NAICS 513120 - Periodical Publishers
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What is NAICS 513120
NAICS code 513120 covers establishments primarily engaged in publishing periodicals such as magazines, newsletters, scholarly journals, and trade journals. These publishers handle all aspects of periodical production, including article gathering, writing, editing, advertising sales, and distribution. This sector includes both traditional print publishers and those that publish exclusively in electronic formats, such as online magazines. Businesses in this industry play a critical role in disseminating information, industry insights, and scholarly research, making them essential for public communication and education. Government agencies contract with periodical publishers to produce specialized publications, distribute informational materials, and support public outreach initiatives. The evolving digital landscape has expanded opportunities for electronic publishing, increasing the relevance of this sector in government communications strategies.
Industry Classification for NAICS 513120
This industry comprises establishments known either as magazine publishers or periodical publishers. These establishments carry out the operations necessary for producing and distributing magazines and other periodicals, such as gathering, writing, and editing articles, and selling and preparing advertisements. These establishments may publish magazines and other periodicals in print or electronic form, including exclusively on the Internet.
Illustrative Examples:
- Comic book publishers
- Magazine publishers
- Scholarly journal publishers
- Newsletter publishers
- Trade journal publishers
Breakdown for NAICS 513120
- Covers publishing of magazines, newsletters, scholarly journals, and trade journals in print and digital formats.
- Includes editorial, content creation, advertising sales, and distribution functions.
- Encompasses both traditional print publishers and internet-only periodical publishers.
- Small and medium-sized businesses dominate the industry with specialized subject matter expertise.
- Government contracts often focus on specialized publications for communication and outreach.
- NAICS size standards apply based on revenue and employee counts relevant to publishing.
Included Activities for NAICS 513120
- Gathering, writing, and editing articles for periodicals.
- Selling and preparing advertisements for inclusion in publications.
- Producing magazines and newsletters in print and electronic formats.
- Managing subscriptions and distribution logistics.
- Developing digital content and maintaining online publication platforms.
- Collaborating with subject matter experts for specialized content.
- Designing layouts and graphic elements for periodicals.
- Ensuring compliance with government content standards and accessibility requirements.
Business Types for NAICS 513120
- Magazine publishers
- Newsletter publishers
- Scholarly journal publishers
- Trade journal publishers
- Electronic-only periodical publishers
- Comic book publishers
Subcategories for NAICS 513120
- Advertising periodical publishers
- Advertising periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Advertising periodical publishers and printing combined
- Advertising periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Agricultural magazine and periodical publishers
- Agricultural magazine and periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Agricultural magazine and periodical publishers and printing combined
- Agricultural magazine and periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Comic book publishers
- Comic book publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Comic book publishers and printing combined
- Comic book publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Financial magazine and periodical publishers
- Financial magazine and periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Financial magazine and periodical publishers and printing combined
- Financial magazine and periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Internet comic book publishing
- Internet magazine publishing
- Internet newsletter publishing
- Internet periodical publishers
- Juvenile magazine and periodical publishers
- Juvenile magazine and periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Juvenile magazine and periodical publishers and printing combined
- Juvenile magazine and periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Magazine publishers
- Magazine publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Magazine publishers and printing combined
- Magazine publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Medical journal and periodical publishers
- Medical journal and periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Medical journal and periodical publishers and printing combined
- Medical journal and periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Newsletter publishers
- Newsletter publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Newsletter publishers and printing combined
- Newsletter publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Periodical publishers
- Periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Periodical publishers and printing combined
- Periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Professional magazine and periodical publishers
- Professional magazine and periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Professional magazine and periodical publishers and printing combined
- Professional magazine and periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing), magazine
- Publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing), periodical
- Publishers, magazine
- Publishers, magazine, combined with printing
- Publishers, periodical
- Publishers, periodical, combined with printing
- Radio guide publishers
- Radio guide publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Radio guide publishers and printing combined
- Radio guide publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Radio schedule publishers
- Radio schedule publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Radio schedule publishers and printing combined
- Radio schedule publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Religious magazine and periodical publishers
- Religious magazine and periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Religious magazine and periodical publishers and printing combined
- Religious magazine and periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Scholarly journal publishers
- Scholarly journal publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Scholarly journal publishers and printing combined
- Scholarly journal publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Scholastic magazine and periodical publishers
- Scholastic magazine and periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Scholastic magazine and periodical publishers and printing combined
- Scholastic magazine and periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Scientific journal and periodical publishers
- Scientific journal and periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Scientific journal and periodical publishers and printing combined
- Scientific journal and periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Technical magazine and periodical publishers
- Technical magazine and periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Technical magazine and periodical publishers and printing combined
- Technical magazine and periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Television guide publishers
- Television guide publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Television guide publishers and printing combined
- Television guide publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Trade journal publishers
- Trade journal publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Trade journal publishers and printing combined
- Trade journal publishers, exclusively on Internet
- Trade magazine and periodical publishers
- Trade magazine and periodical publishers (except exclusive Internet publishing)
- Trade magazine and periodical publishers and printing combined
- Trade magazine and periodical publishers, exclusively on Internet
Government Buyers for NAICS 513120
Government agencies that frequently procure services from periodical publishers include departments of education, health, defense, and commerce, as well as public information offices and research institutions. These agencies require periodical publishing services to produce official newsletters, research journals, informational brochures, and trade publications that support policy dissemination, public awareness campaigns, and professional development. Contracts often focus on creating content tailored to specific audiences, managing subscription services, or developing digital periodicals for wider accessibility. The ability of publishers to provide specialized editorial and distribution services makes them valuable partners for government communication objectives.
Contract Types & Procurement for NAICS 513120
Contracts awarded under NAICS 513120 typically include firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursement contracts, with procurement methods ranging from competitive bidding to sole-source awards for niche publications. Task orders under indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts are common, allowing agencies flexibility in ordering publishing services as needed. Contract values can vary widely, from small-scale projects for individual newsletters to large, multi-year agreements for comprehensive publication management. Government contracting officers prioritize vendors with strong editorial capabilities, compliance with content standards, and capacity to handle electronic publishing platforms. Performance-based contracts emphasizing quality, timeliness, and audience reach are increasingly prevalent.
Details for NAICS 513120
Explore the hierarchy and related codes for this industry
| NAICS Code | Industry Title |
|---|---|
| 51312 | Periodical Publishers |
| 5131 | Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers |
| 513 | Publishing Industries |
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