The First Dog + Family in
Bark Magazine
A BO U T B AR K MAG AZ I N E
A BO U T T H E CO N T R I BU TO R S
A BO U T T H E FEAT U R E
CO N TACT: J.Nichole Smith, cell. 206.240.8560 www.dane-dane.com nichole@dane-dane.com
AB OUT B A RK M AG A Z I NE The Bark magazine has 250,000 readers and is the nation’s premier dog publication. The magazine endorsed candidate Obama for the Presidency, first in January and then in the summer of 2008 (to the surprise of many of our readers), and remains an ardent supporter of the new administration. Bark has earned its reputation as the “smarter, more thoughtful” dog magazine because of its voice on dog culture—reporting on everything from dog parks to the no-kill movement, to natural diets to the dog genome project—and everything in-between that dog people in today’s world need to know. Dog lovers across the nation would welcome a look at Bo, and the joy he has brought to the White House. We hope that the opportunity exists to speak with members of the First Family and photograph Bo in the coming weeks, developing this article/photo essay for publication in Bark’s JulyAugust 2009 issue.
AB OUT THE C O NT R I B U TO R S Claudia Kawczynska, writer Claudia Kawczynska is the editor-in-chief of Bark, the award-winning dog magazine that she co-founded in 1997. She is also the editor of the bestselling anthology, Dog Is My Co-Pilot: Great Writers on the World’s Oldest Friendship (Crown) and Howl: A Collection of the Best Contemporary Dog Wit (Crown). Her expertise on dog culture has appeared in Esquire, NPR, Men’s Journal, Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer. She also served as a dog expert for the New York Times, for their “Sunday With the Magazine” discussion series. She was awarded a Hurricane Hero Award from the Humane Society of Louisiana in recognition of Bark’s Katrina coverage. She lives in Berkeley, California with her four dogs, Lola, Lenny, Holly and Kit.
J.Nichole Smith, photographer J.Nichole Smith is a highly acclaimed pet portrait photographer. A keen observer of human and canine behavior, Nichole is remarkably skilled at capturing the relationship between dogs and their people. Nichole’s work has appeared in nearly every national dog magazine as well as in Professional Photographer Magazine and the ABA Journal. She was the exclusive photographer for the Good Behavior Book for Dogs (Quarry) and her images fill the walls of WellPet (formerly Wellness Pet Food.) She splits her time between Seattle and Los Angeles, accompanied by her Harlequin Great Dane, Olivia.
AB OUT THE F E AT U R E Dog is Good, a company specializing in unique apparel for the humans in a dog’s life, has recently announced a new, patriotic "Bark for America" tee. A portion from all sales of this tee will benefit USAcares.org - a non-profit that supports post-911 veterans and their families.
Bark is proposing an article and photographic essay on the First Dog, Bo, and the First Family — the Obamas. Introducing a dog into a family is an important undertaking, and the President and Michelle as well as Malia and Sasha will be in for a host of challenges and rewards in the coming weeks as they, in the President’s words, become “responsible dog owners.” Bark would like to document first impressions and thoughts of the First Family as they immerse themselves in the wonderful world of puppy-dom — building the lifelong bonds, training and teaching good behavior, seeing the world through a young canine’s eyes, and, simply, having fun. This momentous event is also a great opportunity to educate the public on important issues on animal welfare and the value of pet companionship.
DETA IL S Proposed Shoot time: Any weekday between May 18-29, daytime Proposed Location: White House lawn, weather permitting Requested Participants: The Obama familly + Bo Magazine Readership: 250,000 On news stands: July 3, 2009- September 3, 2009
In conjuntion with the Bark article, we would love the opportunity to present the President with a few “Bark for America” tee shirts for him to sign, which will then be auctioned off to support USAcares.org. We are hoping that with President Obama's commitment to the most open and accessible administration in American history, he and/or his family would be willing/able to share their thoughts about new-puppy ownership with Bark Magazine, and at the same time, use their new "dog owning" status to support a very deserving non-profit.