Zine Publishing
Pong! Press Kit Table of Contents:
Left Pocket: Example Pong! Spread: Musician spotlight Biography with headshot: Newton Cornell, Editor-In-Chief Opinion-Editorial Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Right Pocket: Pitch Letter National News Release Local News Release Zine Publishing Fact Sheet 30-second Audio News Release 60-second Audio News Release
Lianne Lopez-Cepero Zine Publishing, Director of PR 827 Second Ave. New York, NY January 22, 2008
Zine Publishing
Howard Pousner Features Editor The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 72 Marietta Street NW Atlanta, GA 30303 Dear Mr. Pousner: Let’s face it, college students are not only at the prime of their lives, but they are the prime audience of the media. They are an influential group and on the brink of becoming our future. With this in mind, Zine Publishing has once again taken on another market-breaking project, this time it’s a magazine targeted at college students. The magazine, Pong!, is set to be released nationwide on February 2. The monthly magazine will cover the latest college trends ranging from music, fashion, college sports, nightlife, dating and sex advice, and career advice. Each month the magazine will visit a new college campus and make it the feature of the issue. Articles will cover an in-depth look at the school’s culture, both academically and socially. Pong!’s first issue will feature 2008 BCS Bowl Champions Auburn University. The purpose of this letter is to give you the exclusive chance to publish this story. The Atlanta area is home to many colleges and universities and is in close proximity to many more, including the first issue’s featured school, Auburn Univeristy. It is also a hot spot for recent graduates entering the job market. This article is sure to be of interest to this large population of your readers. I have chosen to offer you this story first because of the AJC’s outstanding reputation and circulation. Know that I am available to you if you have any questions or need further information regarding the publication. I can also be of assistance in setting up any necessary interviews. If you chose to pass on this opportunity, I ask that you do so in a timely manner so that I may offer it to other publications. I will contact you by the end of the week for confirmation. Thank you for your time and support.
Sincerely,
Lianne N. Lopez-Cepero Publicist
Zine Publishing NEWS RELEASE January 22, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information: Lianne Lopez-Cepero Director of Public Relations 827 Second Ave. New York, NY P: 346-678-7890 lopezln@auburn.edu
ZINE PUBLISHING TO RELEASE ITS LATEST PUBLICATION IN FEBRUARY New Magazine Takes Interest in the Typical American “College Life”
NEW YORK – Zine Publishing has once again taken on another market-breaking project. The newest edition to their publishing credits, Pong!, is set to be released on February 2. The magazine, titled after a popular college drinking game “beer pong”, is an in-depth look at college life across America. In the pages of Pong! you will find articles involving the college music scene, campus fashion trends, college sports, dating and sex advice, the lastest drinks, career help, and much more. Editor-In-Chief Newton Cornell, who graduated from the University of Florida in 2004, came to Zine Publishing CEO Lisa Padman with the idea after revisiting his alma mater’s for a football game. “The idea first came to me in college, but it wasn’t until I recently went back that I realized what an influential audience a magazine of this nature could capture. And there’s just nothing out there that can compare right now,” says Cornell. -more-
Collaboration to create the magazine began immediately and within a few short weeks Cornell, who has been with Zine Publishing since 2004, was named editor-in-chief. “He has an amazing passion towards this project and his insight is captivating. It was an anonymous decision to make him editor-in-chief and Zine is confident in his abilities,” remarked Padman. Each month the magazine will visit a new college campus to feature as its cover story. The magazine’s first issue will feature 2008 BCS Bowl Champions Auburn University. For more information about Pong! magazine or Zine Publishing please contact Lianne Lopez-Cepero at 346-678-7890 or by email at lopezln@auburn.edu. Zine Publishers is the nation’s leading publisher for magazines. They currently have offices in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston, and London. The group currently includes 11 publications, many of them at the top of their respective markets. Zine has an average total circulation of over 4 million issues a month, and an estimated actual readership three times larger than that.
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Zine Publishing NEWS RELEASE January 22, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information: Lianne Lopez-Cepero Director of Public Relations 827 Second Ave. New York, NY P: 346-678-7890 lopezln@auburn.edu
AUBURN UNIVERSITY THE FOCUS OF NEW COLLEGE MAGAZINE’S OPENING ISSUE NCAA Football Championship Title Puts Auburn on the Cover of Zine Publishing’s Newest Magazine
AUBURN, ALA. – The award-winning publishers from Zine Publishing are set to release their newest publication in February and have chosen none other than Auburn University to grace the cover of its premier issue. The new magazine, titled Pong! Magazine after the ever-so-popular college drinking game “beer pong,” is a portrayal of American college life today. After a record making undefeated season and clenching the BCS championship title, the editors of Pong! felt that Auburn University was the most appropriate university to feature in issue one. Pong! editor-in-chief Newton Cornell is confident this choice will help sales in the magazine’s opening month. “This magazine is all about the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of college life today and no university is more ‘in’ right now than Auburn,” says Cornell. Auburn University will not only be the cover image for the magazine, but will be featured in various articles that give an in-depth look at the academic and social life on campus. Pong! editors and staff writers were on campus and around town last week conducting interviews -more-
and getting “a hands-on Auburn experience,” as Cornell described it. The magazine is due to hit stores February 2. For more information about Pong! magazine or Zine Publishing please contact Lianne Lopez-Cepero at 346-678-7890 or by email at lopezln@auburn.edu. Zine Publishers is the nation’s leading publisher for magazines. They currently have offices in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston, and London. The group currently includes 11 publications, many of them at the top of their respective markets. Zine has an average total circulation of over 4 million issues a month, and an estimated actual readership three times larger than that.
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Zine
Contact Info: Lianne Lopez-Cepero Director of Public Relations 827 Second Ave. New York, N.Y. P: 346-678-7890 F: 346-234-4567 lopezln@auburn.edu
Publishing FACT SHEET
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Zine Publishing was created in 1995 by recent Boston College School of Journalism graduates Katherine M. Hitcher and Lisa K. Padman.
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Zine Publishing is known for their emphasis on magazines that focus on a particular class or interest, also known as lifestyle magazines.
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Their mission is commitment to journalistic integrity, influential reporting and superior design. Each magazine features an incredible team of talent unmatched by any other publishing company. They strive to demand excellence and put a premium on truth.
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Zine Publishing holds offices in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston and London.
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Their first publication was the popular woman’s fashion magazine, Vain. It is currently the number one woman’s fashion and style magazine in sales and subscription in the United States.
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In 2002 Zine Publishing bought out their greatest competitor at that time, Tinto Publisher, and took over their five most popular magazine publications.
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The group currently includes 11 publications, many of them at the top of their respective markets.
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Zine has an average total circulation of over 4 million issues a month, and an estimated actual readership three times larger than that. Publications: Vain (Fashion and Lifestyle) FormNFit (Fashion and Lifestyle) Genes (Fashion and Lifestyle) Daisy (Fashion and Lifestyle) Thread (Fashion and Lifestyle) Mileage (Travel)
Child (Family) Taste (Food) Fresh Fare (Food) InDesign (Home) Accents (Home)
Zine
Total Time:
Publishing Pong! Magazine Release Announcement
:30 seconds
Lianne Lopez-Cepero Director of Public Relations 827 Second Ave. New York, N.Y. P: 346-678-7890 F: 346-234-4567 lopezln@auburn.edu
ANNOUNCER: ZINE PUBLISHING, THE CREATORS OF VAIN, FORM FIT, AND THREAD, HAVE CREATED A NEW MAGAZINE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS. PONG MAGAZINE TAKES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT COLLEGE LIFE ACROSS AMERICA. THE MAGAZINE IS IN THE HANDS OF ZINE PUBLISHING’S YOUNGEST EDITOR, NEWTON CORNELL: CORNELL: “Pong! is going to connect college students across America. It caters to the unpredictable that is college life.” ANNOUNCER: PONG WILL FEATURE THE LATEST CAMPUS TRENDS FROM NIGHT LIFE TO CAREERS. PICK UP YOUR COPY OF PONG FEBRUARY SECOND. FOR A SNEAK PEAK OF THE FIRST ISSUE, OR TO ORDER A SUBSCRIPTION, VISIT THE WEBSITE PONGMAG.COM. AGAIN THAT’S PONGMAG.COM.
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Zine
Total Time:
Publishing Pong! Magazine Release Announcement
: 60 seconds
Lianne Lopez-Cepero Director of Public Relations 827 Second Ave. New York, N.Y. P: 346-678-7890 F: 346-234-4567 lopezln@auburn.edu
ANNOUNCER: ZINE PUBLISHING, THE LEADER IN POPULAR MAGAZINES, HAS FINALLY PUT COLLEGE STUDENTS ACROSS AMERICA ON THE SAME PAGE. AND WE MEAN THAT LITERALLY. PONG MAGAZINE, THE LATEST CREATION FROM ZINE PUBLISHING, HAS CREATED A MAGAZINE THAT CATERS TO THE COLLEGE LIFESTYLE. IN CHARGE IS THEIR YOUNGEST EDITOR NEWTON CORNELL: CORNELL: “College students are brought together on campus through their common interest and trends. Pong! magazine hopes to bring common ground to college students everywhere.” ANNOUNCER: PONG COVERS IT ALL. READ ABOUT NIGHTLIFE, COLLEGE SPORTS, FASHION TRENDS AND THE LATEST ON CAREERS. LEARN THE LATEST DRINKING GAMES, TAILGATING TRENDS AND LATE NIGHT STUDY TRICKS. GET IN-DEPTH LOOKS AT WHAT MAKES CAMPUSES ACROSS AMERICA UNIQUE. CORNELL: “Don’t be satisfied with just a small taste of the best years of your life. Live it to the extreme through Pong! Let us show you what living life in college is all about.” ANNOUNCER: PONG MAGAZINE WILL BE AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE ON FEBRUARY SECOND. FOR A SNEAK PEAK OR TO ORDER A SUBSCRIPTION VISIT THE WEBSITE AT PONGMAG.COM. AGAIN THE WEBSITE IS PONGMAG.COM. -###-
Newton Cornell, Editor-In Chief of Pong!
Lianne Lopez-Cepero Director of Public Relations 827 Second Ave. New York, N.Y. P: 346-678-7890 F: 346-234-4567 lopezln@auburn.edu
Zine Publishing
NEWTON CORNELL PONG! EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BIOGRAPHY
Newton Cornell has always had an interest in journalism. He recalls that ever since he was in elementary school he had two interests when it came to school: writing and social life. It is then no wonder that Cornell is the mastermind behind Zine Publishing’s newest project, Pong!. Cornell, originally from Boston, Mass. but raised in Tennessee, was always interested in seeking a degree in journalism. He chose to attend the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida. Cornell finished his journalism degree in just three years and wanting to experience the typical four years of college, chose to minor in marketing his senior year. Although thoroughly pleased with his decision to attend the University of Florida, Cornell says he was always interested in what college life was like everywhere else. He decided to spend his summers taking classes at other colleges while crashing on friends’ couches. He spent his first summer studying at Colorado University and his next summer at the University of Texas. Aside from his summer sessions, Cornell said he spent most of his free time and cash visiting old friends who were attending other colleges. “I knew what a monumental time in my life college was and how it was something I -more-
would never be able to experience again. I wanted to get the full grasp on it, not just a glimpse,” says Cornell. However, his final summer before his senior year Cornell skipped the college road trip and made a strategic career move .He worked as intern at the Zine Publishing headquarters in New York. Upon graduating in the spring of 2004, Cornell went back to work for Zine Publishing as a Promotion Director. During his college years Cornell had ideas about creating a magazine for college students, but never saw an opportunity to pursue his vision. “The idea never really left me after my vision for a college-driven magazine. I was just hoping that over time my ideas would mature and that the right opportunity to present them would present itself to me,” says Cornell. In 2007, Cornell went back to the University of Florida for a college football game. “I was only supposed to stay two days, but the second I got there I started talking to students and everything started to come together. I felt like the time to act had come,” says Cornell. He called headquarters and asked for a few days off, promising to come back with something amazing. Lisa Padman, Co-President of Zine Publishing, remembers the phone call. “He sounded so enthused, so focused. He didn’t want to give any details but he kept promising me I would love it. I had no reason not to trust that he would live up to that promise,” says Padman. Upon arriving back to work in New York, Cornell met with Padman and other creative directors. He presented the vision he had been cultivating for years and the response was what he had dreamed of: they all loved it. Collaboration to create the magazine began immediately and within a few short weeks Cornell was named editor-in-chief of Zine Publishing’s latest creation, Pong!. “It was an anonymous decision to make him editor-in-chief and Zine is confident in his abilities,” remarked Padman. Cornell is now the youngest editor-in-chief for Zine Publishing. He hasn’t let it become an obstacle though. In fact, he considers it an advantage. “It wasn’t long ago that I was there [in college]. I -more-
can relate and I know what’s interesting and what is out there,” says Cornell. He laughs, “I haven’t become old and foggy yet. I still got that edge.” He’s even tried to keep the staff as young as possible too, although he says he doesn’t discriminate. The past several months of hard-work and dedication are about to pay off for Cornell with the February 2 release of Pong!. “I couldn’t be more excited. It has all come together like a dream and I think this first issue is going to be a huge success. I am just so pleased and so honored to be where I am. It’s a good place,” remarked Cornell.
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Zine Publishing OPINION-EDITORIAL BY LIANNE LOPEZ-CEPERO, PUBLICIST
Zine Publishing has made a name for itself with their innovative spin on “the regular” and creating market-breaking publications. Their popular 11 existing publications, that circulate over 4 million issues a month and have an estimated readership three times that, speaks for themselves. The latest edition to their circuit is Pong!, a magazine geared strictly to those living “the college life.” There is no question that the publication is another ground breaker, but it makes people wonder if this time they have pushed it too far. The question is, has it really gone too far? Or is the magazine just being honest? Controversy has already begun to surround the magazine that is set to be released February 2. Pong! is cleverly titled after the popular college drinking game “Beer Pong.” Groups have protested the title, saying it encourages binge drinking. The magazine’s editor-in-chief sees it differently. “We’re not advocating any sort of drinking lifestyle. The magazine isn’t called ‘Puke and Rally’. We want to be open and honest about college life and the truth is that drinking is generally a part of that. And you’ll be hard pressed to find a college student who hasn’t played the game. It’s college common ground,” says Cornell. Cornell has also found his name thrown about in the controversy. At the ripe young age of 27, Cornell, who is responsible for creating the idea behind the magazine, is now the youngest editor-inchief at Zine Publications. Outsiders to the organization have doubted his ability to manage a publication of this magnitude and other publishers have called Zine “crazy” for putting their reputation on the line. However, the staff at Zine Publications, especially Co-President Lisa Padman, are extremely confident in -more-
their decision and his ability. “He knows what he’s doing. It’s his passion and his creation and there is nobody who could do it better than Newton. It was an anonymous decision and we are confident he will bring new fame to Zine,” says Padman. Cornell sees it as an advantage to the magazine. A class of 2004 graduate from the University of Florida, he doesn’t feel too out of touch with that time in his life. “I was just there in that college lifestyle, and now, a few years later, I can step back and see the bigger picture but still relate to their level,” commented Cornell. His interest in what made college-life unique began his freshman year at Florida and he became notorious for crashing on friend’s couches at other schools to see what their experience was like. “I knew what a monumental time in my life college was and how it was something I would never be able to experience again. I wanted to get the full grasp on it, not just a glimpse,” says Cornell. This same perspective has been translated onto the pages on Pong!. The articles featured in the magazine are what Zine Publishing considers to be a truthful and realistic interpretation of college life. Topics covered range from the music scenes, to popular campus fashions, to the latest news in college sports. There is even a section dedicated to giving students new perspectives on majors and careers. However, in its attempt to give the students an honest portrayal of what they want, there are sections that focus on the night life, drinking, relationships, and sex. These are the sections that have parents and other groups talking. “Although I see their concerns, these are not minors we are targeting. And there is nothing they haven’t probably already seen or heard on campus,” says Cornell. The magazine is only giving the most accurate depiction of college life possible and they believe that is what will draw in their readers. “College students don’t want to read anything that has been sugar-coated. If they are going to read about their own life, they want it to be accurate.” -more-
Each month a new college is singled-out and featured. Staff from the magazine travel to the school and spend time getting acquainted with the students and the culture of the campus. They then give an in-depth look at what makes that university tick. “It does back to wanting to give the students a bigger taste of the college experience. It also gives students the ability to learn from their peers and try new things. There is more to learning in college than what is taught in a classroom, and we want to expose that to our readers,” says Cornell. Despite the negative controversy, Pong! has generated a great deal of positive “buzz”, especially on college campuses. Many of colleges have ordered subscriptions for their libraries and bookstores. “Students know it’s coming and they are ready for it,” says Cornell, “I can only hope it will be received as well as I imagine, and that this is only the very beginning of it all.”
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