Magazine Publishing
PUB 375-4, Course Outline, Fall 2013
Publishing Program, Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology (FCAT)
Simon Fraser University Vancouver
Course Description
This course serves as an overview of the Canadian magazine publishing industry and the
challenges and opportunities facing today’s publisher. From developing editorial content for crossmedia editions, designing for multiple channels, marketing for print and digital, to advertising and
circulation in print and online, all facets of the industry will be covered. The culminating project—a
business plan for a new publishing venture—will utilize all course teachings and give students a realistic
sense of what is required to launch a new publishing venture. The course will also call upon industry
experts, as guest speakers and panelists, to enhance the learning experience and offer practical insights.
Course Objectives
1. General Objectives: to foster an understanding of the cross-medial approach to magazine publishing
and how the key functional areas within a publishing organization interact to create a publication.
2. Learning Outcomes: by the end of the course, students will know what goes into a
business plan for a new publishing venture. Specifically, they will be able to articulate,
(i) The basic concept for a magazine publishing venture;
(ii) the editorial workflow for cross-media publishing;
(iii) the editorial/market need;
(iv) the audience potential;
(v) the advertising circulation and/or other revenue potential;
(vi) the basic costs associated with a magazine publishing venture;
(vii) and the human resource requirements of publishing.
Required Text
Johnson, Sammye and Patricia Prijatel, The Magazine From Cover to Cover, Third Edition
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New York/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012
Other mandatory readings, in the form of handouts, will be announced during the term
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and distributed in class.
Evaluation
• Informed class participation: 10%
• Magazine Assignment (individual written assignment): 10%
• Midterm Test (based on readings, lectures, and guest speakers): 20%
• Business plan (group written assignments): 25%
• Final presentation of Business Plan (group written and oral assignment): 15%
• Final Exam (based on readings, lectures, and guest speakers): 20%