience. This diverse audience shares an interest in the local community and an appreciation of natural beauty of the area.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The readers of this publication would not have an expert knowledge of library and information science jargon. An author would be expected to provide an introductory background to terms about information services. Also, the author would be expected to write in a manner that would encourage to show the value of library services to the local community.

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

Past issues of the Yosemite Highway Herald have featured articles on topics such as: the local blood drive, free classes and workshops, the Laverini Sawmill dedication, information on how and where to get burn permits, and local events, festivals, and concerts.. Writers would need to be very familiar with the area and contribute information directly relevant to community members.

Last updated: September 28, 2018

References

Show 9 footnotes

  1. “Yosemite Highway Herald,” YosemiteHwyHerald.com, accessed December 11, 2016, http://www.yosemitehwyherald.com/ ↩
  2. “Yosemite Highway Herald.” ↩
  3. “Yosemite Highway Herald.” ↩
  4. “Yosemite Highway Herald.” ↩
  5. “Yosemite Highway Herald.” ↩
  6. “Yosemite Highway Herald.” ↩
  7. Nadine Pedron, “The Book Nook,” Yosemite Highway Herald, February 2014, http://www.yosemitehwyherald.com/images/february14.pdf ↩
  8. “Yosemite Highway Herald.” ↩
  9. “Yosemite Highway Herald.” ↩
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Spartan Daily

By on August 26, 2011 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Spartan Daily

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.sjsunews.com/spartan_daily/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The student newspaper for San Jose State University, covering news, sports, arts and entertainment, tech, and opinion relating to the campus and its students.1

Target audience: San José State University students and faculty.

Publisher: San José State University.2

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian publication; student newspaper.

Medium: Print and online.3

Content: Articles on recent campus news and issues, opinions, sports, and student life.

Frequency of publication: The print version is printed every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and the online version is updated daily.4

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: No submission guidelines for the Spartan Daily could be located.

Types of contributions accepted: Letters to the editor (opinion pieces) and news tips.5

Submission and review process: Submit a letter to the editor or a news tip by emailing spartandaily [at] gmail.com.

Editorial tone: Informal.

Style guide used: None.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Writers interested in reaching this audience can use this publication. While an opinion piece in a school paper would not increase your chances of tenure, it would increase your reputation within the university community and could be used to promote library issues or garner support for the library.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The Spartan Daily distributes 15,000 copies per week.6

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Published in San José, California, it is safe to assume the readers (faculty, staff, and students of SJSU) are located there too. This is an English language publication and the audience, as part of an institution that requires English language skills, likely reads and speaks English.

Reader characteristics: According to the 2019 Media Kit, there are 35,400 students enrolled at SJSU.7 The SJSU student population is a diverse mixture of 41.9% Asian, 28.9% Hispanic, 16.1% White, 9.2% Other, 3.3% Black, .4% Pacific Islander, and .1% American Indian.8  As this is the publication of an educational institution, readers are likely interested in education and improving themselves. Other than possibly sharing an interest in their school, any biases, values, and attitudes would vary widely.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Slightly better than the general public given the readers’ affiliation with the university. LIS jargon would still need to be avoided or defined if used in your writing.

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

The readership of this publication would expect writing that concerns them or their school and is written with a youthful approach.

Last updated: September 27, 2020

References

Show 8 footnotes

  1. “Spartan Daily,” Scholarworks.SJSU.edu, accessed November 16, 2016, http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/ ↩
  2. Spartan Daily, Ulrichsweb.com, accessed November 16, 2016, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1416273937072/556930 ↩
  3. “Spartan Daily.” ↩
  4. “Spartan Daily Media Kit – Spring 2019,” Issuu.com, accessed September 27, 2020, https://issuu.com/spartandaily/docs/sd_sp_19_media_kit_off-campus ↩
  5. “Contact Us,” SJSUNews.com, accessed September 17, 2020, https://sjsunews.com/contact ↩
  6. “Spartan Daily Media Kit – Spring 2019.” ↩
  7. “Spartan Daily Media Kit – Spring 2019.” ↩
  8. “Student Quick Facts,” IEA.SJSU.edu, accessed September 27, 2020, http://www.iea.sjsu.edu/Students/QuickFacts/ ↩
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Sonoma State Star

By on August 26, 2011 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Sonoma State Star

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.sonomastatestar.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: This publication is the student-run newspaper of Sonoma State University. Its purpose is to provide students with information about the university and the community, as well as local, national and international news.

Target audience: Students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Publisher: Sonoma State University.

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian; school newspaper.

Medium: Print and online.1

Content: This paper includes campus news, as well as news from the larger community of Sonoma County, the state, the nation, and the world. The focus tends to be on issues that will be of interest to, and have an impact upon, students of Sonoma State University. There are sections on arts and entertainment, sports, news, opinion, and general features.

Frequency of publication: Weekly (every Tuesday) during the fall and spring semesters.2

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.sonomastatestar.com/aboutus/

Types of contributions accepted: The paper only states specifically that it accepts letters to the editor, to be published in the op-ed section.3 However, a number of articles in any given edition are written by students or members of faculty, which would seem to indicate some flexibility.

Submission and review process: There is no formal submission and review process beyond that for letters to the editor. “Letters of up to 500 words will be allowed and must be submitted no later than the Friday before the publication date.”4

Editorial tone: The tone tends to be casual and conversational in nature.

Style guide used: There is no specific style guide indicated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

For writers interested in reaching this specific community, there seems to be opportunities to connect and communicate about LIS issues.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: No information regarding publication circulation could be located.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The audience will primarily consist of residents of the area, Sonoma State University students, staff and faculty. The Sonoma State Star is an English language publication.

Reader characteristics: Would vary widely; however, their connection with the school would be a common factor. Possibly more progressive than the general public given it is a publication of an educational institution.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Possibly higher than the general public due to university affiliation.

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

Readers, with their affiliation to the school and area, will expect articles that pertain to their life at the university. A review of the publication will provide authors with a sense of the interests of the community.

Last updated: September 27, 2020

References

Show 4 footnotes

  1. “Sonoma State Star,” SonomaStateStar.com, accessed September 27, 2020, http://www.sonomastatestar.com/ ↩
  2. “About Us,” SonomaStateStar.com, accessed September 27, 2020, http://www.sonomastatestar.com/aboutus/ ↩
  3. “About Us.” ↩
  4. “About Us.” ↩
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Santa Cruz Sentinel

By on August 26, 2011 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Santa Cruz Sentinel or Santa Cruz County Sentinel

ISSN: 1072-446X (Print)1

Website: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: To provide news and information to residents of the Santa Cruz area.

Target audience: Populace of Santa Cruz and surrounding smaller townships.

Publisher: MediaNews Group.2

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian newspaper.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: International, national, state, and local news; sports; entertainment; community notices; reviews; and various other topics of local interest.

Frequency of publication: Daily.3

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/submit-letters

Types of contributions accepted: News, photos or videos, letters to the editors, and op-eds.4

Submission and review process: Submissions for news, photos or videos should be emailed to newsroom [at] santacruzsentinel.com.

Op-eds should be no more than 650 words and should be sent to editorial [at] santacruzsentinel.com.

Letters should be no more than 150 words and should be sent to editorial [at] santacruzsentinel.com. “We do not accept anonymous letters. Letter-writers should include their full name – initials aren’t enough – as well as a street address and telephone number. We don’t publish those details in the newspaper, but need the information for verification purposes.”5

Editorial tone: Informative.

Style guide used: None stated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The first reason for publishing in a local paper is to garner support for the local library, announce upcoming events, or bring issues to the attention of the community. The second reason to publish in the local paper is to begin attaching one’s name and voice to library issues, which may cause the author to be contacted in the future on similar subjects. In other words, become an expert (or at least a contact) for local library issues and events.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Unknown.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Readers reside in the Santa Cruz area. The Santa Cruz Sentinel is an English language publication.

Reader characteristics: According to the U.S. Census, the population of Santa Cruz County is 50.5% female, 49.5% male, and 87.0% White.6. Additionally, 40% of the population has obtained at least a Bachelor’s degree and the median household income is 78,000 dollars.7

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: As this is a lay publication, writers should not assume that readers know and understand LIS jargon, and thus should explain any LIS jargon they use in their work.

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

When writing and submitting pieces for publication, authors should be familiar with the area in order to tailor their piece to the concerns and interests of residents.

Last updated: September 27, 2020.

References

Show 7 footnotes

  1.  Santa Cruz Sentinel, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 27, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1522202408720/552224 ↩
  2. “Santa Cruz County Sentinel,” Ulrichsweb.com, accessed November 8, 2016,  http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1416170454282/552224 ↩
  3. “Santa Cruz County Sentinel.” ↩
  4. “Contact Us,” SantaCruzSentinel.com, accessed September 27, 2020, https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/contact-us/ ↩
  5. “Submit letters to the editor,” SantaCruzSentinel.com, accessed September 27th, 2020, https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/submit-letters/ ↩
  6. “QuickFacts Santa Cruz County, California,” Census.gov, accessed September 17, 2020, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/santacruzcountycalifornia ↩
  7. “QuickFacts Santa Cruz County, California.” ↩
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Salon

By on August 26, 2011 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Salon

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.salon.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Salon covers breaking news, politics, entertainment, culture, and technology through investigative reporting, commentary, criticism, and provocative personal essays. Our articles and original videos bring a variety of voices to the discussion and make the conversation smarter.”1

Target audience: Readers interested in thought-provoking coverage of politics and current events.

Publisher: Salon.com LLC. According to the Salon website: “Salon was formerly a publicly-traded company under the name ‘Salon Media Group (SLNM)’. In August 2019, the brand was taken private with the goal of creating a long-term sustainable company in the online news space.”2

Peer reviewed? No.3

Type: Civilian news publication.

Medium: Online.4

Content: Investigative reporting, commentary, criticism, and personal essays.5

Frequency of publication: Content is published daily.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.salon.com/about/submissions/

Types of contributions accepted: Salon accepts article submissions and letters to the editor. Any newsworthy or opinion pieces are welcomed; however, fiction and poetry are not accepted.6 NOTE: As of September 2020, Salon’s Life Story section is currently CLOSED to submissions.

Submission and review process: Articles and queries should be submitted to the appropriate editor via email with the words “Editorial Submission” in the subject line. Prospective authors should include information about their background as a writer and qualifications for writing a particular story. The review process is expected to last about three weeks, with no response after that period meaning that the editors are likely not interested in using the piece.7

Editorial tone: Although suggestions of tone are not indicated, the submission guidelines suggest that prospective authors consider the articles available on the site prior to emailing their submissions.8 From reviewing the content on the website, it can be assumed that the editors are looking for pieces written in a journalistic tone, with innovative ideas and fresh writing styles.

Style guide used: A specific style guide is not noted.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Salon provides an opportunity for LIS writers to discover a new audience in the lay community. Because this publication does not publish on many library or information science-related topics, an author with a strong story idea that can be angled to appeal to the general population may find that his or her idea is welcomed here. This website may be a good platform for discussing LIS issues that may have been “overdone” or “old news” in other library publications; here they can be written with a fresh scope because there is a different audience in mind.

Two sections of the website that may be suited to potential LIS authors are the Economy & Innovation and Culture sections, respectively. Authors could easily write about economic topics such as library funding, especially in the context of the pandemic. Interesting topics relating to innovation may be electronic advancements being offered by libraries, such as digital reference, e-books, home access to electronic databases, and virtual storytimes or programs. An example of an article in the Culture section regarding reading is the “Comfort reading for the pandemic age” article which talks about reading as a form of comfort in the pandemic. Political issues involving libraries would be a welcome topic as well.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: According to their media kit, there are 9.2 million unique visitors to the site each month.9

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The website can be accessed worldwide, though the content is generally US centered. Because most Salon readers come from the United States, language and cultural considerations are not as vital here as they may be in more international publications. However, as it is read by individuals from many different localities throughout the United States, it is important to consider that local issues or library-specific concerns may not be understood.

Reader characteristics: According to their media kit, readers are 60% male and 40% female, with a median age of 36 years old and an average household income of $92,000. Most readers have earned at least a college degree and are “affluent, well-educated, and highly influential.”10  Salon covers politics, the arts, and culture with a liberal bent.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Because this is a lay publication, most of the readers are probably not familiar with library jargon. It is not even safe to assume that readers are library users or that they would be particularly interested in library issues. Though they may not be knowledgeable of LIS terms or specifics, they are an educated group and therefore it could be assumed that they are comfortable using the Internet and at least doing basic research.

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

By studying Salon reader demographics, it is safe to say that this audience is knowledgeable, opinionated, and educated. This publication presents authors with the challenge of producing pieces that will inform the audience about library issues or share educated opinions about changes in the technological world and how these affect information science. Because the audience most likely already has an appreciation for and a knowledge of books, LIS authors may have a head start in getting a lay audience to care about libraries and what they represent.

Last updated: Septemeber 28, 2020

References

Show 10 footnotes

  1. “About Salon.com,” Salon.com, accessed September 28, 2020, http://www.salon.com/about/ ↩
  2. “About Salon Media Group.” ↩
  3. “Submissions,” Salon.com, accessed November 1, 2016, http://www.salon.com/about/submissions/ ↩
  4. “Ways to get Salon,” Salon.com, accessed November 1, 2016, http://www.salon.com/about/ways_to_get_salon/ ↩
  5. “About Salon Media Group.” ↩
  6. “Submissions.” ↩
  7. “Submissions.” ↩
  8. “Submissions.” ↩
  9. “Salon Media Kit 2014,” Media.Salon.com, accessed November 1, 2016, http://media.salon.com/2014/05/MediaKit5.7.14.pdf ↩
  10. “Salon Media Kit 2014.” ↩
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The Press-Enterprise

By on August 26, 2011 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Press-Enterprise

ISSN: 0746-4258 (Print)1

Website: http://www.pe.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Founded in 1878, we serve the readers of Riverside County, reporting and writing accurately and fairly, shining a light on injustice and defending the public’s right to know. Our staff of journalists live and work in the cities we cover, reporting on city government and local elections, crime, housing, school sports, entertainment and investigations of public corruption.”2

Target audience: Residents of Riverside County.

Publisher: Southern California News Group.3

Peer reviewed? No.4

Type: Civilian publication, newspaper.

Medium: Print and Online.5

Content: Local news is the central focus, with some coverage of national and world events. Events throughout Riverside County are featured. General news stories, event advertisements, and community-related editorials are the main content of this paper.

Frequency of publication: Daily.6

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.pe.com/share-your-news/

Types of contributions accepted: Letters to the editor, news releases for local stories and news, photos, and guest commentaries (opinion pieces).7

Submission and review process: Letters to the editor should be sent (without attachments) to opinions [at] scng.com and should be 150 words or less.

News releases should contain “the organization’s names and address, along with the name and daytime phone number of the individual to be contacted in case more information is needed.”8 Send the news release to macosta [at] scng.com at least two weeks in advance and paste the content of the message in the text field rather than sending it as an attachment. The news release should be no longer than 1 1/2 pages double-spaced.9

Photos should be sent to photo [at] scng.com and should have a focus on people participating in activities.10

Submit a guest commentary of 600 words or less via email to opinion [at] scng.com with a subject line of “Op-ed submission.” The Press-Enterprise looks for “topical commentary on public policy and social issues that are of general interest to our print and digital readership. We give preference to local, regional and California topics and writers.”11 At the end of the email, include a couple of sentences explaining your position, city/county of residence, and any relevant background information.

Editorial tone: Straightforward news stories written in a clear and basic tone. The columns and editorials are written in an informal manner and often seek to represent the diversity of the community the paper serves.

Style guide used: None stated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Local library events are likely to be featured in the paper. Local librarians might find a potential audience if their article pertains to the local libraries and directly relates to the community. Many local libraries subscribe to this publication and all the staff-written news from the library electronic archives (1992-present) is available in the paper’s online archives.12

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: No circulation information specific to The Press-Enterprise was available. However, the Southern California News Group’s Media Kit mentions that the L.A. County Group Market, including Riverside County, has a daily circulation of 95,000 and a Sunday circulation of 157,000.13

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The paper is targeted to residents of Riverside County in California. According to the U.S. Census, the population of Riverside County is 50% Hispanic or Latino, and 40.6% of individuals in Riverside County speak a language other than English.14 While the newspaper is published in English, authors should be aware of the diverse cultures and languages in Riverside.

Reader characteristics: No information specific to readers of The Press-Enterprise was available, however, the readers of the Southern California News Group’s L.A. County Group Market is 51% female, 49% male, with an average household income of $111,981.15

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: As The Press-Enterprise is a civilian newspaper, the average reader probably has a layperson’s familiarity with LIS topics.

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

While the paper does discuss world news and events, potential authors must be aware that the primary goal of the paper is to support the local community. Articles and stories that focus on local news and events have a greater likelihood of being well received. The community the paper serves is highly diverse and contains readers with a variety of different cultures, backgrounds, and educations, and potential authors should be aware and respectful of this diversity.

Last updated: September 26, 2020

References

Show 15 footnotes

  1.  The Press-Enterprise, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 27, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1522206023659/551870 ↩
  2. “Newsroom Guidelines,” PE.com, accessed September 26, 2020, https://www.pe.com/newsroom-guidelines/#mission ↩
  3. “Newsroom Guidelines.” ↩
  4. “Share Your News with The Press-Enterprise,” PE.com, accessed September 26, 2020, https://www.pe.com/share-your-news/ ↩
  5. “The Press-Enterprise.” ↩
  6. “The Press-Enterprise.” ↩
  7. “Share Your News with The Press-Enterprise.” ↩
  8. “Share Your News with The Press-Enterprise.” ↩
  9. “Share Your News with The Press-Enterprise.” ↩
  10. “Share Your News with The Press-Enterprise.” ↩
  11. “Share Your News with The Press-Enterprise.” ↩
  12. “Archives,” PE.com, accessed November 29, 2016, http://www.pe.com/sections/news/archives/ ↩
  13. “The Best of L.A. County 2020 Media Kit,” Mediakit.SCNG.com, accessed September 26, 2020, https://mediakit.scng.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3Q_2020_LACO_SCNG_Media_Kit1.pdf ↩
  14. “QuickFacts Riverside County, California,” Census.gov, accessed September 26, 2020, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/riversidecountycalifornia ↩
  15. “The Best of L.A. County 2020 Media Kit.” ↩
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Mariposa Gazette

By on August 24, 2011 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Mariposa Gazette

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.mariposagazette.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “California’s oldest weekly newspaper of continuous publication, covering Mariposa County like the stars.” 1

Target audience: The population of Mariposa County in California and surrounding areas

Publisher: Nichole W. Little. 2

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Newspaper.

Medium: Print and online, with a paid subscription to the newspaper required to view most online content.3

Content: News of local, state, and national interest, along with community information and events.

Frequency of publication: Weekly. 4

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: None.

Submission instructions: None provided, but those interested can send an email to  mariposagazette@mariposagazette.com or editor@mariposagazette.com.5

Types of contributions accepted: Opinion pieces, news articles, sports reviews, music reviews, and community events.6

Submission and review process: None provided, but presumably editors will review the submitted article information.

Editorial tone: Informal tone reflecting the small town atmosphere and local flavor.

Style guide used: Not indicated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The Mariposa Gazette has a long history of covering local area news, people, and community events. The Gazette would be of interest to LIS authors who want to provide community articles and current events to the residents of Mariposa county. There is potential to discuss LIS trends, issues, programming, and community events, as long as it is maintained through a local lens.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: As of 2016, the Circulation Estimate is 5,100.7

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The Mariposa Gazette is published for the members of California’s Mariposa County and surrounding areas. The newspaper is published in English.8

Reader characteristics: When looking at Mariposa County census demographics, the population is approximately 17,000 residents,  predominantly Caucasian (89%) and English-speaking. Majority have a high school education (90%), some have attained a bachelor degree or higher (23%). The Median household income is around $50,000, with about 15% of the population living in poverty. 9

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The readers of the Mariposa Gazette would likely not have knowledge of information science subject matters and would expect an introductory level of LIS topics to be explained without jargon.

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

The Mariposa Gazette is a local community newspaper. The readers of this publication look for articles about Mariposa County and surrounding areas. News items, sports, home, and life are just a few of the topics covered in the publication every week .10

The future authors of this publication would be expected to cover news items of local interest. Articles about library and information services would need to be focused on the needs of the local area and residents. Future authors could also write articles on future information services and resources.

Last updated: October 25, 2020

References

Show 10 footnotes

  1. “Home.”, mariposagazette.com, accessed October 25, 2020, https://www.mariposagazette.com/ ↩
  2. “Contact Us,” mariposagazette.com, accessed October 10, 2016, http://www.mariposagazette.com/common/Misc/Contact_Us.html ↩
  3. “Home.” ↩
  4. “Home.” ↩
  5. “Contact Us.” ↩
  6. “Home.” ↩
  7. “Mariposa Gazette,” MondoTimes.com, accessed October 10, 2016, http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/5/250/16326 ↩
  8. “Home.” ↩
  9. “QuickFacts: Mariposa County.”, census.gov, accessed October 2020, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mariposacountycalifornia/PST045219 ↩
  10. “Home.” ↩
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The Atlantic

By on May 4, 2011 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Atlantic

ISSN: 1072-7825 (Print) and 2151-9463 (Online).1

Website: http://www.theatlantic.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: Per their website, “We reach thinking people—and make them think harder. The Atlantic’s audience is influential, curious, and eager to leave a lasting mark on the world. Never ones to shy away from change, they seek out new ideas, challenge conventions—including their own—and ultimately aim to foster progress.”2

Target audience: For general audiences interested in current topics and foreign affairs.

Publisher: Atlantic Media Company.3

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: General interest magazine with varied topics from politics, foreign affairs, and culture.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: News stories, articles, fiction pieces, and interviews.

Frequency of publication: Published 10 times a year.4

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://support.theatlantic.com/hc/en-us/categories/360000916494-Editorial-Inquiries

Types of contributions accepted: According to their guidelines, “The Atlantic magazine is always interested in great nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. A general familiarity with what we have published in the past is the best guide to our needs and preferences.” Additionally, “The Atlantic wants to hear what you think. . . Visit our Contact Us form and select Letter to the Editor to send an email directly to the Letters section of The Atlantic.5 If you want to send an email from your personal email to the editors at The Atlantic, include “your full name, your mailing address and a phone number where we can contact you.6

Submission and review process: All manuscripts should be submitted as a Word document or PDF. Succinct pitches may be submitted in the body of an e-mail. Send nonfiction manuscripts or pitches to submissions [at] theatlantic.com; fiction manuscripts to fiction [at] theatlantic.com; poetry to poetry [at] theatlantic.com; pitches or commentaries about politics to politics [at] theatlantic.com; pitches or commentaries about culture and books to culture [at] theatlantic.com; pitches or commentaries about business to business [at] theatlantic.com; pitches or commentaries about science, technology, and health to science [at] theatlantic.com; pitches or commentaries about family to family [at] theatlantic.com; pitches or commentaries about education to education [at] theatlantic.com; pitches or commentaries about global issues to global [at] theatlantic.com; and pitches or commentaries about ideas to ideas [at] theatlantic.com.7 Letters to the Editor are to be sent via the form on the “Contact Us” page. 8

Editorial tone: Writing is sophisticated but easy to read.

Style guide used: None offered.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Because The Atlantic welcomes unsolicited manuscripts, there is potential for LIS authors to inform a general audience of library news and events. This is not a scholarly journal, yet there is plenty of prestige in being published here as it is more than 160 years in publication.9 LIS professionals and novice writers have an opportunity to expound on topics of interest and perhaps find ideas for scholarly works. Fiction and poetry submissions are also welcomed; it appears that many LIS professionals find this to be a stimulating outlet for non-scholarly writing. Topics that might be suitable for this venue are technological change in libraries, political and social issues surrounding libraries, and the paperless academic library.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 1.9 million print readers and 33.7 million global unique digital visitors.10

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Information regarding audience location is not provided, though international subscriptions are available.11 Content is published in English.

Reader characteristics: No information could be located regarding the specific reader characteristics for readers of The Atlantic.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are not likely to know a lot about LIS subject matter if they are simply reading this magazine. A recent article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid,” published here would indicate that readers have some interest in computers and technology; researching the magazine index could not locate any specific articles on library and information science. As this audience is considered affluent and well educated, they are likely to read other magazines and have formulated opinions on LIS topics.

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

Readers of The Atlantic are interested in smart writing and provocative, thought-provoking conversations. LIS topics and issues that need influential advocates would certainly find them here. Articles should be well written, directed toward an educated audience, limit library jargon (or explain each thoroughly), and provide documented corroboration for their issues. References are not a requirement; however, if the author is seeking advocacy for LIS issues, articles will need facts, not just opinions, and perceptive readers will be able to distinguish between the two. Authors must be determined and resolute in their submission process, as The Atlantic receives too many submissions annually to consider them all.

Last updated: September 20, 2020

References

Show 11 footnotes

  1. The Atlantic, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed September 20, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1522204779230/42396 ↩
  2. “Advertising,” TheAtlantic.com, accessed September 22, 2018, https://advertising.theatlantic.com/ ↩
  3. “The Atlantic.” ↩
  4. “The Atlantic.” ↩
  5. “Editorial Inquiries,” TheAtlantic.com, accessed September 20, 2020, https://support.theatlantic.com/hc/en-us/categories/360000916494-Editorial-Inquiries ↩
  6. “Submit a Letter to the Editor,” TheAtlantic.com, accessed September 20, 2020, https://support.theatlantic.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011374674-Submit-a-Letter-To-The-Editor ↩
  7. “Submit a piece for editorial consideration at The Atlantic,” TheAtlantic.com, accessed September 20, 2020, https://support.theatlantic.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011374734-Submit-a-piece-for-editorial-consideration-at-The-Atlantic ↩
  8. “Submit a Letter to the Editor.” ↩
  9. “History”, TheAtlantic.com, accessed September 20, 2020, https://www.theatlantic.com/history/ ↩
  10. “Advertising.” ↩
  11. “Subscribe,” TheAtlantic.com, accessed November 20, 2016, https://w1.buysub.com/pubs/A5/ATL/cds_forms.jsp?cds_page_id=171695&cds_mag_code=ATL&id=1479664672189&lsid=63251157521048080&vid=1&cds_response_key=I16LAUS ↩
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