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Magazines of the nation's capital
Magazines of the Nation's Capital James Gillispie
N a m e a dozen personalities outside your own hometown and odds are most of them will live or work in Hollywood or Washington, D.C. Washington is a place that few residents call home and where local happenings receive national attention. During the past two decades the Washington metropolitan area has made great strides in its growth as both a world capital and world class city. One barometer of Washington's growing business and social significance is the proliferation of local area cultural, business, and general interest magazines. In 1964, Washington had perhaps three good restaurants and not one of the journal titles reviewed here. In selecting area magazines to review, I have made no attempt to include all titles published in the Washington area, but rather to highlight those that are truly evocative of the Washington scene. The emphasis is on Washington as a city, and those journals which Washingtonians most often read. Daily and neighborhood newspapers, U.S. government agency periodicals, and private newsletters that report exclusively on legislative or executive agency activities are not included.
The Washingtonian. 1965-M. $18.00 MD, VA, DC; $21.00 elsewhere. Washington Magazine, Inc., 1826 L St., N.W., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036. Ed.: John A. Limpert. Circ.: 115,000. LC 78-1130. ISSN 0043-0897. OCLC 1680831. Not just another city magazine, The Washingtonian keeps area residents amused and entertained, picks up where the tourists' AAA guide leaves off,
Gillispie is Head of the Government Publications/ Maps/Law Department of the Milton S. Eisenhower Library at Johns Hopkins University.
and lets the folks back home keep in touch with the comings and goings of personalities in the "Nation's City." As The Washingtonian's articles editor, Ken DeCell, puts it: "We publish all kinds of articles, as long as the material has something to do with the Washington area." This should be interpreted in the broadest possible sense, since subjects include everything from D.C. history to where residents vacation; from how they decorate their bathrooms to the success of local entrepreneurs. Of course, you will find articles on national politics, but they are about as heavyweight as their titles: "The Gang That Conned Washington" and "Portraits of Power" (actually photographs). Somewhat out of place are the general interest and trendy articles having no special relevance to the Washington area. D.C. readers would be better served with greater attention to local Washington. Writers are both staff and freelance who are moonlighting from their national news media jobs. Regular features include: "Capital Comment," The Washingtonian's eyes and ears on Capitol Hill; "People to Watch"; and "Information Please," answers to questions from readers. Two features, "Washingtoniana" and "Home Town," highlight the capital's unique character, making a city where no one is a native seem more like home. The Washingtonian needs more of this. True to the pattern of city magazines, The Washingtonian contains endless lists of best pizza places, shopping centers, and "happy hours." Visitors and locals alike will turn to the restaurant guide and calendar of events in planning evening entertainment. The Washingtonian is one of the largest city
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magazines. Two issues (500+ pages) are almost as thick as the D.C. phone directory. Copy is nestled between ads for the good life, which cover over half the pages in any issue. Its target audience are those whose average annual income is $50,000. For those not part o f the affluent or "upscale" bound crowd, and not interested in how they spend their money, there is not much substance here. However, library readers across the whole nation will enjoy material on national personalities. But libraries which do not subscribe to their own local city magazine probably should not pick up this one.
The Washington Dossier. 1 9 7 6 - - . M. $24.00. Adler International Ltd., 3301 New Mexico Ave., Washington, DC 20016. Ed.: Sonia Adler. LC 78-640577. ISSN 0149--7936. OCLC 3547220. Society ladies, who find Washington, D.C. a delightful blend of politics and entertainment, will not be disappointed in The Washington Dossier. This is the area magazine in which social coverage is paramount, as evidenced by gossip columns, fashion show reports, parties, and poetry occupying more space than the featured articles. Columns, called departments in The Dossier, include "Along Party Lines." Everyone who is anyone (or just wants others to think so) is sure to send an invitation to The Dossier's social secretary, so that photographs and coverage of their elegant reception, dinner, or ball appear here in a future issue. By-invitation-only events are found in the "Social Calendar" and a special list o f private parties is available upon request. Even if y o u are not part o f high society, "The Educated Palate" provides a theme-focused guide to restaurant dining that everyone will enjoy. Rediscovering hotel restaurants, wine and cheese boutiques, and shopping luncheon specialties are samples of recent themes. Ego-sensitive homeowners can follow neighborhood "Real Estate Transactions" which include: address, seller, buyer, and price. Nothing under $200,000 is listed. Three to five feature articles appear each month. Occasionally, there is a piece on District history, but far more c o m m o n are highlights on the problems of the rich and powerful elite (i.e., electronic security systems, remedies for tired feet brought on by high heels, cocktail parties, receiving lines, and selecting a caterer). Rarely are articles longer than 3000 words. If The Washingtonian is for the up and coming, then The Dossier is for those who are already there. Faces on the cover and in "Along Party Lines" photography are generally over 50 years of age. Along with their friends, these faces make up The Dossier' s readership. Prestige and position appear no less important to Dossier staff than to their readers, since anyone who writes has the title of editor. Articles are predominantly staff produced. Stapled, rather than
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perfect bound issues average 60 to 100 pages in length. Back issues and leather bound volumes with gold lettering are not available from the publisher. The Washington Dossier is a must for D.C. area libraries requiring a complete collection of regional journals. Other libraries will enjoy a sample issue.
The Washington Monthly. 1969-- . M, except combined July/August issue. $24.00. Washington Monthly Co., 2712 Ontario Rd., N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Ed.: Charles Peters. Circ.: 30,000. Indexed: Soc.Sci.Ind.; R.G.; P.A.I.S. LC 77--4299. ISSN 0043--0633. OCLC 1604513. Washington's little magazine with a fresh look at national politics provides an unconventional view of " w h y our political system works the way it does and what can be done to make it work better." "Fresh" is the word for Washington Monthly's investigative style that does not stop with merely exposing federal waste, mismanagement, or inaction, but rather reaches beyond to the institutional pressures and human motivations that bring such inefficiency about. For example, instead of just blowing the whistle on Environmental Protection Agency neglect in regulating toxic waste disposal, a recent article centered on why the EPA spends more m o n e y on building the "perfect" waste dump than on turning toxic waste into harmless chemicals. The depths of government bureaucracy, however, are not The Monthly's sole focal point. Penetrating articles also appear on Washington's "political service industries" (press corps, lobbyists, and foreign embassies). Missing are the pieces on how the national government affects the folks back home. Articles are moderately long, 3000 words and up, well written, and easy to understand. Issues are consistently 60 pages in length, with five to eight articles plus featured columns. The Monthly's award winning writers are both a credit to founder and editor-in-chief Charles Peters, and to the dedication of his staff, none of w h o m receives more than $8400 annual salary plus ten cents per word. By tradition, editors and writers remain no longer than two years, which seems to foster The Monthly's continuing vitality. Many of its graduates can be found at respectable national publications. Regularly featured columns include: "Tilting at the Windmills," where editor Peters, monitoring the federal government, lets the political cats out of the bag; "Memo of the Month," a reader-contributed illustration o f just what our nation's bureaucrats consider most important (e.g., how to align the closing in letters to be signed by the Secretary of State: the G in George should fall directly under the S in Sincerely); and a political crossword puzzle. Librarians, with the thankless task of updating the U.S. Government Manual between editions, will find the "Who's Who in the Administration" the first place to turn. In
each issue, "Political Booknotes" contains a list of newly released books and Library Journal-style signed reviews for 10 to 20 titles. Reviews contain minimal bibliographic information and sadly lack publication dates. If The Washington Monthly's letters to the editor from the likes o f Rita Lavelle or Daniel Patrick Moynihan are any indication, then this is the political magazine Washingtonians can't wait for. If you're buying any national political magazines, you'll want to include this one. R e c o m m e n d e d for any library. Washington Journalism Review. 1977--. M, except bimonthly January/February and July/August. $16.00. Washington Communications Corporation, 2233 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20007. Ed.: Ray White. Circ.: 10,000. LC 77--643355. ISSN 0743--9881. OCLC 3437973. The Washington Journalism Review (WJR) is a slick look at newspaper, magazine, and broadcast journalism patting itself on the back. Originally published as a project of the Washington Media Education Center, this magazine once focused solely on D.C. news media and media personalities. In December, 1979, with a new publisher and added subtitle (The National Media Magazine from Washington), WJR's scope and coverage expanded. A behind-the-scenes tour o f the industry it is not. Entertaining rather than enlightening, the Review has looked at topics such as: magazines for the rich, big name journalist families, and how the Chicago Tribune scooped up the Chicago Cubs out from under the nose of the Sun Times. WJR interviews read more like pep rallies where publishers and editors cheerlead for their publications. With every issue, "Movers and Shakers" follows the rise and fall of as many journalists as can be listed on two pages. Other columns include industry tidbits from around the country and press issues in the courts. Although national in scope, media-centered activity in the capital makes Washington publications and personalities the source of many WJR articles. Likewise, most articles are from freelance, but mediaemployed writers living in the northeast. Advertising comprises about 50 percent of each 60-page issue. Oil companies, the auto industry, and publications that WJR writes about buy the most advertising space. The need for the Washington Journalism Review is best summed up by a Forbes reporter: "Since journalists aren't given to schmooze-and-booze conventions in Las Vegas, it's good to have a forum like WJR." The large academic and public libraries that subscribe to this title are likely to have a serials record which reads "keep current year only." Of marginal use for most libraries.
Washington Business Journal. 1982-- . W. $26.00. Cordovan Business Journals~ 6862 Elm St., Suite 430, McLean, VA 22101. Ed.: Jack Mayne. LC 83--7198. ISSN 0737--3147. OCLC 9337854. Like city magazines, the regional and local business periodical industry is booming. Take a formula which calls for a half dozen articles on local corporations, one editorial by a local executive, plus a few special interest columns and you have the Washington Business Journal. Cordovan Business Journals, a subsidiary of E.W. Scribbs, seems to have found that formula, as this is one of 13 tabloid-style business journals it produces. Articles on the local business scene are informative summaries with greater breadth than those in a daily paper's business section. They highlight innovative local operations and management ideas used by Washington companies. The problem is, too often these articles read as if they were written by the company's public relations department. Although its probusiness bias is readily discernible, the Journal's editors do not shy away from examining corporate fraud in government contracts or drug and alcohol abuse among management personnel. Here again the reader is presented with the facts, but left looking for any real analysis of interpretation of the issue. Reporting on how federal legislation and regulation affect the business c o m m u n i t y is one area in which the Washington Business Journal could provide a unique perspective, but does not. It is difficult to define the Journal's intended audience. The cover indicates it is "published for the greater Washington, Baltimore areas;" however the masthead says "the Washington Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area" (SMSA). Baltimore, certainly, is not part o f the Washington SMSA and, in any case, it has its own business tabloid, the Baltimore Business Journal (different publisher, same formula). The Journal operates with one editor, four writers, and a small office staff; the vast percentage of copy is generated locally, with little material from its sister publications. Recent changes on the title page provide easier access, but the overall format and 24page arrangement has remained consistent. Special focus is provided for readers with columns such as "Adinfinitum," which is committed to communications and advertising businesses. "Briefcase" is a look at who got the job or award and where they are now. "Local Stocks" provides a concise monthly summary of the area market, even though the information is available elsewhere. Upcoming business seminars are listed in "Events," which includes both public and privately sponsored programs for business. The reading lists of Washington area corporate executives are likely to include the Washington Business Journal. For libraries outside of the nation's capital, this title is not recommended.
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Washington Living. 1982-- . M. $16.80. Spears Publishing Co., 6506 McCahill Dr., Laurel, MD 20707. Ed.: Sandy Spears. LC 8 2 - 2 6 0 2 . OCLC 8462598. ISSN 0 7 4 4 - 6 3 7 3 . It is surprising that in an areas where over 70 percent of the population is black, the idea for a publication like Washington Living did not evolve sooner. Although this is not D.C.'s first ethnic magazine, it is certainly one of the most popular. Living takes on the wide range of interests and problems of Washington's black communities. Informative and entertaining rather than analytical, articles briefly cover local personalities, history, education, health, and other topics, in the style of Jet. Articles, such as those that have appeared on fishing in the Potomac and picknicking in Rock Creek Park, give this title a unique local flavor not found in other area magazines. Even with the wide range of topics covered, Living could use more on social issues and local politics. Columns form the heart of Washington Living, including travel, beauty tips, sports, fashion, and entertainment, all geared toward young (ages 18--35), middle-class blacks. Column material tends to be general interest. For example, any reader would enjoy a feature on skiing in Colorado or shopping in Morocco. At times it appears that column editors tackle one topic with too much zest, as did the sports column when six of twelve issues were devoted to bowling. Certainly readers have broader sports interests. Sixty-page issues are neatly arranged with generous margins and distinct headers. Photography comlements articles averaging three to four pages in length. The table of contents is atypical, with article and column title, followed by a brief abstracts. Washington Living has suffered from early growth pains. Its broad subject scope has not always been in line with the expertise of staff writers and editors. Recent issues have included a call for freelance contributions. This title will surely continue to grow in popularity. Public libraries in the Washington area should subscribe. Other libraries will have to weigh their need for its unique local information. Washington
Review.
1975-Bi-M. $10.00. Friends of Washington Review o f the Arts, P.O. Box 50132, Washington, DC 20004. Ed.: Mary Swift. Circ.: 10,000. ISSN 0 1 6 3 - 9 0 3 X . OCLC 4526135. Former title: Washington Review of the Arts. Poetry, fiction, photography, theater reviews, book reviews, interviews, and articles all come together in the capital's own "journal o f arts and literature." Originally k n o w n as the Washington Review of the Arts, WR has grown from a general cultural tabloid to a nationally respected showcase for new fiction writers. When Writers Digest compared 30 nonpaying fiction markets, WR ranked number one among such prestigious titles as the Antioch Review
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and Paris Review. Although WR explores all forms of the arts, the attention given to each genre varies considerably from issue to issue. Select works of one or two poets, and prose pieces running 2000 words will be found in most numbers. Contents are readable, contemporary, and for the most part apolitical. Interviews with area artists, theater directors, and literary figures add local flavor by focusing on regional trends. Regular features include book, theater, and art review columns. Reviews are critical and lengthy (500--1000 words). Each column includes a minimum of four reviews; b o o k reviews are timely and include brief bibliographic information including price. Unfortunately, WR's semimonthly publication schedule results in theater and art reviews appearing after the reviewed exhibit or production has closed. "Manifestos," the title o f a recent special issue edited by Douglas Messerli, looks at "New statements on recent directions in the arts by poets, painters, sculptors and performers." While the work of William Burroughs, Joyce Kornblatt, and other acclaimed writers has appeared, WR appears primarily interested in publishing firstrate material by new writers from the Washington area. It is to be hoped that its newly found national honors will not lead to a neglect of local readership and the abilities of local writers. Contributors to WR are a diverse group with one thing in common, the "need to communicate their message to readers who will appreciate it." Notes on contributors are consolidated in the back of each issue. Physically, the issues are tabloid-style (11 by 16 inches), printed on quality stock, and staple bound. The three-column format and good use of white space makes for an attractive layout. Drawings, artworks, and photographs complement articles and appear throughout. Advertising b y area galleries covers almost a third o f each 30- to 36-page issue. Though its primary audience is readers in the Washington, D.C. area, WR's quality contributions make it suitable for any academic library where there is an interest in contemporary literature.
Regardie's: The Business of Washington. 1978--. Bi-M. $30.00. Real Estate Washington Inc. for Regardie, Regardie & Bartow, 1010 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 420, Washington, DC 20007. Ed.: Henry J. Fortunato. Circ.: 20,000. LC 83--641839. ISSN 0279--5965. OCLC 7107829. Former titles: Regardie's Business and Real Estate Washington (ISSN 0 2 7 4 - 9 8 4 X ) ; Real Estate Washington (ISSN 0164-6249). In the race between area business magazines, Regardie's is the one to beat. While others write about area business, Regardie's writes for D.C. area businessmen and women. They'll let y o u k n o w who's making money, the best corporate address to make m o n e y from, and they'll show y o u how to spend it.
Regardie's is a familiar name on area newsstands and although this title owes a lot to its predecessors (Regardie's Business and Real Estate Washington and Real Estate Washington), it is much more interesting. Whether it is a candid interview on law and justice with flamboyant Judge Vince Femia, or the antics of a young English major using midwestern dollars to make international loans, the articles are always witty and entertaining. Profiles o f business and local government leaders, entrepreneurs, television personalities, and industry researchers appear in every issue. Topics of current national interest are given a local perspective in articles like " H o w Sweet Is It?," a look at how a D.C. company is "going to make a sweet profit" off the newest artificial sweetener, aspartame. Regardie's looks for material that will appeal to Washington's varied business audience. In his advice to contributors, editor Henry Fortunato says: " I f it [the article] isn't the kind of story that could just as easily run in a city magazine or a national magazine like Harper's, Atlantic, Esquire, etc., I don't want to see it." Most of the copy comes from freelance writers with by-lines listing their earlier Regardie's contributions. Material is not always exclusive, and reprints of articles from national journals occasionally appear. In an area as small as the District, it is no surprise that stories of local interest also appear in more than one area magazine. Articles on Rock Creek Park and two local con artists appeared in Regardie's, The Washingtonian, and Washington Living. In b o t h cases, however, the Regardie's versions were far more in-
depth. Comprehensive coverage is typical with articles running an average of 4000 words. A single issue includes eight to ten stories along with regular columns like "Transactions," a Rona Barrett-style column on who's buying and selling big buck Washington real estate. Covering the commercial real estate market continues to be a Regardie's exclusive and no wonder, since most of its advertisers are property managers, developers, and realty companies. Realty ads fill over half the pages in any given issue. The bimonthly "Office and Commercial Property Guide" lists office space availability and square footage prices. A special supplement spotlights the growing number of suburban office complexes built along the capital beltway to house the private sector service industries that thrive on government contracts. Handsomely packaged, issues of Regarclie's are sure to receive prominent display in executive offices. Physically, it looks like Architectural Digest: m a m m o t h issues, printed on quality stock, with perfect binding, full-color photographs, and creative use of graphics. Article headers, introductions, and text blend into a single unit through the clever use of various size type faces which draw the reader's eye along. Regardie's: The Business of Washington is not the least expensive area magazine (five dollars at the newsstand); however, it is one of the best. A must acquisition for D.C. area libraries and recommended throughout the Middle Atlantic region.
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N a m e a dozen personalities outside your own hometown and odds are most of them will live or work in Hollywood or Washington, D.C. Washington is a place that few residents call home and where local happenings receive national attention. During the past two decades the Washington metropolitan area has made great strides in its growth as both a world capital and world class city. One barometer of Washington's growing business and social significance is the proliferation of local area cultural, business, and general interest magazines. In 1964, Washington had perhaps three good restaurants and not one of the journal titles reviewed here. In selecting area magazines to review, I have made no attempt to include all titles published in the Washington area, but rather to highlight those that are truly evocative of the Washington scene. The emphasis is on Washington as a city, and those journals which Washingtonians most often read. Daily and neighborhood newspapers, U.S. government agency periodicals, and private newsletters that report exclusively on legislative or executive agency activities are not included.
The Washingtonian. 1965-M. $18.00 MD, VA, DC; $21.00 elsewhere. Washington Magazine, Inc., 1826 L St., N.W., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036. Ed.: John A. Limpert. Circ.: 115,000. LC 78-1130. ISSN 0043-0897. OCLC 1680831. Not just another city magazine, The Washingtonian keeps area residents amused and entertained, picks up where the tourists' AAA guide leaves off,
Gillispie is Head of the Government Publications/ Maps/Law Department of the Milton S. Eisenhower Library at Johns Hopkins University.
and lets the folks back home keep in touch with the comings and goings of personalities in the "Nation's City." As The Washingtonian's articles editor, Ken DeCell, puts it: "We publish all kinds of articles, as long as the material has something to do with the Washington area." This should be interpreted in the broadest possible sense, since subjects include everything from D.C. history to where residents vacation; from how they decorate their bathrooms to the success of local entrepreneurs. Of course, you will find articles on national politics, but they are about as heavyweight as their titles: "The Gang That Conned Washington" and "Portraits of Power" (actually photographs). Somewhat out of place are the general interest and trendy articles having no special relevance to the Washington area. D.C. readers would be better served with greater attention to local Washington. Writers are both staff and freelance who are moonlighting from their national news media jobs. Regular features include: "Capital Comment," The Washingtonian's eyes and ears on Capitol Hill; "People to Watch"; and "Information Please," answers to questions from readers. Two features, "Washingtoniana" and "Home Town," highlight the capital's unique character, making a city where no one is a native seem more like home. The Washingtonian needs more of this. True to the pattern of city magazines, The Washingtonian contains endless lists of best pizza places, shopping centers, and "happy hours." Visitors and locals alike will turn to the restaurant guide and calendar of events in planning evening entertainment. The Washingtonian is one of the largest city
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magazines. Two issues (500+ pages) are almost as thick as the D.C. phone directory. Copy is nestled between ads for the good life, which cover over half the pages in any issue. Its target audience are those whose average annual income is $50,000. For those not part o f the affluent or "upscale" bound crowd, and not interested in how they spend their money, there is not much substance here. However, library readers across the whole nation will enjoy material on national personalities. But libraries which do not subscribe to their own local city magazine probably should not pick up this one.
The Washington Dossier. 1 9 7 6 - - . M. $24.00. Adler International Ltd., 3301 New Mexico Ave., Washington, DC 20016. Ed.: Sonia Adler. LC 78-640577. ISSN 0149--7936. OCLC 3547220. Society ladies, who find Washington, D.C. a delightful blend of politics and entertainment, will not be disappointed in The Washington Dossier. This is the area magazine in which social coverage is paramount, as evidenced by gossip columns, fashion show reports, parties, and poetry occupying more space than the featured articles. Columns, called departments in The Dossier, include "Along Party Lines." Everyone who is anyone (or just wants others to think so) is sure to send an invitation to The Dossier's social secretary, so that photographs and coverage of their elegant reception, dinner, or ball appear here in a future issue. By-invitation-only events are found in the "Social Calendar" and a special list o f private parties is available upon request. Even if y o u are not part o f high society, "The Educated Palate" provides a theme-focused guide to restaurant dining that everyone will enjoy. Rediscovering hotel restaurants, wine and cheese boutiques, and shopping luncheon specialties are samples of recent themes. Ego-sensitive homeowners can follow neighborhood "Real Estate Transactions" which include: address, seller, buyer, and price. Nothing under $200,000 is listed. Three to five feature articles appear each month. Occasionally, there is a piece on District history, but far more c o m m o n are highlights on the problems of the rich and powerful elite (i.e., electronic security systems, remedies for tired feet brought on by high heels, cocktail parties, receiving lines, and selecting a caterer). Rarely are articles longer than 3000 words. If The Washingtonian is for the up and coming, then The Dossier is for those who are already there. Faces on the cover and in "Along Party Lines" photography are generally over 50 years of age. Along with their friends, these faces make up The Dossier' s readership. Prestige and position appear no less important to Dossier staff than to their readers, since anyone who writes has the title of editor. Articles are predominantly staff produced. Stapled, rather than
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perfect bound issues average 60 to 100 pages in length. Back issues and leather bound volumes with gold lettering are not available from the publisher. The Washington Dossier is a must for D.C. area libraries requiring a complete collection of regional journals. Other libraries will enjoy a sample issue.
The Washington Monthly. 1969-- . M, except combined July/August issue. $24.00. Washington Monthly Co., 2712 Ontario Rd., N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Ed.: Charles Peters. Circ.: 30,000. Indexed: Soc.Sci.Ind.; R.G.; P.A.I.S. LC 77--4299. ISSN 0043--0633. OCLC 1604513. Washington's little magazine with a fresh look at national politics provides an unconventional view of " w h y our political system works the way it does and what can be done to make it work better." "Fresh" is the word for Washington Monthly's investigative style that does not stop with merely exposing federal waste, mismanagement, or inaction, but rather reaches beyond to the institutional pressures and human motivations that bring such inefficiency about. For example, instead of just blowing the whistle on Environmental Protection Agency neglect in regulating toxic waste disposal, a recent article centered on why the EPA spends more m o n e y on building the "perfect" waste dump than on turning toxic waste into harmless chemicals. The depths of government bureaucracy, however, are not The Monthly's sole focal point. Penetrating articles also appear on Washington's "political service industries" (press corps, lobbyists, and foreign embassies). Missing are the pieces on how the national government affects the folks back home. Articles are moderately long, 3000 words and up, well written, and easy to understand. Issues are consistently 60 pages in length, with five to eight articles plus featured columns. The Monthly's award winning writers are both a credit to founder and editor-in-chief Charles Peters, and to the dedication of his staff, none of w h o m receives more than $8400 annual salary plus ten cents per word. By tradition, editors and writers remain no longer than two years, which seems to foster The Monthly's continuing vitality. Many of its graduates can be found at respectable national publications. Regularly featured columns include: "Tilting at the Windmills," where editor Peters, monitoring the federal government, lets the political cats out of the bag; "Memo of the Month," a reader-contributed illustration o f just what our nation's bureaucrats consider most important (e.g., how to align the closing in letters to be signed by the Secretary of State: the G in George should fall directly under the S in Sincerely); and a political crossword puzzle. Librarians, with the thankless task of updating the U.S. Government Manual between editions, will find the "Who's Who in the Administration" the first place to turn. In
each issue, "Political Booknotes" contains a list of newly released books and Library Journal-style signed reviews for 10 to 20 titles. Reviews contain minimal bibliographic information and sadly lack publication dates. If The Washington Monthly's letters to the editor from the likes o f Rita Lavelle or Daniel Patrick Moynihan are any indication, then this is the political magazine Washingtonians can't wait for. If you're buying any national political magazines, you'll want to include this one. R e c o m m e n d e d for any library. Washington Journalism Review. 1977--. M, except bimonthly January/February and July/August. $16.00. Washington Communications Corporation, 2233 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20007. Ed.: Ray White. Circ.: 10,000. LC 77--643355. ISSN 0743--9881. OCLC 3437973. The Washington Journalism Review (WJR) is a slick look at newspaper, magazine, and broadcast journalism patting itself on the back. Originally published as a project of the Washington Media Education Center, this magazine once focused solely on D.C. news media and media personalities. In December, 1979, with a new publisher and added subtitle (The National Media Magazine from Washington), WJR's scope and coverage expanded. A behind-the-scenes tour o f the industry it is not. Entertaining rather than enlightening, the Review has looked at topics such as: magazines for the rich, big name journalist families, and how the Chicago Tribune scooped up the Chicago Cubs out from under the nose of the Sun Times. WJR interviews read more like pep rallies where publishers and editors cheerlead for their publications. With every issue, "Movers and Shakers" follows the rise and fall of as many journalists as can be listed on two pages. Other columns include industry tidbits from around the country and press issues in the courts. Although national in scope, media-centered activity in the capital makes Washington publications and personalities the source of many WJR articles. Likewise, most articles are from freelance, but mediaemployed writers living in the northeast. Advertising comprises about 50 percent of each 60-page issue. Oil companies, the auto industry, and publications that WJR writes about buy the most advertising space. The need for the Washington Journalism Review is best summed up by a Forbes reporter: "Since journalists aren't given to schmooze-and-booze conventions in Las Vegas, it's good to have a forum like WJR." The large academic and public libraries that subscribe to this title are likely to have a serials record which reads "keep current year only." Of marginal use for most libraries.
Washington Business Journal. 1982-- . W. $26.00. Cordovan Business Journals~ 6862 Elm St., Suite 430, McLean, VA 22101. Ed.: Jack Mayne. LC 83--7198. ISSN 0737--3147. OCLC 9337854. Like city magazines, the regional and local business periodical industry is booming. Take a formula which calls for a half dozen articles on local corporations, one editorial by a local executive, plus a few special interest columns and you have the Washington Business Journal. Cordovan Business Journals, a subsidiary of E.W. Scribbs, seems to have found that formula, as this is one of 13 tabloid-style business journals it produces. Articles on the local business scene are informative summaries with greater breadth than those in a daily paper's business section. They highlight innovative local operations and management ideas used by Washington companies. The problem is, too often these articles read as if they were written by the company's public relations department. Although its probusiness bias is readily discernible, the Journal's editors do not shy away from examining corporate fraud in government contracts or drug and alcohol abuse among management personnel. Here again the reader is presented with the facts, but left looking for any real analysis of interpretation of the issue. Reporting on how federal legislation and regulation affect the business c o m m u n i t y is one area in which the Washington Business Journal could provide a unique perspective, but does not. It is difficult to define the Journal's intended audience. The cover indicates it is "published for the greater Washington, Baltimore areas;" however the masthead says "the Washington Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area" (SMSA). Baltimore, certainly, is not part o f the Washington SMSA and, in any case, it has its own business tabloid, the Baltimore Business Journal (different publisher, same formula). The Journal operates with one editor, four writers, and a small office staff; the vast percentage of copy is generated locally, with little material from its sister publications. Recent changes on the title page provide easier access, but the overall format and 24page arrangement has remained consistent. Special focus is provided for readers with columns such as "Adinfinitum," which is committed to communications and advertising businesses. "Briefcase" is a look at who got the job or award and where they are now. "Local Stocks" provides a concise monthly summary of the area market, even though the information is available elsewhere. Upcoming business seminars are listed in "Events," which includes both public and privately sponsored programs for business. The reading lists of Washington area corporate executives are likely to include the Washington Business Journal. For libraries outside of the nation's capital, this title is not recommended.
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Washington Living. 1982-- . M. $16.80. Spears Publishing Co., 6506 McCahill Dr., Laurel, MD 20707. Ed.: Sandy Spears. LC 8 2 - 2 6 0 2 . OCLC 8462598. ISSN 0 7 4 4 - 6 3 7 3 . It is surprising that in an areas where over 70 percent of the population is black, the idea for a publication like Washington Living did not evolve sooner. Although this is not D.C.'s first ethnic magazine, it is certainly one of the most popular. Living takes on the wide range of interests and problems of Washington's black communities. Informative and entertaining rather than analytical, articles briefly cover local personalities, history, education, health, and other topics, in the style of Jet. Articles, such as those that have appeared on fishing in the Potomac and picknicking in Rock Creek Park, give this title a unique local flavor not found in other area magazines. Even with the wide range of topics covered, Living could use more on social issues and local politics. Columns form the heart of Washington Living, including travel, beauty tips, sports, fashion, and entertainment, all geared toward young (ages 18--35), middle-class blacks. Column material tends to be general interest. For example, any reader would enjoy a feature on skiing in Colorado or shopping in Morocco. At times it appears that column editors tackle one topic with too much zest, as did the sports column when six of twelve issues were devoted to bowling. Certainly readers have broader sports interests. Sixty-page issues are neatly arranged with generous margins and distinct headers. Photography comlements articles averaging three to four pages in length. The table of contents is atypical, with article and column title, followed by a brief abstracts. Washington Living has suffered from early growth pains. Its broad subject scope has not always been in line with the expertise of staff writers and editors. Recent issues have included a call for freelance contributions. This title will surely continue to grow in popularity. Public libraries in the Washington area should subscribe. Other libraries will have to weigh their need for its unique local information. Washington
Review.
1975-Bi-M. $10.00. Friends of Washington Review o f the Arts, P.O. Box 50132, Washington, DC 20004. Ed.: Mary Swift. Circ.: 10,000. ISSN 0 1 6 3 - 9 0 3 X . OCLC 4526135. Former title: Washington Review of the Arts. Poetry, fiction, photography, theater reviews, book reviews, interviews, and articles all come together in the capital's own "journal o f arts and literature." Originally k n o w n as the Washington Review of the Arts, WR has grown from a general cultural tabloid to a nationally respected showcase for new fiction writers. When Writers Digest compared 30 nonpaying fiction markets, WR ranked number one among such prestigious titles as the Antioch Review
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and Paris Review. Although WR explores all forms of the arts, the attention given to each genre varies considerably from issue to issue. Select works of one or two poets, and prose pieces running 2000 words will be found in most numbers. Contents are readable, contemporary, and for the most part apolitical. Interviews with area artists, theater directors, and literary figures add local flavor by focusing on regional trends. Regular features include book, theater, and art review columns. Reviews are critical and lengthy (500--1000 words). Each column includes a minimum of four reviews; b o o k reviews are timely and include brief bibliographic information including price. Unfortunately, WR's semimonthly publication schedule results in theater and art reviews appearing after the reviewed exhibit or production has closed. "Manifestos," the title o f a recent special issue edited by Douglas Messerli, looks at "New statements on recent directions in the arts by poets, painters, sculptors and performers." While the work of William Burroughs, Joyce Kornblatt, and other acclaimed writers has appeared, WR appears primarily interested in publishing firstrate material by new writers from the Washington area. It is to be hoped that its newly found national honors will not lead to a neglect of local readership and the abilities of local writers. Contributors to WR are a diverse group with one thing in common, the "need to communicate their message to readers who will appreciate it." Notes on contributors are consolidated in the back of each issue. Physically, the issues are tabloid-style (11 by 16 inches), printed on quality stock, and staple bound. The three-column format and good use of white space makes for an attractive layout. Drawings, artworks, and photographs complement articles and appear throughout. Advertising b y area galleries covers almost a third o f each 30- to 36-page issue. Though its primary audience is readers in the Washington, D.C. area, WR's quality contributions make it suitable for any academic library where there is an interest in contemporary literature.
Regardie's: The Business of Washington. 1978--. Bi-M. $30.00. Real Estate Washington Inc. for Regardie, Regardie & Bartow, 1010 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 420, Washington, DC 20007. Ed.: Henry J. Fortunato. Circ.: 20,000. LC 83--641839. ISSN 0279--5965. OCLC 7107829. Former titles: Regardie's Business and Real Estate Washington (ISSN 0 2 7 4 - 9 8 4 X ) ; Real Estate Washington (ISSN 0164-6249). In the race between area business magazines, Regardie's is the one to beat. While others write about area business, Regardie's writes for D.C. area businessmen and women. They'll let y o u k n o w who's making money, the best corporate address to make m o n e y from, and they'll show y o u how to spend it.
Regardie's is a familiar name on area newsstands and although this title owes a lot to its predecessors (Regardie's Business and Real Estate Washington and Real Estate Washington), it is much more interesting. Whether it is a candid interview on law and justice with flamboyant Judge Vince Femia, or the antics of a young English major using midwestern dollars to make international loans, the articles are always witty and entertaining. Profiles o f business and local government leaders, entrepreneurs, television personalities, and industry researchers appear in every issue. Topics of current national interest are given a local perspective in articles like " H o w Sweet Is It?," a look at how a D.C. company is "going to make a sweet profit" off the newest artificial sweetener, aspartame. Regardie's looks for material that will appeal to Washington's varied business audience. In his advice to contributors, editor Henry Fortunato says: " I f it [the article] isn't the kind of story that could just as easily run in a city magazine or a national magazine like Harper's, Atlantic, Esquire, etc., I don't want to see it." Most of the copy comes from freelance writers with by-lines listing their earlier Regardie's contributions. Material is not always exclusive, and reprints of articles from national journals occasionally appear. In an area as small as the District, it is no surprise that stories of local interest also appear in more than one area magazine. Articles on Rock Creek Park and two local con artists appeared in Regardie's, The Washingtonian, and Washington Living. In b o t h cases, however, the Regardie's versions were far more in-
depth. Comprehensive coverage is typical with articles running an average of 4000 words. A single issue includes eight to ten stories along with regular columns like "Transactions," a Rona Barrett-style column on who's buying and selling big buck Washington real estate. Covering the commercial real estate market continues to be a Regardie's exclusive and no wonder, since most of its advertisers are property managers, developers, and realty companies. Realty ads fill over half the pages in any given issue. The bimonthly "Office and Commercial Property Guide" lists office space availability and square footage prices. A special supplement spotlights the growing number of suburban office complexes built along the capital beltway to house the private sector service industries that thrive on government contracts. Handsomely packaged, issues of Regarclie's are sure to receive prominent display in executive offices. Physically, it looks like Architectural Digest: m a m m o t h issues, printed on quality stock, with perfect binding, full-color photographs, and creative use of graphics. Article headers, introductions, and text blend into a single unit through the clever use of various size type faces which draw the reader's eye along. Regardie's: The Business of Washington is not the least expensive area magazine (five dollars at the newsstand); however, it is one of the best. A must acquisition for D.C. area libraries and recommended throughout the Middle Atlantic region.
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