TECHNICAL EDITING

Abstract

There is only one way of finding out who reads a particular periodical. The readership survey has become the means of sampling the readership of a journal and confirming or modifying editorial opinion regarding the level and status of its readers. With specialized technical periodicals, however, it can be safely assumed that the readership will consist of specialized technicians or technologists—for example, Nuclear Engineering is presumably read by nuclear engineers, and the Muck Shifter by public works contractors. The Times Review of Industry does not have a specialized readership and, without the benefit of a readership survey, it would be difficult to make a hard and fast definition of its readership. The editorial staff are fairly certain that the level of education of their readers is at least grammar school sixth form, possibly with a professional or technical qualification added and there are certainly many graduate readers. There will be among the readers managers of various grades and functions, engineers, research workers and, no doubt, even some company directors who, as we all know, have far too much to read anyway, and a further catagory of reader may well be found among technical journalistic colleagues, etc. We hope they read us because we read them enthusiastically.

Citation

ROBERTSON, A.B. (1959), "TECHNICAL EDITING", Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 11 No. 8, pp. 207-212. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb049706