Q.
I'm new to association publishing and would like some advice. Our outside authors receive no payment for articles. My predecessor used to send them a small gift and an overly effusive contratulatory letter. Is this typical?

A.
Taking care of contributors is important. What you do for them, of course, should be tasteful and appropriate. When I was editor of an association publication, I would send a cover letter along with three advance copies of the issue to outside authors by express delivery. Also, each issue, board members of the association would vote on which contributed article was best. The winner would be awarded a personalized plaque that featured a replica of the printing plate for the cover of the issue. Getting the advance copies gave a sense of importance to the authors. The cover plaques left the winners beaming. And, enlisting the board members in the voting helped to elevate the association's publication amongst their priorities.

Back to Association Publishing News main page.

Click here to read about services for association publishing professionals.