Twin Cities Wire
 | This article needs more links to other articles to help integrate it into the encyclopedia. (October 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Twin Cities Wire was a zine based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was published from 2003 through 2005.
The Twin Cities Wire (often shortened to the Wire) was initially published and edited by Jason Colvin, and written and distributed by Colvin, Joel Bremer, and Chris Anderson. As circulation increased, the publication also began offering staff writer internships to previously unpublished journalism students and upstart writers. One issue, titled New Voices, was dedicated solely to providing an outlet to first-time writers. At its height, there was a volunteer staff of eight writers and photographers.
Originally, the Wire was intended to be a humor publication, publishing satirical news stories and editorial articles. The first two issues had large, prominent headlines meant to elicit a reaction of shock or interest, such as "Peace Camp Given 48-hour Ultimatum by Coalition Forces" and "Pope Found Dead."
Issues were distributed by contributors at Twin Cities (Minneapolis and Saint Paul) bars, coffeeshops, bookstores, record shops, college campuses, and other venues. After the first couple of issues had been distributed, the format shifted away from humor and satire, and subsequent issues included more political matters, and markedly more serious editorial content and interviews.[1][2] There were frequent open letters to public figures, and coverage of current events. Minnesota music and nightlife were also covered prominently, with small local bars and musical acts being popular subjects. Upstart projects and groups, such as Galvanic Alien, Dooley, Podland, and the Divebomb Honey, were covered in nearly every issue.[3]
The Twin Cities Wire eventually published ten printed editions, and had an estimated print readership of 2,500, and an estimated online readership of 10,000. The core contributors attempted to reach a larger audience by taking part in the first annual Twin Cites Zine Fest in 2004 at the Stevens Square Arts Center.[4] However, after the tenth issue was printed in 2005, the Wire ceased printing and went to a strictly online format. Shortly after moving to the online format, the name and website were sold to the highest bidder.
After the change of ownership there were no further issues printed, and by 2007, the website was replaced by a generic placeholder page by a domain holding company. Copies of the Wire are held at the Zine Library at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.[5]
Popular articles[edit]
Some of the Twin Cities Wire's popular articles, based on demand and user statistics during the time of publication:[citation needed]
- Feature Articles - each issue had a feature article, which were fairly topical, and intended to spur intense consideration or discussion. Examples include A Police State of Mind, Coming Home (violating the media ban on displaying draped caskets), The Sex Issue, and Unending War.
- Interviews – The Wire staff strove to interview odd and notable people in nearly every issue. Some of the interviewees included musicians Chuck D and Will Oldham (AKA Bonnie “Prince” Billy), perennial St. Paul muckraker and political candidate Bill Dahn, and conspiracy theorist Jaye Beldo.
- Doctor Spin - A question-and-answer article penned by an unidentified contributor who claimed to have inner working knowledge of political parties and Political Action Committees. Readers would submit questions about politics and law, and get supposedly honest answers from an insider's perspective.
References[edit]
- ↑ "A-Infos (en) US, MINNEAPOLIS, Daybreak* #5! - Reviews". www.ainfos.ca. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ↑ "Twin Cities Wire Interview with Max Action". cache.zoominfo.com. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ↑ Podland Music Review, Twin Cities Wire review of Podland.
- ↑ MN Zine Fest - SSCA, MN Zine Fest, current and archives
- ↑ "Library - Minneapolis Community & Technical College". www.minneapolis.edu. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
External links[edit]
This article "Twin Cities Wire" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Twin Cities Wire. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
