Publication Categories

*A Note on Circulation categories: We ask all publishers — print only, digital only, or digital and print publishers — to analyze their print and/or digital circulation. The circulation class you select should reflect the higher of either the publication’s print circulation or average unique monthly visitors to the publication’s primary website, whichever is higher.

GENERAL INTEREST

A general interest publication is defined as any publication that is distributed either free or for cost to the general public, and that covers a variety of subjects or interest areas. This category includes consumer, not-for-profit, and custom-published magazines.

Circulation categories: Over 60,000 and Under 60,000.  (Number should reflect the higher of either the publication’s print circulation or average unique monthly visitors to the publication’s primary website, whichever is higher.)

SPECIAL INTEREST

A special interest publication is defined as any publication that is distributed either free or for cost to the general public, but covers a single specific-interest topic, avocation, sport or recreational activity (examples would be cooking, fishing and gardening). This category may include consumer, not-for-profit or custom-published magazines.

Circulation categories: Over 60,000 and Under 60,000.  (Number should reflect the higher of either the publication’s print circulation or average unique monthly visitors to the publication’s primary website, whichever is higher.)

BUSINESS/TRADE

A business or trade publication is defined as any publication distributed either free or for cost to business people or to participants in a specific trade or industry. Business magazines may be available to the general public while trade magazines generally are not.

Circulation categories: Over 30,000 and Under 30,000. (Number should reflect the higher of either the publication’s print circulation or average unique monthly visitors to the publication’s primary website, whichever is higher.)

EDUCATION

An education publication is defined as any publication for which more than 50 percent of its circulated copies, whether free or for cost, go to students, faculty, alumni or other allied professionals of a Minnesota college, university, technical school or other public or private educational institution. Publications produced by colleges and universities that cover general happenings at those institutions and/or activities performed by their students and/or alumni belong in this category.

Circulation categories: Over 30,000 and Under 30,000. (Number should reflect the higher of either the publication’s print circulation or average unique monthly visitors to the publication’s primary website, whichever is higher.)

ASSOCIATION

An association publication is defined as any professional or association publication for which more than 50 percent of its circulated copies, whether free or for cost, go to members of an association, organization, club or society.

Circulation categories: Over 30,000 and Under 30,000. (Number should reflect the higher of either the publication’s print circulation or average unique monthly visitors to the publication’s primary website, whichever is higher.)

NOTE: Circulation categories refer to the circulation of your magazine — not the membership of your association.