Wiki Tags Archives: Opinion

Sonoma State Star

By Bethany Baker 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

Santa Cruz Sentinel

By Bethany Baker 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

The Santa Barbara Independent

By Bethany Baker on August 26, 2011 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Santa Barbara Independent or Santa Barbara Indepedent

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://independent.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: A weekly newspaper and “the leading source for news, arts & entertainment, and lifestyle coverage in the greater Santa Barbara area.”¹

Target audience: “Our coverage and distribution extends from the heart of Santa Barbara northwest through Goleta and the Santa Ynez Valley, and then southeast through Montecito and Carpinteria, with presence in both Ojai and Ventura as well.”²

Publisher: Santa Barbara Independent, Inc.³

Peer reviewed? No.⁴

Type: Civilian newspaper.⁵

Medium: Print and online.⁶

Content: Local and national news, community events.⁷

Frequency of publication: Weekly.⁸

About the publication’s submission guidelines

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

Types of contributions accepted: Letters to the editor, longer and more thought out opinion pieces regarding an issue of critical importance to the Santa Barbara community (called a “Voice”), and “In Memoriams”, which are “eulogies for members of the Santa Barbara Community.”⁹

Submission and review process: Proposals and submissions should be sent via the contact form on the Contact Us page. Choose the appropriate box based on your submission (“Submit Letter or Voice,” or “Submit In Memoriam”). The word count is 50-250 words for Letters, 600-850 for Voices, and 500-800 words for In Memoriams. Include your name, address, and telephone number in the submission.¹⁰

Editorial tone: Informative.

Style guide used: None mentioned.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The Santa Barabara Independent provides an opportunity for authors to reach their local community with information about their library or library issues.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Print circulation of 40,500 and 492,000 webpage visits per month.¹¹

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Santa Barbara County residents and visitors. The publication is written in the English language. Culturally, Santa Barbara is a tourist location and has a changing, diverse population.

Reader characteristics: According to their media kit, 62% of all residents in Southern Santa Barbara County read The Independent, with 100,000 people indicating that they read The Independent each week.¹² 29% of the readers are male while 62% are female. More than 75% of the readers have a college or post-graduate degree. The average household income of readers is $75,000 or higher, and the majority of readers (32%) are between the ages of 50-64.¹³

The Santa Barbara Independent is actively involved in community affairs and “supports civic engagement by hosting political forums; fosters recognition of arts and culture with annual awards for theater, dance, and culinary achievements; sponsors numerous community events; and raises money each fall for numerous nonprofits . . . ,”¹⁴ The reach of the Santa Barabara Independent spans outside of their dedicated readers and into the community it serves.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Given that most readers are college-educated, many are probably familiar with libraries to some degree; however, library jargon should be avoided.

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

Santa Barbara is a well-rounded community that appreciates its cultural diversity. Many educators reside in Santa Barbara and would appreciate knowing about services that are available to students of all ages. Potential authors have the benefit of reaching a cultured and educated community who will likely see writing about libraries as interesting and intriguing.

Last updated: September 26, 2020

References

Show 14 footnotes

San Francisco Business Times

By Bethany Baker on August 26, 2011 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: San Francisco Business Times

ISSN: 0890-0337 (Print)¹

Website: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/

Purpose, objective, or mission: San Francisco Business Times is a publication focused on the business community and business news in San Francisco and the Bay Area.²

Target audience: This publication is aimed at businesses, corporations, and executives in the San Francisco Bay Area. They tend to publish rankings and lists of prominent corporations, so are very popular with marketing personnel.

Publisher: American City Business Journals, Inc.³

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian publication; local business journal.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: San Francisco Business Times publishes articles on businesses and business news in the San Francisco Area. They also compile a book of lists (ranking companies in various sectors by size and prominence) which is heavily used by marketing professionals.⁴

Frequency of publication: Weekly.⁵

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.bizjournals.com/about-us/help (Scroll down to “Do you accept press releases, news tips or story ideas?”)

Types of contributions accepted: “If it’s news about your company or a story tip, we want to hear it.”⁶

Submission and review process: You can fill out the form found on the Contact page, or use email, mail, fax, or telephone. “If you’re not certain of the person to contact, send it in care of the Editor. Please remember to include the name of a contact person and a business phone number.”⁷

Editorial tone: The San Francisco Business Times uses a traditional newspaper structure, leading with the most interesting information and following with more detail. The articles are generally short, punchy, and to the point.

Style guide used: Not listed.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

LIS authors could contact the editors to pitch ideas for stories about how libraries benefit the business community. There could be potential to highlight special libraries or public libraries: for example, a case study on how a special library’s research and information services supported a company or a story about how public libraries support job skill development or entrepreneurship. In addition, any writer seeking better exposure in the business community may want to post comments on the site.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 15,828 paid circulation, with 868,293 unique monthly visitors to the website.⁸

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: It is available nationwide through its website, but the target audience is Northern California, Bay Area. The cultural make-up of readership is as diverse as the city itself, but the newspaper does not go out of its way to cover cross-cultural issues, except as they relate to business opportunities.

Reader characteristics: Readers are educated: 85% are college graduates. 80% of readers influence purchasing decisions at their company, while 62% are top management.⁹. The average household income of SF Business Times is $373,700.¹⁰

The readers of the SF Business Times are generally people doing business in the Bay Area (or looking to expand into the Bay Area). The businesses they work in are a mix, judging from the news coverage in the paper itself. There are articles on restaurants, office space, new construction, major retailers, employers relocating, and profiles of major local employers, and businesses that serve all these demographics.

This paper is businesslike in tone and subject matter. The people reading it may have a cross-section of political leanings, personal beliefs, and values, etc, but they are not interested in exploring them in this format. Any commentary outside of introducing business resources should be kept to a minimum, as it may alienate the readership.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: This audience is not knowledgeable about LIS subject matter, beyond what you would learn as part of a regular college education. Any library-oriented terminology should be explained. However, this would be a wonderful forum for marketing library resources to business people. People look to this newspaper for business opportunities, and new information resources would be a natural outgrowth of that.

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

The readers of the San Francisco Business Times are primarily interested in expanding their businesses; that is their motivation for reading this publication. Any writing that would help them with this goal would be well received. Authors should strive to write in a clear, businesslike tone, and to impart as much information as possible.

Last updated: September 28, 2020.

References

Show 10 footnotes

Salon

By Bethany Baker 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

The Press-Enterprise

By Bethany Baker 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

The Northern Light

By Bethany Baker on August 26, 2011 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Northern Light

ISSN: 1088-4416 (Print)¹

Website: http://www.scottishritenmj.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Published since 1970, The Northern Light is the premier magazine of Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction (NMJ).”²

Target audience: Members of the Scottish Rite and laypeople interested in Freemasonry.

Publisher: Supreme Council Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite * Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A.³

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: News and articles on the history, social, and humanitarian aspects of Freemasonry.

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.⁴

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: There are none available online as well as no general contact form. However, the editor of the magazine can be contacted at (781) 465-3324.

Types of contributions accepted: All types of articles, editorials, reviews, letters to the editor as well as cartoons that deal with Freemasonry in a generally positive way. A past issue contained an article by an archivist about a historical aspect of freemasonry. A preference for articles that stress the humanitarian and social aspects of the Craft as well as historical articles is shown.

Submission and review process: No process is provided; it is safe to assume that the final word lies with the editor.

Editorial tone: Very informal, clearly written prose aimed at a generally mature audience.

Style guide used: None given.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

At first, it would seem that this magazine would not be a fertile place for the new writer to publish, but if you are an academic librarian and/or an archivist with an interest in esoteric Americana or US history, or you are, in fact, a Freemason, then this magazine is a natural fit for you. Freemasons generally have a keen interest in their history and the history of the country, and so these types of pieces are heavily sought, especially if photographs of Masonic ephemera accompany the piece.

There have been several pieces in past issues that have been written by archivists and librarians. Some have been Masonic librarians because the Craft owned a few special libraries, but most are non-Masons who work in a facility with some Masonic artifacts or a complete collection.

Don’t ignore these specialty magazines, they are usually hungry for material and their editorial process is also usually very informal and forgiving. You might not want to put one of these publications on a C.V., but it does allow you to get your feet wet and stretch your horizons a bit.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: According to the website, “The magazine is delivered quarterly to every member of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction and distributed worldwide to other Supreme Councils and subscribers.” ⁵ Membership numbers are not provided, however, according to Business Insider, there are over 6 million Freemasons worldwide.⁶ It is, therefore, safe to assume that the publication reaches a large portion of the population.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The publication is in English and geared toward readers in the United States.

Reader characteristics: The majority of readers will be members of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will not likely have much knowledge of LIS subject matter but will have a keen interest in matters pertaining to archives, history, and artifacts.

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

Readers of The Northern Light are a large, diverse group of people, likely older adults. To join the Freemasons one must believe in a supreme being. Philanthropy is important to them as is American history. Because of these traits, readers will likely be advocates of libraries. Articles discussing library collections that involve American history, Freemasons, or artifacts directly related to their culture would be successful.

Last updated: September 27, 2020

References

Show 6 footnotes

Mariposa Gazette

By Katie Wood 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

The Atlantic

By Bethany Baker 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

Journal of Education for Library and Information Science (JELIS)

By Lisa Lowdermilk on April 29, 2011 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Journal of Education for Library and Information Science (JELIS)

ISSN: 0748-5786 (Print) and 2328-2967 (Online)¹

Website: http://www.alise.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=445

Purpose, objective, or mission: “JELIS supports scholarly inquiry in library and information science (LIS) education by serving as the primary venue for the publication of research articles, reviews, and brief communications about issues of interest to LIS educators.”²

Target audience: LIS faculty and educators, and more specifically, ALISE members³

Publisher: Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes⁵

Type: LIS and education scholarly⁶ JELIS is a peer-reviewed journal that features scholarly papers, original research, reports, and studies. Although the journal does also publish brief communications, reader comments, and guest editorials, its primary purpose is the presentation of scholarly research.⁷

Medium: Online⁸

Content: JELIS publishes peer-reviewed research articles that contribute to scholarship in the field of education in library and information science and brief communications on topics important to the field. The later is not subject to peer review, but editorial approval only.⁹

Frequency of publication: Quarterly¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://ali.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=458

Types of contributions accepted: JELIS accepts submission of major articles of up to 7,000 words and more reflective, brief communications of up to 1,500 words.¹¹

Submission and review process: Manuscripts must be submitted via the online submission widget. The publication acknowledges the receipt of all submissions. Major articles go through a double-blind review process.¹²

Editorial tone: Formal and academic.¹³

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition. Additional information on style and formatting guidelines is included in the guidelines.¹⁴

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

As a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal in the field of LIS education, JELIS would be a suitable publication venue for those involved in academic librarianship or graduate-level teaching. Although its readership may be relatively small, publication in JELIS would definitely help in the process of building tenure and establishing professional credibility. Ulrichsweb notes that “(JELIS) Authors are most often professors in schools of library and information science.”¹⁵ However, information professionals, LIS faculty, and even LIS students with relevant experience and strong academic writing skills should consider submitting work to JELIS.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Actual numbers are not available, but JELIS is made available to all ALISE members, both individual and institutional, as a benefit of membership.¹⁶

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Although detailed geographic information is not available, the ALISE mission specifically mentions serving faculty in North America.¹⁷ JELIS is published solely in English, ¹⁸ and its North American base would suggest that most readers are comfortable communicating in English. Due to the prominent Canadian reader contingent, authors would definitely want to avoid colloquialisms and cultural references that are specific to the United States.¹⁹

Reader characteristics: Though demographic information on readership is not available, ALISE does note that its members are generally faculty in library and information science graduate programs.²⁰ It is difficult to make blanket characterizations in terms of age, gender, and ethnicity, as readers range from LIS students to deans. No detailed breakdown of reader workplaces is provided by JELIS or ALISE. The ALISE membership brochure notes that its members include “All levels of faculty, administration, students, librarians, researchers, educational institutions, and others interested in library and information science education.”²¹ Readers likely share a high level of education and a professional interest in LIS education and graduate-level teaching.

JELIS readers, particularly LIS faculty members, are likely to have established opinions based on their area of expertise.²² They are also likely to share the core values of librarianship and view the profession as highly important and relevant in both the academic and professional spheres. Yet JELIS does also feature divergent viewpoints and constructive criticism in its reader comments and guest editorials.²³

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: JELIS readers are extremely knowledgeable about LIS subject matter and well-versed in library jargon, particularly that which relates to education.²⁴ Authors will want to focus their submissions on the most relevant topics for LIS educators, as this publication is quite specialized and readers might not be interested in more general or overarching library concepts.²⁵

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

This is a scholarly publication that features specialized content geared towards a relatively small audience of LIS educators and students. Successful submissions will exhibit a professional and academic tone, and should specifically address emerging issues and trends in LIS education in the United States and Canada, or internationally. Appropriate topics might include technological advances in distance learning, course management systems such as Blackboard or WebCT, the use of Web 2.0 applications (i.e., blogs, wikis, podcasts) in teaching, or a comparative analysis of international LIS education. Additionally, authors might consider including original research to more effectively connect with JELIS readers.

Last updated: May 15, 2017

References

Show 25 footnotes

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