Mary Frattarelli
Research Mentor(s): Aram Mrjoian
Mentor Department: Michigan Quarterly Review, Department of English
Authors: Aram Mrjoian, Ava DeMar, Mary Frattarelli
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 54
Abstract
Long-established literary magazines have suffered declining sales and circulation numbers in recent years amidst struggles to continue publication despite increasing financial constraints and declining university support. This research seeks to evaluate the current state of the literary market, with the goal of developing evidence-based recommendations for the continued growth and publication of the Michigan Quarterly Review (MQR). We conducted and analyzed a benchmarking survey of twenty peer journals, investigating key areas such as staffing, submissions, subscription models, and archives using information publicly available online. We then used our findings and five externally sourced ranking systems to compare and contextualize market metrics with those of MQR. Finally, we constructed a standardized ranking system to quantify the print and digital design appeal of relevant components of our selected magazines. We used these rankings, along with notes and reference images taken throughout the process, to identify beneficial design elements for potential application in MQR.
Our primary conclusion is that MQR’s current prices for print issues and annual subscriptions are significantly below the market average when shipping costs are considered, as well as MQR’s ratio between individual issue price and subscription price. In addition to this, we found a negative relationship between rankings and student involvement, largely due to the associated increases in turnover frequency and masthead size. Though also applicable to peer journals, these findings will be implemented by MQR with the intention of increasing profit margins, award recipiency, and submission response times. More broadly, we hope to determine realistic steps necessary for financial success and expanded involvement in the literary industry, in order to preserve truly invaluable magazines such as MQR
