Call for Submissions: Journal of Bisexuality

SPECIAL SPIRITUALTIES ISSUE – Journal of Bisexuality

Special Journal of Bisexuality issue on bisexualities and spiritualities; intersections, inquiries, stories, visions.

What are the connections/correlations between bisexuality as sexual orientation and the spiritual tradition(s) one is born into and/or chooses for oneself?

Are certain spiritual philosophies/practices more/less likely to include bisexuals?

In a pastoral sense, what are the sources of pain and suffering, of comfort and hope, for bisexuals in contrast to non-bisexuals?

Are there distinctive religious practices and beliefs characteristic of bi people?

What importance, if any, do bi-identified people put on bisexually-oriented representations of deity, cosmology?

What are the experiences of bi clergy – rabbis, ministers, imams, shamans, priestesses, priests, nuns, etc. – in terms of training/credentialing, job searches, congregational dynamics, interactions with gay, lesbian, trans, intersex and heterosexual peoples?

What are the ways in which non-binary thinking -- growing out of and/or grounding-rooting bi-epistemologies -- shape religious/spiritual practices?

What are the ways in which they are complexified and how/when do they move beyond the usual modes of thinking re: gender/gender expression?

What are the ways in which they challenge fictions of religious purity (i.e. – how do bi and/or trans epistemologies create space for people of multiple (usually seen as ‘conflicting;) or fluid religious identities?

Lastly, how do these beyond-binary modalities open up spaces/new horizons for conceptualizing creation stories, parables, wisdom texts, ways of naming the divine … for everyone?

Send queries to Dr. Loraine Hutchins, lorainehutchins@starpower.net

Proposals for articles due December 1, 2008.

Full drafts of requested articles due February 1, 2009.

Call for Submission: Best Gay and Lesbian Love Stories 2010

Alyson Books is having a submission call for our Best Gay and Lesbian Love Stories 2010 anthologies

True love is daunting, a journey so excruciating that it becomes legendary to those who hear the tale.

Tell us the story of your true love and why it still resonates in your heart till this day. Did you live happily ever after? Was your love marked by brevity and bliss? The sky is the limit. You pick the theme and how you want to tell the story.

Stories must be 2,000-5,000 words in length.

Please submit all stories to paul.florez@regentmedia.com

Deadline is January 1, 2009.

DORSET POETRY PRIZE $10,000

Open to All Poets Writing in English

Again this year, the Dorset Prize includes a cash award of $10,000 in addition to publication by Tupelo Press (in paper and hardcover editions), a book launch at Poets House in New York City, and national distribution through Tupelo Press and Consortium Book Sales and Distribution, Inc., Ingram and Baker & Taylor.

The 2008 Dorset Prize will be judged by Ilya Kaminsky. All finalists will be considered for publication. Personal friends as well as current and former students of Ilya Kaminsky are not eligible for this year’s Dorset Prize.

Full Guidelines are available on the Tupelo Press Website https://www.tupelopress.org/dorset.shtml.

The Gatewood Prize

The Gatewood Prize is Switchback Books' annual competition for a first full-length (48-80 pp.) collection of poems by a woman writing in English between the ages of 18 and 39. It is named after Emma Gatewood, the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Our definition of woman" is broad and includes transsexual, transgender, genderqueer, and female-identified individuals.

2008 Judge: Denise Duhamel2008 Reading Period: July 1 - October 1, 2008

Prize: $500 and a standard publication contract with a print run of 1000.
For complete guidelines, go to The Gatewood Prize.

Call for Submission: SWELL Stories Wanted

Deadline: Janaury 1, 2009

Seeking original short stories focusing on LGBT themes from LGBT writers and their allies. Cash prizes plus publication in NewTownWriters ’ e-zine SWELL and print publication OFF THE ROCKS.

5000 words max.

$8.00 entry fee per story.

Full guidelines, submissions at http://www.newtownwriters.org/Fiction.html11th Gival Press Poetry AwardPostmark Deadline: Dec. 15, 2008 Prize of $1,000 plus author's copies for best original poetry manuscript in English of at least 45 pages; reading fee $20 per entry (by check or credit card).

Judge: Richard Carr, last year's winner.

For complete guidelines, visit website: www.givalpress.com and email: givalpress@yahoo.com.

Call for Submissions: BEST LESBIAN ROMANCE 2010

BEST LESBIAN ROMANCE 2010

Editor: Radclyffe

Publisher: Cleis PressDeadline for Submissions: April 1, 2009

Guidelines for Submissions

Published or unpublished short stories or novel excerpts Previously published material will be considered, provided it was or will be published between September 1, 2008 & December 31, 2009

Word count: 5000 words maximum

Electronic submissions only to: radclyffe.bsb@gmail.com. E-mail header: BLR 2010_Author_Title (BLR 2010_J Doe_Lovestory) MS Word doc attachment (story) E-mail body: list story title, author name, pseudonym, address, phone/fax, e-mail address, word count, where previously published (anthology title/publisher/Pub date), 75-100 word bio

Story Format. Header: story title/author name/page number (each page); Times New Roman 12 pt; double-spaced; standard paragraphing; no HTML; file name: BLR 2010_Author_Title (BLR 2010_J Doe_Lovestory) General Info: The anthology is scheduled for publication from Cleis Press Fall 2009. Submission decisions will be provided by e-mail in September 2009. Erotic content is welcome as long as the emotional/romantic elements are focal.

Please send questions to: radclyffe.bsb@gmail.com

Announcing the launch of COLLECTIVE FALLOUT: A Literary Magazine of Queer Genre Fiction & Poetry

Collective Fallout is a literary magazine dedicated to queer-themed sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and mystery fiction and poetry. It will be a print journal published 2 or 3 times a year.

The Collective Fallout blog is where readers will find reviews, interviews, and other editorial content, and is where readers are encouraged to comment on and reply to the forthcoming print journal.

Short Story submissions must be queer-related, and fall into one or more of the the science fiction, fantasy, horror, or mystery genres. Stories may not be longer than 10,000 words.

Poetry submissions must be queer-related, both form and free verse, and of a surreal, metaphysical, or similar nature. Up to 5 poems per submission, no more than 450 total lines. Simultaneous submissions accepted. We will not accept submissions of blatant erotica or pornography.

Contributors will receive one contributor copy of the magazine. Collective Fallout acquires and retains First North American Serial Rights. Submit content for the print magazine electronically to collectivefallout@gmail.com. Please attach files in DOC, RTF, or PDF formats.

Last Call: Lambda Literary Awards Guidelines 2008 Submission Form

The submission form is available as a PDF. If you would like one faxed or emailed to you, please send a request to awards@lambdaliterary.org or contact us at 323-936-5876.

2008 SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR THE 21ST LAMBDA LITERARY AWARDS

These guidelines focus on determining a book’s eligibility for the Lambda Literary Awards, the process of submitting a book for consideration by the judges, the parameters of the categories, and an approximate timeline for the awards cycle.

Each year, the Award Guidelines Committee of the Board of Trustees receives feedback from authors, publishers, and others in the literary community and informed with this feedback, the Committee assesses and revises the Guidelines with the goal of making the Lambda Literary Awards the most prestigious, competitive, and comprehensive awards offered to LGBT books and authors.

Changes to this year’s guidelines include the following:

Reprints of previously published paperback, hardcover or electronic books are not eligible. Second (or later) editions of a book are not eligible for consideration. A book that has been republished by a different publisher after its initial publication is not eligible. A book can be submitted in only one category, with two exceptions. Bisexual and Transgender books may be submitted in their respective categories, as well as a second LGBT category. This exception is intended to bring more visibility to the most under-published segments of our LGBT community.
If the Bisexual category receives ten (10) submissions of fiction and ten (10) submissions of nonfiction, the category will be separated into Bisexual Fiction and Bisexual Nonfiction. If the Transgender category receives ten (10) submissions of fiction and ten (10) submissions of nonfiction, the category will be separated into Transgender Fiction and Transgender Nonfiction. The awards committee reserves the right to split a category along sexual orientation or gender if the number of submissions received in a category warrant such a distinction.
Questions may be directed to awards@lambdaliterary.org.

TIMELINE

Submission period for books begins October 1, 2008 and ends December 1, 2008. A shortlist of five finalists for each category will be announced no later than March 15, 2009. Winners will be announced at the 21st Annual Lambda Literary Awards Ceremony, to be held on Thursday, May 28, 2009, in New York City.

ELIGIBILITY

In determining whether a book should be submitted for consideration, the Lambda Literary Awards are based principally on the LGBT content of the work. The sexual orientation of the author is secondary. The book must be published and distributed (i.e. available in bookstores) in the United States during 2008. Self-published books are eligible. Reprints of previously published paperback, hardcover or electronic books are not eligible. Second (or later) editions of a book are not eligible for consideration. A book that has been republished by a different publisher after its initial publication is not eligible. The book must be published in English. Translations from other languages into English are accepted, as long as the U.S. publication occurs during 2008. E-books are not eligible.

HOW TO SUBMIT A BOOK

Books submitted for consideration will be accepted between October 1, 2008 and December 1, 2008. A book can be submitted only by its author or by its publisher. To submit a book for consideration, please provide a completed submission form, an administrative fee of $20, and four (4) copies of the book. If the book is submitted for two categories (Bisexual or Transgender, plus a second LGBT category), please send eight (8) books instead of four. Only one administration fee ($20) is required. For books being published in late 2008 (especially December), bound galleys or bound manuscripts are accepted in lieu of finished copies of the book. Please note: electronic versions of books (PDFs) are not accepted.

CATEGORIES

Lambda Literary Awards are presented in twenty-two (22) categories (see below). If you have any questions about which category would be most appropriate for a book, please email us at awards@lambdaliterary.org. A book can be submitted in only one category, with two exceptions. Bisexual and Transgender books may be submitted in their respective categories, as well as a second LGBT category. This exception is intended to bring more visibility to the most under-published segments of our LGBT community. If a category receives less than ten (10) submissions, the category will not be active in this awards cycle. The submitted books will be reassigned to another category if appropriate, and the administrative fee will be refunded if the book cannot compete in another category.

If the Bisexual category receives ten (10) submissions of fiction and ten (10) submissions nonfiction, the category will be separated into Bisexual Fiction and Bisexual Nonfiction. If the Transgender category receives ten (10) submissions of fiction and ten (10) submissions of nonfiction, the category will be separated into Transgender Fiction and Transgender Nonfiction.
The awards committee reserves the right to split a category along sexual orientation if the number of submissions received in a category warrant such a distinction.

2008 CATEGORIES

LESBIAN and GAY CATEGORIES (14) LESBIAN: Books eligible for this category are those that feature a lesbian main character. The gender and orientation of the author are not considered in determining the book’s eligibility.

GAY: Books eligible for this category are those that feature a gay main character. The gender and orientation of the author are not considered in determining the book’s eligibility.

Betty Berzon Prize for Debut Fiction—Novels, novellas, or short story collections by authors who have not previously published a book of fiction. Anthologies are not eligible. Authors who have appeared in anthologies are eligible, as long as they have not published a volume identified as theirs alone.

Erotica—Anthologies, novels, memoirs, short story collections whose content is principally of an erotic nature.

General Fiction—Novels, novellas, and short story collections. May include historical novels, graphic novels, cross-genre works of fiction, and other styles of fiction. Anthologies are not eligible.
Memoir/Biography—Posthumously published authors or those with co-authors are eligible. Anthologies are not eligible.

Mystery— Novels, novellas, and short story collections that adhere to the criteria of a “mystery,” as defined by the Mystery Writers of America: “A mystery is considered to be any novel in which a crime, or a series of crimes, are an integral part of the story." Anthologies are not eligible.

Poetry—Single volumes, selected and collected poems are eligible. Chapbooks are not eligible.

Romance— Novels, novellas, and short story collections that adhere to the criteria of a “romance.” As defined by the Romance Writers of America: “A romance is defined as a work of fiction with two critical elements: a central love relationship and a positive ending stating or implying a commitment between the two characters.” Anthologies are not eligible.

ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES (2)

Bisexual—Fiction and nonfiction: novels, short story collections, anthologies, poetry, memoirs, cultural studies, public policy, law, history, spirituality, gender studies, etc.

Transgender—Fiction and nonfiction: novels, short story collections, anthologies, poetry, memoirs, cultural studies, public policy, law, history, spirituality, gender studies, etc.

LGBT CATEGORIES (6)

LGBT Anthology—Collections of fiction, poetry, and/or nonfiction are eligible.

LGBT Children’s/Young Adult—Fiction, nonfiction, picture books, poetry, and anthologies—whose intended audience are young readers—are all eligible.

LGBT Drama—Plays that have been published in book/script form during 2008. Collections of plays and anthologies of plays are eligible.

LGBT Nonfiction—Books and subjects for the general reader, e.g. histories, politics, community organizations, humor, parenting, religion, spirituality, relationships, psychology, travel, etc.

LGBT Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror—Novels, novellas, short story collections, and anthologies are eligible.

LGBT Studies—Scholarly work oriented toward academia, libraries, cultural professionals, and the more academic reader.

PLEASE NOTE NEW ADDRESS FOR SUBMISSIONS:

Lambda Literary Awards
5482 Wilshire Blvd, #1595
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Gay Writers Respond to Proposition 8’s Win in California

By Wendy Werris -- Publishers Weekly, 11/6/2008 7:42:00 AM

California’s Proposition 8, the controversial anti-gay-marriage measure that was fought furiously on both sides for several months and included Tricycle Press’s children’s book King & King as a negative spin in supporters’ TV commercials, won a stunning victory on November 4 in the state’s election. Gay writers responded to the win with outrage, concern and heartbreak.

John Rechy, the Los Angeles-based PEN International Award-winning gay author expressed a sense of outrage and betrayal by the passing of Prop. 8. Noting what he called fear tactics used by its backers in their ads, Rechy said, “Of course it helped Prop. 8 to use a harmless children’s book (King & King) about gay marriage in its campaign of minority intolerance. My fear now is that all of gay literature will be more closely scrutinized, and that free speech will become even more endangered.” Rechy and his partner of more than 30 years were recently married.

Although the head of the California Teacher’s Association stated on many occasions during the campaign that marriage is not taught in schools, Prop. 8’s supporters seemed to state otherwise in their ads that used King as an example of what information children would be privy to if gay marriage was not banned in California. Charles Flowers, executive director of the LAMBDA Literary Foundation that supports the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender book communities, noted the complexities that lie ahead because of this misinformation. “The use of a children’s book definitely worked in Prop. 8’s favor,” he said. “Now that it’s passed, these people have instilled a lot of fear in the minds of parents about text adoptions and gay-themed books in schools. This will put gay teachers under much more scrutiny as well.” Flowers is also concerned about the legal limbo the passing of Proposition 8 has put California’s 22,000 married gay couples in.

Novelist Christopher Rice, president of the board of the LAMBDA Literary Foundation, is well aware of the power of the written word. “The image of a kid holding a book (about gay marriage) is profound. Unfortunately, the backers of Prop. 8 used King as an example of how a young mind can be corrupted, rather than how it can be opened.” Rice also blames the measure’s backers for using the book in a dishonest way, saying it’s opened a “psychic wound” in gay writers everywhere who are on the frontlines of unfiltered and candid information about the way they live their lives.
Only children who are signed up for Comprehensive Sex Education in California schools are taught about gay relationships and sex. “This decision is entirely up to the parents,” Rice continued. “The backers of Prop. 8 distorted the truth about this.”

Another gay California writer, novelist Dorothy Allison, married her longtime partner on November 1.

“My heart is breaking,” she said. “The way the pro-8 spokespeople concentrated on how gay marriage could be a threat to kids... that was the big thing. They propagandized the loving theme of King by turning it into a fearful message to parents.”

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6612061.html?nid=2286&source=link&rid=1392992134

TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES

MATTHEW BAJKO, assistant editor at San Francisco-based BAY AREA REPORTER, won two 3rd place awards at the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club’s 31st annual awards dinner.

CURVE, the nation’s best-selling lesbian magazine, launched its newly redesigned website – CURVEMAG.COM – last month.

DANN DULIN, senior editor of A&U magazine, was a guest on the 4th annual POZ Cruise last month, embarking on a 7-day journey through the Caribbean. Dulin will be writing a story about the cruise and its founder, PAUL STALBAUM.

GAY LIST DAILY, an online publication available at GAYLISTDAILY.COM, launched a new localized Los Angeles edition last month. City-specific editions already include New York and Dallas.

GARETH KIRKBY, former associate publisher and managing editor of Ottawa, Ont.-based CAPITAL XTRA, has shifted responsibilities within Canada’s PINK TRIANGLE PRESS. He is now the editor in chief at THE GUIDE, the company’s U.S.-based gay travel and politics magazine. He continues his work as producer and editor in chief of XTRA.CA. MARCUS MCCANN, former news editor of CAPITAL XTRA, has been promoted to associate publisher and managing editor.

OUTHISTORY.ORG, a new website on LGBT history, made its official debut on Oct. 21.

POLITICAL IQ is the new name of the syndicated column LESBIAN NOTIONS. The name change reflects that the column is an LGBT-themed op-ed, and not lesbian-specific. Distributed by Q SYNDICATE, co-publisher of PRESS PASS Q, the column is written by veteran journalist DIANE SILVER.

POSITIVELY AWARE magazine has released its special World AIDS Day edition, which includes an interview with former UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa STEPHEN LEWIS.

DAMON ROMINE, director of entertainment media at the GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION [GLAAD], wed CHARLES ROBBINS, executive director of the TREVOR PROJECT, on Nov. 2 in Palm Springs, Calif., after nine years together. It was a double wedding with Romine’s father and his partner of 16 years.

SHEWIRED.COM, a new website for women, was launched last month by REGENT MEDIA, parent company of GAYWIRED MEDIA.

[Editor’s note: Are there important changes going on at your publication? E-mail the information to editor@PressPassQ.com.]

Courtesy: PressPassQ (http://www.presspassq.com/ppq.cfm)

PRESSING QUESTIONS: Jane and Jane magazine

PRESSING QUESTIONS: Jane and Jane magazine of Sacremento, Calif.by Derrik Chinn

Geographic coverage area: National

Year founded: 2006

Staff size and breakdown: 2 publishers, editor in chief, and sales rep.; everyone else is freelance

Size of office space: The staff works from home, the publishers are in Sacramento, and the editor and salesperson in San Francisco

Physical dimensions of publication: 8.375” x 10.875”

Key demographics: Lesbians and bisexual women in their 30s and 40s

Print run: 20,700 audited

******
Press Pass Q: What part of Jane and Jane is the most popular?

Editor in chief Maria de la O: Relationships, because everybody wants to know if their relationship is “normal.” I think that’s one reason why Cosmo has done so well over the years. And travel, because apparently gay people like to travel. A lot.

PPQ: What challenge has Jane and Jane overcome over the past few years?

de la O: Reaching the demographic. Get to the women who do not frequent clubs and parties. We don’t have anything against parties; it’s just that we’re more interested in women who are a little older, are a little more established in their careers, and who don’t necessarily go out to clubs every weekend. We essentially target women who are in their 30s and 40s, rather than in their 20s.

PPQ: How does a lesbian magazine best reach out to women in their 30s and 40s?

de la O: We’re trying a range of things, from posting a page on Facebook to getting on the road and visiting Pride events all over the country. I think our publishers went to about seven Pride events this summer. Then this winter, there will be gay ski weeks and so on. We’re just really trying to meet people face to face, or at least meet them online through their friends and friends of friends.

PPQ: What current issues would you say interest that demographic of lesbians?

de la O: Daily life, finances, relationships, and health. It’s more about cocooning than about the bar scene. It’s not that our readers aren’t political – we actually have an ongoing legal section written by Kate Kendell from the National Center for Lesbian Rights and political articles written by our Washington, D.C., correspondent – but our readers definitely have the long view about politics.

PPQ: How has Jane and Jane changed since it was first launched?

de la O: I suppose the biggest change was with the September/October issue, which is our first paid, nationally distributed newsstand issue. Up until now we’ve been free and on the West Coast. It was also my first issue as editor in chief. The magazine was redesigned. It was a larger issue than ever before at 100 pages, and it had some new sections including fitness and more celebrity coverage.

PPQ: How did the magazine's appearance change with its recent redesign?

de la O: The magazine is larger in page count. It’s perfect-bound now rather than saddle-stiched. The body font is different – it’s a little more delicate looking. There are new sidebar styles. There’s more white space. More photography. It feels like something you’d keep on your coffee table rather than something you would read and throw away quickly.

PPQ: Based on your experience, what would you say are some of the hurdles every new editor in chief faces?

de la O: Gaining the trust of those you work with. I’ve worked at a lot of magazines, and I’ve seen people sometimes working at cross purposes. Somehow I’ve managed to convince everyone here that I know what I’m doing and to follow my lead.

PPQ: On the Kinsey Scale of 0-6, how gay is Jane and Jane?

de la O: How about “post-gay”? What I mean is, we basically assume that you’re a lesbian or bisexual if you’re reading Jane and Jane, and that perspective informs every story that we do. But a lot of our stories could almost be in O magazine or another high-quality women’s magazine. Not every story has an obvious lesbian angle, but a gay perspective is inherent in everything we do.

PPQ: What is the most surprising thing a reader has ever said?

de la O: The publishers have told me that people sometimes come up to them at events and misstate the magazine’s title as “Jane on Jane,” which would be quite a different magazine, I think.

[Editor’s note: Each installment of the feature Pressing Questions puts the spotlight on a different GLBT media outlet. If you are interested in being featured, send an email to editor@PressPassQ.com with the subject line “Pressing Questions.”]

Courtesy: PressPassQ (http://www.presspassq.com/ppq.cfm)

Editor of Pittsburgh’s Out remembered

When Jeff Howells, the editor of Pittsburgh’s Out newspaper, did not show up for work on Sept. 2, publisher Tony Molnar-Strejeck stopped by his home and discovered his body sprawled across the main staircase. Officials later ruled that Howells had suffered from a heart attack several days earlier.

Howells, who just turned 50 in July, had served the newspaper for over 20 years and was promoted to editor in chief in 2006. He was known as a hardworking employee, a devoted friend, and a fearless warrior against adversity.

“Jeff took pride in his work and this can be seen in every published issue of Out over the past several years,” said Molnar-Strejeck. “His beautiful smile, charm, and wicked sense of humor will be deeply missed, but not forgotten.”

Howells began his career in 1986 when he became a part-time editorial assistant. In less than a year, he was promoted to copy editor. Before the end of the decade, he was promoted again to managing editor. Molnar-Strejeck links Howells’ ability to succeed in the industry with his immeasurable drive and flawless work ethic.

But the world Howells grew to understand began to collapse in late 2007. In December, his relationship with his partner of more than 20 years ended. Earlier this year, his mother passed away. Yet, with these hardships, Howells continued to focus on his work and was excited about the future of Out.

“Jeff has left behind a legacy,” said Molnar-Strejeck. “His mark on our 36-year-old newspaper will always be felt and never forgotten. His shoes will be difficult, if not impossible, to fill.”

David Doorley, executive editor of Out, will be taking over most of Howells’ responsibilities. Doorley has worked with Out for over 25 years. Out has also hired a new editorial assistant and proofreader in the hopes of filling the gap left behind by the loss.

Services were held at a funeral home in Russellton, Penn., on Sept. 7. As Howells was an avid lover of animals, donations can be sent in his name to the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania, 6620 Hamilton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

— Matthew E. Pilecki

Courtesy: PressPassQ (http://www.presspassq.com/ppq.cfm)

Windy City Times goes all out online

Chicago's Windy City Times is still publishing in print, but the entire issue of the publication is also now available online. Readers can now download the paper in its complete form as a PDF file.

“We've been doing it for a few months,” said publisher Tracy Baim. But with significant recent growth, now up to 1,000 downloads per week, Baim said it was time to fully promote the new feature. “It's a good option for those who want to look at the paper at work or on the train on the way home as well as for readers in the suburbs where it's more difficult to get the physical paper.”

In fact, Windy City Times launched the online project late last year, starting to post a PDF document. “We've been tweaking it ever since,” Baim explained. More recently, “We've added more color and links to the advertisers' websites.”

Windy City Times [www.windycitytimes.com] publishes Night Spots, which is also available online. About 300 readers download that publication each week.

Print issues of Windy City Times and Night Spots will continue to be distributed from more than 500 outlets in the Chicago area. The Window City Media Group website [www.windycitymediagroup.com] has more than 20,000 archived articles, dating back 10 years.
Explaining the online feature, Baim said, “Readers didn't just want the text versions online. They actually like the visual assistance, the way a print publication prioritizes stories, the whole visual look of a paper. Most readers view the text version of articles, but want print guidance.”

The changes mean that readers of the publication's online version are able to read not only the articles, but also see the advertisements. Plus, the ads are clickable. Readers can link to advertisers' websites.

“This feature is a huge perk to our advertisers because as consumers read the ads, they are able to click directly to advertisers’ sites to buy tickets, read further information about events or products, or to find out more about their organization,” said marketing director Kathleen Ulm in a statement. The online version is also good for advertisers looking for the “maximum exposure” and is a “valuable service to the LGBT community,” extending the reach of the paper locally and nationally.

Better yet, few cost increases resulted from the online endeavor. “It only adds a few hours of work across three different jobs, with no real costs on the production end,” Baim said.
So far there have been no increases in advertising rates. “If we started to see a bigger jump [of downloads], that might warrant an increase,” Baim said.

One challenge has presented itself. “We're trying to get verified audits to start tracking downloads as part of the verification process,” she explained. “Some auditors are slow to embrace the digital technology. We may have to get a different company to do the online audit.”

In related news, Windy City Times employees all now work remotely from home. The move took effect in the middle of July, prompted in part by the summer’s rising gas prices.
Still, there were other considerations, she explained. “Productivity and morale. … For some people, their creative peak is midnight. For others, it is 6 a.m. This way we get more work out of people at their productive times.”

Staffers see each other in person during a weekly meeting. Meanwhile, Baim said, “People can access servers from home to produce the paper. We proof it from the PDF file, remotely.”

— Chuck Colbert

Courtesy PressPassQ (http://www.presspassq.com/ppq.cfm)