• General Information and History of Linux Journal
• Subscriptions
• Linux Journal Content
• Linux Industry Events
• Writing for Linux Journal
• Product and News Releases
• Distributors/Retailers
• Electronic (Digital) Editions
• Reprinting Articles
• Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope Promotions
• Other Questions

General Information and History of Linux Journal

This FAQ contains information about Linux Journal (LJ), the premier magazine covering the Linux community. Topics covered include a history of LJ, general information, editorial content, advertising in LJ, subscriptions and distributors/retailers.

Our mission is to serve the Linux community and to promote the use of Linux worldwide. As more and more people see Linux as a viable alternative to traditional OSes, Linux is increasingly being used as a primary operating system. Linux Journal focuses specifically on Linux and other open-source OSes, allowing the content to be a highly specialized source of information for open-source enthusiasts.

Linux Journal helps readers find hardware, software and services, and features articles for both newbies and professional users. LJ's content is beneficial to readers by providing in-depth information, to Linux newsgroups by reducing "novice" questions and to advertisers by providing them with a way to reach potential customers. Linux Journal readers are primarily industry specialists who frequently make purchasing decisions within their companies.

Linux Journal was first published in April of 1994 by Phil Hughes and Bob Young, co-founder of Red Hat. Hughes went on to continue publishing Linux Journal for over a decade and in 2006 turned the reins over to long-time Linux Journal employee Carlie Fairchild. Fairchild is the founder of Belltown Media, Inc., the current publisher of Linux Journal.

Today, Linux Journal's very own super star Doc Searls, recently named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in IT by eWeek, leads the way with inspiring editorial direction for the magazine. Regular LJ contributors include a list of Linux luminaries including Marcel Gagne, Reuven Lerner, Dave Taylor, Jon "maddog" Hall and Zack Brown, just to name a few. (Stay tuned for some exciting new columnists and contributors who will be coming on board for 2008 as well!)

To subscribe to Linux Journal visit http://www.linuxjournal.com/subscribe. Subscriptions within the US are shipped via second class mail and start with the next issue of Linux Journal. Subscriptions are available internationally through Linux Journal directly and in specific regions through our international distributors. Magazines are mailed internationally through a surface air lift service that delivers the magazines quickly to each country where local mail will then be handled by surface delivery.

We accept payment by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express) and we also accept checks in US funds drawn on a US bank. Subscriptions can be ordered online, or you may contact our subscriber services department at subs@linuxjournal.com. They may also be reached by phone at (toll-free) 1-888-66-LINUX, from outside the US or Canada at +1 713-589-3503 or by fax at +1 713-589-2677. If you prefer snail-mail: Linux Journal, PO BOX 980985, Houston, TX 77098 USA

Linux Journal is the leading media brand of the Linux and Open Source markets. To ensure unmatched coverage, Linux Journal proudly features regular columns written by the now famous team of Marcel Gagne, Reuven Lerner and everyone's favorite, Doc Searls. Learn more about these columns and other regular Linux Journal departments:

• At the Forge Authored by Reuven Lerner, a long-time columnist for LJ, At the Forge focuses on leading-edge Linux application development trends. A recent demographic study showed that over 75% of Linux Journal readers are involved in some form of software development. Recent At the Forge columns have discussed the hot technology Ruby on Rails and Web 2.0 technologies such as the Bloglines Web Services API.
• Cooking with Linux Consistently voted by LJ readers as their favorite column, Marcel Gagne's Cooking with Linux features more general Linux applications in a very hands-on fashion. Recent columns have covered wireless networking in Linux, Linux gaming, and Linux applications for managing collections of music files.
• Features With each issue, Linux Journal spotlights a focus topic (Security, High Performance Computing, Storage, etc.). Articles within this special section feature or are authored by the "who's who" of the sector and include interviews, overviews of emerging technologies, and information on useful Linux programs or projects. Look to Linux Journal's editorial calendar for 2007 Features.
• InDepth LJ's In Depth section is what differentiates it from its competitors. In these articles we dive deep into the technical details that our readers need to keep abreast of new technologies and move ahead in their careers. Recent topics have included performance tuning and performance management, new and emerging programming languages, and in-depth studies of important applications used by Linux professionals.
• Linux for Suits Doc Searls, our resident celebrity writer and blogger, discusses the technical, management and social issues critical to the Linux community. Recent installments of Doc's column have included emerging issues in Identity Management, cultural impediments to the adoption of Linux and open source by businesses, and Digital Rights Management.
• Paranoid Penguin Paranoid Penguin provides practical, hands-on security information that our readers can put to use in their jobs. Articles are written as tutorials for intermediate readers or explorations of advanced subjects for our more technical readers. Recent topics have included discussions on OpenSSL, secure LDAP replication, securing e-mail services and implementing single sign-on services using a corporate directory.
• Product reviews Linux Journal provides comprehensive evaluations and the most trusted recommendations for buyers of Linux and Open Source products and services. Featured in each issue are unbiased reviews of products that are new, useful and important within the Linux space. Reviews have appeared on new Linux servers, Linux-based clustering applications and a variety of cool Linux-based gadgets and devices.
• upFRONT News and short summaries of interesting developments, important or just plain fun. Common topics include summaries of current activities in the kernel developer community, First Looks at interesting new technologies or spotlights in people in the Linux and Open Source communities.
• Work the Shell Industry veteran Dave Taylor explores the power and capabilities of the humble shell, showing how to create and tweak common shell scripts and solve vexing admin problems. Not content with just offering up canned solutions, his column also commonly includes missteps he takes on the road to a solution, with explanations of what's broken and why. A must read in every issue!

Linux Journal sponsors and attends a number of events throughout the year. For a complete listing of Linux-related events please visit http://linuxjournal.com/xstatic/community/events.

Articles in Linux Journal cover the range from "how do I get started" to kernel hacking, always balanced to give both the newcomer and the long-term Linux users maximum enjoyment. There is an author guide and a list of potential articles on our web site: http://linuxjournal.com/xstatic/author/index. If you have an idea for an article or have a lead for LJ, please e-mail ljeditor@linuxjournal.com or send inquiries to:

Executive Editor
Linux Journal Editorial Offices
1752 NW Market Street, #200
Seattle, WA 98107
Phone: +1 713-344-1956 x3
ljeditor@linuxjournal.com

If you have a new Linux product, send us a press release and we may announce it in our New Products column. Send new product information to:

New Products
Linux Journal Editorial Offices
1752 NW Market Street, #200
Seattle, WA 98107
Phone: +1 713-344-1956 x3
newprod@linuxjournal.com

Over 40,000 copies of each issue of Linux Journal are distributed to newsstands, bookstores and airports worldwide. Distribution is handled by Curtis Circulation Corporation. If you are aware of a store that should carry LJ, you can suggest they contact Linux Journal at +1 713-344-1956 or send us e-mail at subs@linuxjournal.com with their contact information.

Digital subscriptions to Linux Journal are available as of summer 2006. Each issue is delivered as a convenient PDF. Digital subscriptions are sold world-wide for one standard fee of $29.50 USD and do not include paper copies of the magazine. Subscribe to the digital edition today.

Additionally, selected articles are available on our main web site. For subscribers, all issues are available in HTML format at http://interactive.linuxjournal.com/ .

Authors may use the material with the restriction that if used immediately after LJ publication, they include the phrase "reprinted with permission of Linux Journal" in the reprinted article. Other people wishing to use material should contact LJ. Permission is usually granted free for non-commercial use, except where restricted by author or other prior copyright. For those looking for commercial reprints, please see our commercial reprint page for further information.

From time to time, Linux Journal may run promotions asking readers to send in a self-addressed, stamped envelope to claim their reward or free promotional piece. Linux Journal is in the U.S. so for those outside of the U.S. wishing to participate in these types of promotions, it can be difficult to calculate the return postage.

International Reply Coupons are available for nearly all country members of the United Nations. IRCs are available for purchase at your local postal office. You purchase a coupon locally and enclose it in an envelope to your foreign correspondent. The party on the receiving end (Linux Journal in this case) redeems it for airmail postage at their local postal office. LJ will gladly accept these coupons. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Reply_Coupon for further info.

If your question isn't answered here, send e-mail to subs@linuxjournal.com. We will send an e-mail response and, if it is a common question we will add it to this FAQ. If you don't have e-mail, give us a call, +1 713-344-1956.