| Frequently Asked Questions |
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Q. Why the name The American?
A. Many of the writers associated with the project are U.S. citizens, as is its editor. We wanted a strong identity. Since Italy once had a daily newspaper in English called the Rome Daily American (1945-1984) we decided to revive the name. |
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Q. What are your ties to the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. government?
A. None. |
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Q. Does the name The American mean you’re all Americans?
A. No. In fact, we’re a mixed group, with Americans, Britons, Canadians, Italians, and Australians. The American is an idea, not a national label. |
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Q. Who funds you?
A. We rely on income from newsstand sales and from advertising. That’s it. |
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Q. What do you consider your “mission”?
A. To provide an eloquent, alert monthly magazine that helps to inform the national community about Italian cultural and political life. We hope to be useful to English-speakers and Italians alike. Our goal is to provide good information and provocative insight. |
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Q. When is the web site updated?
A. The site is updated about two weeks after the monthly hits the stands. For example, the March issue out on March 1 is made available online about March 15. But some web features, including the bulletin board and the column Area51, are updated weekly. |
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Q. When exactly is the magazine available?
A. We’ll be on national newsstands the last few days of each month. For example, the April issue will be available March 31. In general, we’ll follow that pattern. |
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Q. How do you get advertising?
A. Through local sales reps. If you’re interested in trying to help obtain accounts, please write to maginfo@theamericanmag.com. We pay 20 percent commission on confirmed sales. |
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Q. Are you available outside Italy?
A. No. For now, we’re concentrated in Milan, Rome, Florence, Naples, and Venice, as well as Rome and Milan subscribers to the International Herald Tribune |
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Q. What about subscriptions?
A. The American is available only at kiosks and through direct home delivery in major Italian cities, including Rome, Milan, and Florence. For home delivery call toll free in Italy: 800.827.112. |
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Q. How many issues do you print each year?
A. Eleven. We have a combined July-August issue. |
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Q. How can I reach your offices?
A. Call us at 06.808.4993. For fax transmissions call 06.808.5391. From Europe, dial 00.39.06.808.4993, from the United States 011.39.06.808.4993. |
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Q. Do you accept unsolicited manuscripts for possible articles?
A. No, but you can send a story query to cpwinner@theamericanmag.com. |
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Q. What about opinion pieces?
A. Same as above. We’ll take ideas and let you know. |
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Q. How do you get opinion pieces?
A. We check with our writers and op-ed contributors in Italy and elsewhere. We want opinion generally to reflect events that concern Italy or the EU. We let individual writers develop their own themes. |
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Q. Is there a political position you favor?
A. Absolutely not. We try to print the best possible material we get, without regard to its inclination. The views in our opinion pieces are those of the authors, not The American. |
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Q. How do I send a letter to the editor?
A. Write to us at letters@theamericanmag.com. Letters should be under 150 words and contain the writer's home telephone number. |
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Q. Who is your editor?
A. Christopher P. Winner, a U.S. citizen who resides in Rome. His web site is http://www.theamericanmag.com/cpw/cpwinner.html |
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Q. Who is your Associate Publisher, Eugenio Dal Bosco?
A. He’s the CEO of Milan-based Messaggerie Internazionali, among the largest distributors of foreign newspapers, books and magazines in Italy. Web site: www.messinter.it |
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Q. What is a “direttore responsabile”?
A. He's the person who has the legal responsibility for overseeing the publication. He works with the editor. Our DR is Enrico Jacomini, a longtime Associated Press writer and manager who now directs the Venice Marathon. |
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Q. Tell us about your team?
A. It's a journalistic collective, numbering many freelancers. Our writers are in Rome, Milan, Florence, as well as in England and the United States. See The Team. |
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Q. I’d like to join your staff. Should I send a resume?
A. We don’t have a fixed office staff. Therefore we have no positions available. If you’re interested in becoming involved in The American project, feel free to write to us, however. We're always interested in good writers. The address is: cpwinner@theamericanmag.com. |
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Q. What’s your pay scale for freelance contributions?
A. We are an all-volunteer shop that relies on both veteran and first-time journalists and writers. |
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Q. I saw you have capsule restaurant reviews in the magazine. Can I submit one?
A. Yes. If you send us a 100-word blurb (not a word more!) with the basic information about a restaurant (see our format) we’ll take a look and let you know if we can use it. No promises. No cash. We’re trying to provide a service to our readers. Please send your information in the body of a text message or as a Word attachment to cpwinner@theamericanmag.com. |
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Q. Do you accept fiction manuscripts?
A. Yes. We publish fiction on the web. Please send queries to fiction@theamericanmag.com. David Winner is the fiction editor. |
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Q. And poems?
A. No. Not yet |
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Q. Why can’t I find The American at my local newsstand?
A. We’re only available at city-center kiosks that distribute the international press. Look for us where you’d usually find Time, Newsweek, The Economist, and similar publications. |
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Q. What if my kiosk says it doesn't stock the magazine?
A. Call Messaggerie Internazionali’s toll free number: 800.827.112. They can give you (in Italian) the location of the nearest kiosk that sells us. If your newsstand stocks too few copies please let them know. |
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