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Retail Rate Card 26
| Standard Print Advertising | Other Advertising Options Policy |
About City Paper
Published since 1981, Washington City Paper is a general-interest publication and an online destination for local urban dwellers. It specializes in features rather than news, with an emphasis on urban issues and politics, arts and entertainment, restaurants, and the peculiar pros and cons of city life. In addition, City Paper publishes comprehensive film, theater, music, gallery, dance, and museum guides and a large classified advertising section. It is well-known as a showcase for some of the city’s most talented journalists, critics, and artists.
City Paper is a controlled-circulation weekly, printed in a tabloid format on newsprint. More than 90,000 copies are distributed in the District of Columbia and the close-in suburbs of Maryland and Virginia.
Washingtoncitypaper.com is well-known for its traditional housing and employment classifieds, its less traditional Crafty Bastards℠ arts-and-crafts classifieds, and its searchable entertainment listings. Also popular is the nationally recognized food column Young & Hungry, which is paired with Restaurant Finder, a searchable database populated with ratings and reports from readers. In addition, the Matches personals site combines the most innovative features of national personals sites with a purely local perspective. Washingtoncitypaper.com also includes the well-used online-only music destination “InDC.”
Publication Dates
Washington City Paper is published every Friday of the year. A Fall Arts Guide is published in September. Distribution begins Thursday morning and is completed by early Friday.
Back to the TopDeadlines
The preferred deadline for the receipt of all advertising materials is Friday, seven days before publication. However, materials and space reservations will be accepted until 5 p.m. Monday, week of publication. When space has been reserved and paid for in advance, camera-ready materials will be accepted until 4 p.m. Tuesday, week of publication. Cancellations and changes cannot be accepted after noon on Tuesday, week of publication. For advertisers wishing to approve a proof, the deadline is Friday, seven days before publication.
Holidays that are celebrated on weekdays generally cause the deadlines for the issue published that same week to be advanced one business day.
Back to the TopCirculation and Readership
Washington City Paper is distributed at more than 1,100 retail outlets and 280 street boxes throughout the metropolitan Washington area. Most copies are picked up by readers on Thursday.
Circulation figures are audited by Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC). Their reports are available on request. The average number of copies of Washington City Paper distributed each week in 2004 was 88,730. Leftovers each week rarely exceed 5% of the press run.
A comprehensive survey of Washington City Paper readers was released by Mediamark Research Inc. (MRI) in July 2003. The results showed City Paper’s audience to be a well-defined group of highly educated and affluent young professional adults. Median age was 39 years; 70% were single; 91% had attended college; and 45% held professional or managerial positions.
Neighborhoods......85,550
Major distribution in Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, Downtown, Dupont Circle, Georgetown, Shaw, Southwest, and upper Northwest with substantial
distribution in Alexandria, Arlington, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, College Park, Del Ray, Falls Church, Rockville, Rosslyn, Silver Spring, Springfield, Takoma Park, Vienna, and Wheaton.
Colleges......4,275
Including American University, Catholic University, Corcoran School of Art, Gallaudet University, George Mason University, George Mason University Law School, George Washington University, Georgetown University Law School, Howard University, Montgomery College, Strayer University, University of the District of Columbia, and University of Maryland.
Subscriptions and office......500
TOTAL COPIES PRINTED......90,325
Back to the TopAdvertising Dimensions
Standard sizes
Most advertising in Washington City Paper conforms to standard page fractions. This allows for attractive page layouts and offers the advertiser the most economical prices. Standard ad sizes in both fractions and decimals are as follows:
| Page Fraction | Width | Depth | |
| Centerspread | 22 5/8" | 13 3/4" | (22.625 x 13.75) |
| Full | 10 13/16" | 13 3/4" | (10.812 x 13.75) |
| 2/3 Vertical | 8 5/8" | 11 1/4" | (8.625 x 11.25) |
| 2/3 Horizontal | 10 13/16" | 9 1/4" | (10.812 x 9.25) |
| 1/2 Standard | 6 7/16" | 11 1/4" | (6.437 x 11.25) |
| 1/2 Vertical | 5 1/4" | 13 3/4" | (5.25 x 13.75) |
| 1/2 Horizontal | 10 13/16" | 6 3/4" | (10.812 x 6.75) |
| 2/5 | 4 1/4" | 13 3/4" | (4.25 x 13.75) |
| 1/3 | 6 7/16" | 8 7/8" | (6.437 x 8.875) |
| 1/4 Standard | 5 1/4" | 6 3/4" | (5.25 x 6.75) |
| 1/4 Vertical | 4 1/4" | 8 7/8" | (4.25 x 8.875) |
| 1/5 Standard | 4 1/4" | 6 3/4" | (4.25 x 6.75) |
| 1/5 Vertical | 2 1/16" | 13 3/4" | (2.063 x 13.75) |
| 1/5 Horizontal | 6 7/16" | 4 3/8" | (6.437 x 4.375) |
| 1/8 Standard | 4 1/4" | 4 3/8" | (4.25 x 4.375) |
| 1/8 Vertical | 2 1/16" | 8 7/8" | (2.063 x 8.875) |
| 1/16 Horizontal | 4 1/4" | 2 1/8" | (4.25 x 2.125) |
| 1/16 Vertical | 2 1/16" | 4 3/8" | (2.063 x 4.375) |
Advertisers familiar with SAUs will note that most sizes can easily accommodate SAU materials. (Generally City Paper sizes are slightly deeper than SAUs.)
Columnar sizes
Advertisements that cannot be adapted to fit our standard page fractions are accepted as columnar ads. The width of these ads must be from one to five columns; and the height must be in .25 inch increments.
The width of an advertising column in City Paper is 2 1/16" . A page contains 5 advertising columns, each 13 3/4" tall.
Column widths in City Paper (including the space between columns) are as follows:
| 1 column | ( 2.063") |
| 2 columns | (4.25") |
| 3 columns | (6.437") |
| 4 columns | (8.625") |
| 5 columns | (10.812") |
Final printed dimensions of all advertisements are 5% smaller than the sizes listed above. Do not send ads based on measurements made from a City Paper page; they will be too small.
Back to the TopSample Advertising Layouts
![[advertising layouts]](http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/graphics/etc/rate1-4.gif)
![[advertising layouts]](http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/graphics/etc/rate5-8.gif)
Back to the Top
Rates—Standard Sizes
For consecutive insertions
At least one ad per week every week
| Frequency |
1x
|
6x
|
13x
|
26x*
|
52x**
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discount |
|
10%
|
17%
|
21%
|
26%
|
| Full |
$1940
|
1740
|
1605
|
1530
|
1435
|
| 2/3 Vertical Horizontal |
1395
|
1250
|
1155
|
1100
|
1030
|
| 1/2 Standard Vertical Horizontal |
1070
|
960
|
890
|
845
|
790
|
| 2/5 |
955
|
855
|
790
|
750
|
705
|
| 1/3 |
790
|
710
|
655
|
625
|
585
|
| 1/4 Standard Vertical |
605
|
545
|
505
|
480
|
450
|
| 1/5 Standard Vertical Horizontal |
485
|
440
|
405
|
385
|
365
|
| 1/8 Standard Vertical |
330
|
300
|
275
|
260
|
245
|
| 1/16 Vertical Horizontal |
205
|
185
|
170
|
165
|
155
|
For non-consecutive insertions
| Frequency |
1x
|
6ads/
12wks |
12ads/
52wks |
13ads/
26wks |
26ads/
52wks* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discount |
|
5%
|
7%
|
9%
|
13%
|
| Full |
$1940
|
1835
|
1800
|
1760
|
1685
|
| 2/3 Vertical Horizontal |
1395
|
1320
|
1290
|
1265
|
1210
|
| 1/2 Standard Vertical Horizontal |
1070
|
1010
|
990
|
970
|
930
|
| 2/5 |
955
|
900
|
885
|
865
|
825
|
| 1/3 |
790
|
750
|
735
|
715
|
685
|
| 1/4 Standard Vertical |
605
|
575
|
565
|
555
|
530
|
| 1/5 Standard Vertical Horizontal |
485
|
465
|
455
|
445
|
425
|
| 1/8 Standard Vertical |
330
|
315
|
310
|
300
|
290
|
| 1/16 Vertical Horizontal |
205
|
195
|
190
|
185
|
180
|
Rates—Columnar Sizes
For consecutive insertions
At least one ad per week every week
|
Frequency
|
1x
|
6x
|
13x
|
26x*
|
52x**
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discount |
|
10%
|
17%
|
21%
|
26%
|
| Price per column inch (Less than 16") |
$48.55
|
43.70
|
40.30
|
38.35
|
35.93
|
| Price per column inch (16" or larger) |
36.36
|
32.72
|
30.18
|
28.72
|
26.91
|
For nonconsecutive insertions
|
Frequency
|
1x
|
6x
|
12x
|
13x
|
26x*
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Discount
|
|
5%
|
7%
|
9%
|
13%
|
| Price per column inch (Less than 16") |
$48.55
|
46.12
|
45.15
|
44.18
|
42.24
|
| Price per column inch (16" or larger) |
36.36
|
34.54
|
33.81
|
33.09
|
31.63
|
One "column inch" is a space 1 column wide by 1 inch deep. Columnar ads are accepted in .25" height increments, with a 4.25" minimum size. Prices listed above are per column inch. Multiply an ad's height by the number of columns it occupies to get the total column inches.
Because each page is reduced, all advertisements appear in the paper 5% smaller than original size. However, the price charged for a columnar advertisement is based on the original—not the printed—size.
For both consecutive and nonconsecutive schedules, ad size and copy may change as often as the advertiser desires without affecting discount levels.
* 26x rates are available only to advertisers who have successfully fulfilled a 6x or 13x contract.
** 52x rates are available only to advertisers who have successfully fulfilled a 26x contract.
Prepayment Discount
Washington City Paper's credit policies are unusually strict. Payment in advance, with submission of copy, is generally required. A 5% discount is allowed for this prepayment. A $25 service fee is charged for each returned check.
Agency Commission
Recognized agencies providing camera-ready materials may receive
a 15% commission on space charges.
Not-For-Profit Discount
Not-for-profit organizations registered with the appropriate taxing authorities may receive a 15% discount on space charges; however, they cannot claim both agency and not-for-profit discounts.
Position and Color
Position
Back page, inside front cover, page 5, center spread and fractional ads located on "News of the Weird" and "Savage Love" are sold (when available) for a $225 net premium. Position charges are not commissionable and no frequency discounts apply.
With the exception of the premium positions outlined above, Washington City Paper does not guarantee the position of any advertisement within the paper. Position instructions are considered on a request basis only.
Color
Both full four-color process and spot color are available. Spot color is sold for $350 net per extra color in addition to regular space charges. Four-color process is available for $700 net in addition to regular space charges. Frequency discounts do not apply to color charges.
A color proof is required for all color ads.
Back to the TopAdvertising Specifications
- Washington City Paper can design and prepare display advertisements at client's request.
- All press-ready ads should be submitted as Adobe Acrobat .pdf files built to Washington City Paper specs. Native files (Quark or InDesign documents, with fonts and images) are not accepted. Photo format files (.tif, .jpg, .eps) may be submitted, but we do not guarantee their print quality.
- Please note that final printed dimensions of all advertisements are 5% smaller than the sizes listed. Do not submit ads based on measurements taken from a City Paper page; they will be too small. If an ad is submitted at an incorrect size, we will shrink/enlarge the ad to fit.
- Ads smaller than a full page never run without a border. A minimum hairline border (.5 pt) is required on all four sides. Ads submitted without a border will have one added.
- Resolution for images used in ad creation (.eps or .tif files are best):
Grayscale halftone & CMYK images: 300 dpi
Line art (such as type): 600 dpi
Images taken from Web sites: not accepted. - Ink will spread more on porous newsprint stock than on regular laser paper, causing a change to the contrast of the ad. We recommend using the setting "dot gain 30%" when doing image corrections to account for this. Screens over 80% may reproduce as black.
- Linescreen is 100. Total ink coverage should not exceed 240%.
- All fonts must be embedded. For fonts that are not embedded, we reserve the right to replace those fonts with those we have in-house.
- Reverse type on color ads should not be any smaller than 10 pt. size to ensure legibilty.
Color Issues
- Color ads must be submitted as CMYK only (unless a specific spot color has been purchased—then only the spot color and black should appear in the final file). CMYK ads submitted with RGB or spot colors will be converted to CMYK.
- Black and white ads must be submitted as black and white or grayscale. "Rich blacks" (black composed of C, M, Y, and K) will be converted to grayscale.
- Ads that must be converted may cause slight color shifts. City Paper is not responsible for color shifts due to incorrect submission, and such shifts will not be grounds for a makegood.
Classified Ads
Commercial classifieds cost as little as $18.00 for 35 words or less, plus $1.00 for each additional word. Prepayment by check, cash, MasterCard, VISA, Discover, or American Express is required. All classified ads are posted on our web site. For more information, see classifieds and click "help" at the bottom of the page.
Back to the TopWeb Advertising
washingtoncitypaper.com accepts a variety of Web sizes and targeted positions. More information is available on this page.
Back to the TopInserts
A maximum of two pre-printed inserts is accepted per week. Call to request quotations based upon the insertion’s size and shape.
Back to the TopEZ ads
For advertisers who can benefit from being in every issue, but who do not require large space or frequent copy changes, EZ ads are an excellent value. EZ ads are 2 1/16" wide by 2 1/8" high and run for eight consecutive weeks. The entire 8 week schedule costs $560 ($70 each) payable in full in advance.
Back to the TopLiability and Content Policies
Advertiser shall assume full responsibility and liability for all content (including pictorial representations and graphic artwork) of advertisements placed by advertiser in Washington City Paper and shall assume full responsibility for any claims arising therefrom made against City Paper, its officers, agents, and employees.
Advertiser hereby agrees to indemnify and hold City Paper harmless from any and all expenses or losses, including, but not limited to, attorneys' fees and legal judgments, incurred or suffered by City Paper by reason of any and all claims arising out of the publication of any advertisement placed by advertiser.
Advertisers offering adult services (such as telephone talk lines) are subject to special rules and restrictions regarding content, deadlines, payment, price, and size that are not included in this rate card. This information is available on request.
Publisher reserves the right to approve all copy.
Back to the TopFor more information, please contact our office and ask for Display Advertising.
WASHINGTON CITY PAPER
2390 Champlain St., NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 332-2100
Fax: (202) 332-8500
E-mail: ads@washingtoncitypaper.com