ZineWiki
Encyclopedia
ZineWiki is an open-source online wiki
devoted to zines, fanzines, small press
publications, chapbooks, and independent media
. It covers the history, production, distribution and culture of the small press
.
In September 2006 ZineWiki surpassed 500 articles and began to garner outside media attention, most notably in the Portland Mercury.
Like Wikipedia, ZineWiki strives for neutrality and accuracy. Because of its attempt to document often small and ephemeral small press publications, the relevancy tag is not used on ZineWiki, as the editors believe all independent publications are worth documenting.
During a September 2006 broadcast
, the host of Flat Four Radio in London
remarked that there's "nothing to stop it (ZineWiki) from becoming the world's main source of information on zines," while Karl Wenclas
, founder of the Underground Literary Alliance
, has called ZineWiki "a sign of new life."
In October 2006 ZineWiki became a featured website on the Small Press Exchange.
Also in October 2006 Punk Planet
announced on its website its partnership with ZineWiki, which began archiving articles from the magazine related to zine publishing.
In February 2007 ZineWiki was a featured website on Rivet Magazine.
In spring of 2007 Broken Pencil
magazine published a two-page article about ZineWiki entitled "Zine Wiki and the Great Indie Cultureal Reservoir" in Issue 35.
-based print magazine
Punk Planet
partnered with ZineWiki to offer exclusive
online
content. The first of these articles was entitled "Unofficial Histories: Zine and Ephemera
l Print Archivist
s" by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Other media sponsors of ZineWiki include Broken Pencil
and Clamor
.
Wiki
A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include...
devoted to zines, fanzines, small press
Small press
Small press is a term often used to describe publishers with annual sales below a certain level. Commonly, in the United States, this is set at $50 million, after returns and discounts...
publications, chapbooks, and independent media
Alternative media
Alternative media are media which provide alternative information to the mainstream media in a given context, whether the mainstream media are commercial, publicly supported, or government-owned...
. It covers the history, production, distribution and culture of the small press
Small press
Small press is a term often used to describe publishers with annual sales below a certain level. Commonly, in the United States, this is set at $50 million, after returns and discounts...
.
History
ZineWiki was created in July 2006 by Alan Lastufka and Kate Sandler and includes hundreds of contributors from the independent press.In September 2006 ZineWiki surpassed 500 articles and began to garner outside media attention, most notably in the Portland Mercury.
Like Wikipedia, ZineWiki strives for neutrality and accuracy. Because of its attempt to document often small and ephemeral small press publications, the relevancy tag is not used on ZineWiki, as the editors believe all independent publications are worth documenting.
During a September 2006 broadcast
Broadcast
Broadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
, the host of Flat Four Radio in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
remarked that there's "nothing to stop it (ZineWiki) from becoming the world's main source of information on zines," while Karl Wenclas
Karl Wenclas
Karl "King" Wenclas is a founder and the former Publicity Director and front man of the Underground Literary Alliance...
, founder of the Underground Literary Alliance
Underground Literary Alliance
The Underground Literary Alliance is a Philadelphia-based and internationally membered group of writers, zinesters and DIY writers. They seek to expose what they see as the corruption and insularity in the American book-publishing establishment while providing alternative avenues for writers who...
, has called ZineWiki "a sign of new life."
In October 2006 ZineWiki became a featured website on the Small Press Exchange.
Also in October 2006 Punk Planet
Punk Planet
Punk Planet was a 16,000 print run punk zine, based in Chicago, Illinois, that focused most of its energy on looking at punk subculture rather than punk as simply another genre of music to which teenagers listen. In addition to covering music, Punk Planet also covered visual arts and a wide...
announced on its website its partnership with ZineWiki, which began archiving articles from the magazine related to zine publishing.
In February 2007 ZineWiki was a featured website on Rivet Magazine.
In spring of 2007 Broken Pencil
Broken Pencil
Broken Pencil is a Canadian magazine, which profiles zine culture and independent arts and music. The magazine publishes four times annually and is based in Toronto.The magazine was founded in 1995 by Hal Niedzviecki...
magazine published a two-page article about ZineWiki entitled "Zine Wiki and the Great Indie Cultureal Reservoir" in Issue 35.
Media partners and sponsors
In September 2006, the ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based print magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
Punk Planet
Punk Planet
Punk Planet was a 16,000 print run punk zine, based in Chicago, Illinois, that focused most of its energy on looking at punk subculture rather than punk as simply another genre of music to which teenagers listen. In addition to covering music, Punk Planet also covered visual arts and a wide...
partnered with ZineWiki to offer exclusive
Exclusive
Exclusive typically means not with other things or not including other things.The terms inclusive and exclusive are contrasting terms, and often appear in the same context to describe contrasting things.Exclusive may refer to:...
online
ONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
content. The first of these articles was entitled "Unofficial Histories: Zine and Ephemera
Ephemera
Ephemera are transitory written and printed matter not intended to be retained or preserved. The word derives from the Greek, meaning things lasting no more than a day. Some collectible ephemera are advertising trade cards, airsickness bags, bookmarks, catalogues, greeting cards, letters,...
l Print Archivist
Archivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
s" by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Other media sponsors of ZineWiki include Broken Pencil
Broken Pencil
Broken Pencil is a Canadian magazine, which profiles zine culture and independent arts and music. The magazine publishes four times annually and is based in Toronto.The magazine was founded in 1995 by Hal Niedzviecki...
and Clamor
Clamor (magazine)
Clamor was a bi-monthly magazine published in Toledo, Ohio. The focus of the magazine was alternative culture , often from a politically left-wing perspective....
.
Features
- The most comprehensive and extensive database of zines and small press publications on the Web
- Zine of the Month / Zine Publisher of the Month front page features
- Online articles about the small press.
- A comprehensive guide to independent publishers and writers
- An in depth guide to small press distributors and libraries
- A calendar of zine and small-press related events