Reed Magazine Explained

Reed Magazine
Type:Annual
Format:Literary Journal
Owners:San Jose State University
Headquarters:San Jose, California
Editor-In-Chief:Varies
Foundation:1867
Language:English
Issn:1524-8194
Oclc:41231982
Website:http://reedmag.org/

Reed Magazine is an annual literary journal published by San Jose State University. Two semesters of the Department of English and Comparative Literature's 133 class (comprising graduate and undergraduate students) solicit, edit, and promote the magazine for each year. It is the oldest literary journal based in California.[1]

The journal prints art, poetry, and prose (fiction and nonfiction). It also sponsors the Edwin Markham Prize for Poetry, the John Steinbeck Short Story Award, the Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction, the Mary Blair Award for Art, and the Emerging Voices Contest for Santa Clara County, California high school students.

History

Tracing its heritage to 1867 as The Acorn, the journal started as a mere pamphlet published by students of the California State Normal School, the precursor of San José State University. It was known as The Normal Pennant in 1898 (a reference to the California State Normal School), The Quill in the 1920s and El Portal in the 1930s.  In more than a century and a half of publication, the journal’s name evolved until the end of World War II. Then, in 1948, it adopted The Reed, which was later shortened to just Reed. At that time, the magazine was put together by SJSU's literary society, Pegasus, with help from the Associated Student Body.

Reed honors James Reed, a survivor of the infamous Donner Party and a prominent citizen of early California. James Reed made a fortune during the Gold Rush and strongly advocated that San José be named the capital of the new state. While he failed in that ambition, he did keep his promise to donate five hundred acres to the state. The current campus of San José State—the oldest public institution of higher education on the West Coast, and the founding institution of the California State University system—now occupies that land.

San José has changed a lot since James Reed first settled here. Prune and apricot orchards have given way to skyscrapers and the headquarters of major corporations. A tiny farming community has grown into the tenth largest US city and the nation’s unchallenged center of technological innovation. A small teaching college has evolved into a vibrant university with the most diverse student body in the nation, and an international reputation for excellence.

Throughout these changes, Reed has remained a literary hub, publishing fiction, poetry, essays, profiles, and art from around the world. Reed is honored to feature the works of emerging authors alongside notable pieces by literary lions: nonfiction by Pulitzer Prize–winner William Finnegan, verse by U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass, fiction by PEN/Faulkner--winner T. C. Boyle, and National Book Award--winner Ursula K. Le Guin. In addition, Reed publishes original profiles of authors connected to the Golden State, examining their take on life and art. In keeping with their prestigious affiliates, Reed 156, features Poet Laureate of the United States Juan Felipe Herrera as judge of The Edwin Markham Prize in Poetry. A record breaking 4,000 poems were received, with the poem, the Children turn themselves into ICE, by Linda Ravenswood winning.[2]

Notable contributors

Judges

S= Steinbeck

M= Markham

R= Rico

B= Blair

EV= Emerging Voices

*= Returning participant

!Issue/Volume !Year!Names of Judges

1552022S: Marjan Kamali

M: Kazim Ali

R: Suzanne Rico

B: Lance Fung

EV: Matty Heimgartner

1542021S: Rita BullwinkleM: Matthea Harvey

R: Suzanne Rico*

B: Erin Salazar

EV: Sarah Nolte

1532020S: Vanessa HuaM: Brenda Hillman

R: Suzanne Rico

B: Cherri Lakey

EV:Ryan Smith

1522019S: Shanthi SekaranM: Beatrix Gates

R: Victoria Toney-Robinson

B: Taylor Sezen

EV: Antionette Traub

1512018S: Keenan Norris M: Ellen Brass

R: Suzanne Rico

B: Camille Miller*

1502017S: Tobias Wolff*M: Arlene Biala

R: Suzanne Rico

B: Camille Miller

692016S: Candace ErosM: John Oliver Simon*

R: Suzanne Rico

B: Allegra Colston

682015S: Cara BaylesM: John Oliver Simon

R: Suzanne Rico

B: Leslie Jacoby

672014S: Tommy MoutonM: Erica Goss

R: Suzanne Rico

652012S: James KelmanM: Kim Addonizio
642011S: Daniel AlarcónM: Marilyn Chin
632010S: Aimee BenderM: Lisa Russ Spar
612008S: ZZ Parker
602007S: Tobias WolffM: Al Young
572004S: Pete Fromm
562003S: Molly Giles

Trivia

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Reed magazine delivers 'Goosebumps' by Michael Le Roy, Spartan Daily, April 28, 2008
  2. Linda Ravenswood wins Edwin Markham Prize, 2023 https://www.reedmag.org/linda-ravenswood