College of Communication College of Communication The University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism School of Journalism

J-347S / MAGAZINE MANAGEMENT

Syllabus for J347S / Fall 2009

Monday/Wednesday/Friday

11 a.m. - Noon

CMA 3.124

Labs:

Wednesday: 2-4 AND 4-6 p.m. / CMA 4.308

Thursday: 5-7 p.m. / CMA 4.316

CLASS TAUGHT BY:

DAVE GARLOCK

SENIOR LECTURER IN JOURNALISM

garlock@mail.utexas.edu

OFFICE: CMA 7. 244

PHONE: OFFICE: 471-1757

HOME: (512) 259-3240 (until 10 p.m.)

CELL: 217-6024

OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday / Thursday: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Friday: 12 – 2 p.m.

(Also by appointment)

_____________________________________

TEACHING ASSISTANT

JOE HOLLOWAY

OFFICE HOURS: TBA

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

This class will concentrate on all things magazine --- including operations and management.

You will learn how magazines handle editorial, advertising, circulation (including acquiring and keeping subscribers), production and printing --- and make money.

On a parallel track, you will learn how to start a magazine on your own. Students (individually or in teams) will prepare a business plan for a launch of a magazine of their own choosing (information is contained in this plan. Guest speakers and advisors will frequently be in the class … and possibly in lab … to help.)

Besides lectures, you will hear from many speakers who have succeeded in the magazine industry--- some took this class, or one like it. Their comments will tie directly to the business plan you are working on. In many ways, this class will seem a lot like your internships with one exception: you will not be standing on the sidelines and may leave this class (and Magazine Production, if you take it) fully prepared to “take a magazine to press” by yourself.

Work on the current and next issue of burntOrange magazine will also be done in this class, specifically in the labs, and at other times as needed.

COURSE PACKET:

Available at the Co-op

REQUIRED TEXTS:

The Magazine from Cover to Cover

By Johnson and Prijatel

Pocket Pal

International Paper

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:

The Magazine

Leonard Mogel
(If you can find it)

The Magazine Industry

By Charles Daly

The Fanciest Dive (How Time launched TV-Cable Week)

(If you can find it)

REQUIRED READING:

The Monday media section of The New York Times; Magazinedeathpool.com; Google Alert: Editor and Publisher magazine.

RECOMMENDED (and at PCL or online):

Standard Rate and Data (SRDS)

Audit Bureau of Circulation

(Takes a password I will give you)

Magazine Dimensions

Business Plan Handbooks

Bacon’s Magazine Directory

ALSO:

As many consumer and specialized magazines as you can read in one semester.

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS:

Folio: Alert (online); Advertising Age (At CCS), Quill, AJR, CJR,

Editor & Publisher.

GRADING:

relating to the plan: 10 percent

The Official UT Grading Scale:

Grade Score GPA Grade Score GPA

A+ 97-100 4.3 C+ 77-79 2.3

A 94-96 4.0 C 74-76 2.0

A- 90-93 3.7 C- 70-73 1.7

B+ 87-89 3.3 D+ 67-79 1.3

B 84-86 3.0 D 64-66 1.0

B- 80-83 2.7 D- 60-63 0.7

B- 80-83 2.7 F 0 –59 0.0

NOTE: Pluses and minuses will be part of your grade, beginning this semester and will be issued in this class.

ADDITIONAL GRADING NOTES:

To get an “A” on the business plan part of the class, you will need to go beyond the basics in all areas, especially market research, demographics and statistics, etc.

Here are some helpful rules to help your plan nab the top grade:

ABSENCES, Part 1:

Three unexcused absences are the limit. After three, you may see your grade reduced one full letter grade, or additional work assigned by your instructors, per additional absence. No exceptions to this rule---your graduation situation won’t make any difference. The roll sheet will be collected 15 minutes into class. (Arriving 15-30 minutes late counts as half an absence.)

ABSENCES, Part 2:

Missing scheduled guest speakers or any classes announced as important count as double-absences. Keep in mind, I’m a lot more understanding if you CALL IN ADVANCE with any problems. After the fact is---just that---after the fact!

IMPORTANT: A lot of things you will need for your business plans will come from the guest speakers (and the questions you ask). You are expected to take notes during their talk and turn a copy of them in at the next class.

LATE PAPERS:

Will be graded down at the rate of 10 points per day. All assigned out-of-class papers are DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.

MY POLICY ON DISHONESTY:

Any form of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, “borrowing” research from another student, etc., will result in an automatic and instant grade of “F” for the entire course.

UT POLICY ON DISHONESTY:

The University defines academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, falsifying academic records and any act designed to avoid participating honestly in the learning process. Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not limited to, providing false or misleading information to receive a postponement or an extension on a test or other assignment, and submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the instructor.

By accepting this syllabus, you have agreed to these guidelines and must adhere to them. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University.

UT POLICY ON RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS:

The Texas Education Code specifies students shall be excused from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose.

A student whose absence is excused under this subsection may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment within a reasonable time after the absence.

A student who misses classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day should inform the instructor as far in advance of the absence as possible, so that arrangements can be made to complete an assignment within a reasonable time after the absence.

UT POLICY ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Students need to notify their instructor of any modification/adaptation required to accommodate a disability-related need. Students will need to provide documentation to the Dean of Student's Office in order that the most appropriate accommodations can be determined. Specialized services are available on campus through Services for Students with Disabilities.

VISITS WITH ME:

Strongly recommended. I want you to come see me during the semester, to talk about the class, jobs, etc.

INTERNSHIPS:

Very valuable for this class. See me fast if you need or want one.

INDEPENDENT STUDY PROJECTS

I will be glad to work with you on a three-credit J-379 project, if you wish. This counts as three journalism hours --- as much as a full class. There are many possible projects I am interested in having done.

J347S COURSE OUTLINE / FALL 2009

(The day-to-day) schedule

Note: This outline is subject to change depending on class circumstance, the availability of guest speakers (there will be a lot) and other factors. It’s accurate unless I change it!

Week #1 Aug. 26 -28

Text (Johnson): Chapter 3 (History)

Week lectures:

Intro, course overview, syllabus, your business plans, projects, magazine industry overview.

Wednesday

Labs: Find the cheapest subscription prices you can for your favorite magazines: check out magazinedeathpool.com first, then 5-10 more sites. TURN IN SUMMARY OF YOUR FINDINGS.

Week #2 Aug. 31 – Sept. 4

Johnson: Chapter 1 (The Magazine)

Week lectures:

Magazines, business plans, editorial.

Monday MAGAZINE NAME DUE

Labs: Begin researching your magazine competition

Friday GUEST SPEAKER: Rebecca or Sandie?

Week #3 Sept. 7 – 11

Johnson: Chapter 8 (Editorial)

Week lectures:

Editorial

Monday LABOR DAY – NO CLASS

Wednesday: CONCEPT PAPER DUE

Labs: Magazine research, Editorial

Friday: PROJECT REPORT #1 DUE EXPLAIN THIS!

Week #4 Sept. 14 – 18

Johnson: Chapter 5, 6 (The business plan)

Week lectures:

Editorial

Monday TURN IN RESEARCH ON COMPETING MAGAZINES AND MEDIA KITS

GUEST SPEAKER: PARKER ON SWOT?

Wednesday

Labs: Editorial

Week #5 Sept. 21 – 25

Johnson: Chapter 2 (Advertising)

Week lectures:

Advertising

Monday TURN IN EDITORIAL PAPER

Wednesday

Labs: Advertising

Friday GUEST SPEAKER: James Hyde?

Week #6 Sept. 28 – Oct. 2

Johnson: page 170, 179, 182, 205 (Circulation)

Week lectures:

Advertising, circulation

Wednesday

Labs: Advertising, circulation

Friday GUEST SPEAKER Meta Carson?

Week #7 Oct. 5 – 9

Johnson: Market Research

Week lectures:

Market Research

Monday TURN IN SALES PAPER AND MEDIA KITS

Wednesday

Labs: Market research (and circulation, including burntOrange … finding distribution points and racks).

Week #8 Oct. 12 – 16

Week lectures:

Direct mail, lists

Monday PROJECT REPORT # 2

Wednesday GUEST SPEAKER:

Friday OPTIONAL CLASS (OU Weekend)

Labs: Direct mail, lists

Week #9 Oct. 19 – 23

Week lectures:

Art and Covers, Paper

Monday TURN IN CIRCULATION PAPER

Wednesday

Labs: Lists, direct mail (Paper)

Friday GUEST SPEAKER: Lorelei Calvert, TM?

Next time: Paper

Week #10 Oct. 26 – 30

Johnson: Chapter 9 – 10 (Production)

Week lectures:

Production

Monday COMPREHENSIVE MARKET RESEARCH DUE

Wednesday

Labs: Production, printing

Week #11 Nov. 2 -6

Week lectures:

Printing

Monday LIST BROKERS/ DIRECT MAIL DUE

Wednesday

Labs:

Week #12 Nov. 9 – 13

Johnson: Chapter 7 (Staffing)

Week lectures:

Business side, Financials

Wednesday GUEST SPEAKER: JONATHAN NELSON?

Production … and more

Labs:

Friday TURN IN PRODUCTION PAPER

Week # 13 Nov. 16 – 20

Lectures and labs:

THIS WEEK: BUSINESS PLAN PRESENTATIONS

Monday PROJECT REPORT #3

TURN IN ART PAPER

Friday SRDS PARAGRAPH

Week #14 Nov. 23 – 27
Lectures:
Financials

Monday TURN IN BIZ SIDE/STAFFING PAPERS

Wednesday -

Friday: No Classes: THANKSGIVING

WEEK #15 Nov. 30 – Dec. 4

Week lectures:

Online, Executive summaries

Wednesday: CLASS SURVEY

LABS:

Online, Executive summaries

Friday LAST CLASS DAY

BUSINESS PLANS DUE

KEY DATES --- J-347S / Fall 2009

Day Date Topic

Monday Aug. 31 TURN IN NAME OF MAGAZINE

(DO RESEARCH TO SHOW NAME IS NOT TAKEN)

Wednesday Sept. 9 CONCEPT STATEMENT

Friday Sept. 11 PROJECT REPORT #1

Monday Sept. 14 MAGAZINE RESEARCH

Monday Sept. 21 EDITORIAL PAPER

Monday Oct. 5 SALES PAPER & MEDIA KITS

Monday Oct. 12 PROJECT REPORT # 2

Monday Oct. 19 CIRCULATION PAPER

Monday Oct. 26 “COMPREHENSIVE”

Monday Nov. 2 LIST BROKERS/ DIRECT MAIL

Friday Nov. 13 PRINTING, PRODUCTION

Monday Nov. 16 PROJECT REPORT # 3

Nov. 16 – 20 BUSINESS PLAN PRESENTATIONS

Monday Nov. 16 ART/DESIGN PAPER

Friday Nov. 20 SRDS PARAGRAPH

Monday Nov. 23 BIZ SIDE / STAFFING

Wednesday Dec. 2 CLASS SURVEY

Friday Dec. 4 LAST CLASS DAY

BUSINESS PLANS DUE

J347S / STUDENT INFO. SHEET

Give me some information about yourself, so I can get to know you better and perhaps help you advance in your career.

NAME________________________PHONE___________CELL_________

E-MAIL_______________________ GPA (Optional) ________________

INTERESTS___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Please list the J courses you have taken:

COURSE INSTRUCTOR GRADE HONEST COMMENTS?

(Write on back if needed. I won’t share this with anyone)

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Have you had any internships/experience/clips yet? or do you want one?



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