Untitled DocumentSouthwest Hydrology trade magazine and Web site
Macro Theme Area:
Knowledge Transfer [Project ID: K09]
PI:
Betsy Woodhouse
CO-PI(s):
N/A
Basin focus:
Regional SW
Specific area in
basin /
field sites:
N/A
Summary/Goals: A bimonthly print publication for hydrologists, water managers, regulators, researchers, and other water professionals that provides information about projects, research, state-of-the-science, technologies, regulations, and innovations unique to the semi-arid Southwest.
Activities and outcomes during past year:
As planned, six issues were published during 2008. The next two issues are in production, and we are on schedule to maintain the bimonthly publication indefinitely. Readership increased by about 300 over the year to about 6,500. Ad revenue for 2008 exceeded $94,000, matching 2007. In addition, sponsorships for the magazine were solicited in 2008 from governmental entities and water providers; $52,000 was received from eight different sponsors, in amounts ranging from $4,000 to $15,000. In 2008, the magazine received four awards: "Excellence in magazine publications" by both the Tucson Chapter and the Pacific Plains Regional Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators, "Excellence in Technical Communication" from the Southwest Region of the Society for Technical Communication, and "Publication Excellence" from Communications Concepts Awards for Publication Excellence. In addition, an online survey sent to the three-fourths of our readers for whom we had valid email addresses revealed extremely high reader satisfaction and yielded numerous ideas for future features.
Plans for the upcoming year:
We will continue to increase readership and hope to at least maintain advertising revenue over the next year. In addition, we will continue to solicit new (and larger) sponsors and seek foundations from which to apply for grants. One-day workshops or short courses will also be considered as possible revenue makers. The focus for the year will be maintaining quality production and finding new money for 2010.
