Periodical Resources Management

General Observations

All of the entries in the Periodicals Resources Management category (magazines, tabloids and internal subcategories) had limited resources, and all were striving for the best-possible periodicals their budgets could afford. Other than Dayton's switch to a "co-mingling mailing process" that allowed them to increase their circulation while reducing their mailing costs, the periodicals generally saved money by adhering to common practices such as Web vs. sheet-fed printing. The judges were impressed overall by the determination of small or one-person staffs with miniscule budgets to produce high-quality periodicals. Our hats are off to everyone who entered.

Given the common denominator of "people and budget constraint" shared by all the entrants, what the judges looked for were periodicals that were produced on a shoestring but didn't look like it. The three winners all could stand proudly among much better-funded and staffed periodicals. Dayton takes advantage of its oversized tabloid format in terms of its design, and makes creative use of a limited writing budget and limited staff. Puget Sound strives to produce Arches "on a very short shoestring but tries not to look that way," and they succeed. Judges were impressed that, without a budget increase in six years and with the editor also serving as art director/designer, and at less than $1 per copy, Arches can still hold its own with any college or university magazine. Finally, William and Mary's Ideation is produced "on air," with funds that the editor solicits from academic officers of the college and with no dedicated staff. Yet the magazine is playful and creative, with a fine attention to detail.

Periodical Resources Management: Magazines (24A)

Gold Medal

University of Puget Sound, Arches

Bronze Medal

College of William and Mary, Ideation

Periodical Resources Management: Tabloids and Newsletters (24B)

Gold Medal

University of Dayton, University of Dayton Quarterly

Periodical Resources Management: Internal Audience Periodicals (24C)

No Winners