Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Samuel Kensinger Francis


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.  

The result was keep per no challenges and withdrawn nomination. —Doug Bell talk 12:47, 15 December 2006 (UTC)

Samuel Kensinger Francis

 * — (View AfD)

Suffers all the same WP:V problems as Sam K Francis which is unsurprising since it's the same person, but suffers the additional difficulty of having been written by the subject's domestic partner, so WP:COI problems by proxy. Otto4711 18:27, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

A CHALLENGE TO OTTO4711's PROPOSED DELETION FROM SAMUEL KENSINGER FRANCIS

This is Samuel Kensinger Francis writing. I will first address the questions about the veracity and verifiability of my magazine, HERO, which I published and co-founded in 1997-2001. I will include several articles on the internet which verify my role as such, and will be happy to supply Wikipedia with printed copies of the bound edition of the magazine if necessary to prove same. Finally, I question the motives of the user OTTO4711 and her reasons for proposing deletion—seems she has an WP:COI problem of her own.

HERO MAGAZINE AND PROOF OF ROLE, 1997-2001

For the record, I have printed mastheads from HERO Magazine in my possession which verify my co-founding and as Publisher of HERO Magazine from 1997-2001. In addition, a complete volume of the periodical is stored in perpetuity by the New York Public Library and also the Library of Congress. I can also guide you to the following articles elsewhere on the internet which verify my role as Publisher and Co-Founder:

http://directmag.com/mag/marketing_straight_talk_gay/

EXCERPT FROM DIRECT MAGAZINE

"While some analysts see a trend toward nationalization of the marketing media as a reflection of what's happening in the mainstream and as a reflection of the greater acceptance of the lesbian and gay market, there are still some small "pop and pop" operations running. One example is Sam Francis, the founder and publisher of HERO, a magazine for gay men who are more interested in a relationship than in a lifestyle.

''The publication began as a Web site, but turned into a print product. Despite its origins, banner ads have not worked for Francis to acquire subscribers. Instead he uses a mix of rented mailing lists, inserts in gay-male specific catalogs, and such Web-based subscription services as enews.com. His own site can also accept subscriptions, which he sees as an important gateway to the market.

''A 200,000-piece mailing gets a 2% response, with a special "Gay Wedding Guide for Men" issue providing a 60% response spike. While his current subscriber base is 14,000, Francis believes his marketing mix can bring the base up to 100,000 in 2001, which he says will make it the gay magazine with the largest circulation in the country."

OTHER VERIFYING SOURCES/ARTICLES—CLICK THEM

http://www.nyblade.com/2003/6-27/arts/dish/dish.cfm

http://web.mac.com/samfrancis/iWeb/Site/Big%20Brother%202.html

http://www.unzipped.net/features/0302/U0302_sam_cover.asp

http://www.glaad.org/publications/archive_detail.php?id=801

http://www.presspassq.com/detail.cfm?id=2#Transitions

http://shanesnipes.com/simon/bloggerthought.html

http://barney.gonzaga.edu/~hero/links.htm

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.heromag.com

REGARDING THE WIKIPEDIA USER 'OTTO4711' and her WP:COI

The user OTTO4711 has no e-mail address for direct contact. I question the user "OTTO4711's" motives in proposing my article for deletion. If you'll check their browsing history, he/she also browses Wikipedia for other notable gay celebrities (and personal friends of mine), including Chip Arndt & Reichen Lehmkuhl (of the Amazing Race), my mother in law, actress Conny Van Dyke, and my partner Bronson Page, "proposing them for deletion" for superfluous reasons. This user seems to just be going through and editing the entries of my friends and familiy specifically, and seems to have an axe to grind. I respectfully request that this user's account be de-activated as I believe SHE has a WP:COI.

SUMMARY OF CHALLENGE TO DELETION

My accomplishments in founding HERO Magazine, an award-winning, national publication (who's entry is also in Wikipedia) stand for itself and are unqualified. The entry is relevant and should not be deleted.

—Posted by Samuel Kensinger Francis 12/08/06


 * Wow. That was pretty impressive. Way to cast aspersions with no foundation in fact whatsoever there, Sam. If you actually check my browsing history, you'll see that I have thousands of edits to articles regarding gay people, gay movies, gay topics, etc. and try to better them. I've written several dozen articles on the topic. Plus, I'm a big queer so I have no problem with gay people in general.


 * I proposed your two articles for deletion because of issues of verifiability. I stumbled across your article because it was in Category:LGBT people from the United States. It struck me as odd that a home improvement show like Extreme Makeover Home Edition would have a personal trainer so I checked the website and found no verification of your affiliation with the program under multiple versions of your name. Similarly I checked the Sirius radio page and found no verification that you "host a fitness program." I could also find no verification of your affiliation with HERO. You have now provided verification of some of the information that is included in the article and I therefore withdraw my nomination for deletion. The next thing that should happen is that an editor who is not you and not related to you by blood or marriage should merge the two articles on you into one and properly source it. I will not do so because although I certainly bear neither you, your spouse, your mother in law nor any of your friends and relations the slightest malice, your suggestion of some sinister ulterior motive on my part leads me to take a total hands-off approach.


 * I have removed the equals signs that you placed above your response because placing them there causes your response to become an entry in the day's table of contents separate from the nomination itself and it should not be. Otto4711 02:46, 9 December 2006 (UTC)


 * And just to address your somments about your mother-in-law's article, I made four edits to it, two of which were minor cosmetic changes and one of which was to restore something that I had removed after further research turned up a source fo it. I never had any quibble with her article and I think that I improved it. Otto4711 02:59, 9 December 2006 (UTC)


 * Strong delete The NYPL and the Library of congress have permanent copies of almost anything, and if all there is of this is one volume, and that's the only places there are, that puts it at the very lowest level of notability for a journal. I don't like being bullied, so I tried to skip over that part and just look for any information. (The web cites, by the way, are from suitable places for unverified press releases)DGG 04:50, 11 December 2006 (UTC)


 * REPLY BY SAMUEL KENSINGER FRANCIS TO DGG RE: HERO MAGAZINE

As you are a librarian, please note that HERO Magazine was named "One of the 10 Best New Magazines" by Library Journal, one of your industry's own publications. In addition, HERO was named "One of the 10 Best Magazines" by magazine expert and University of Mississippi journalism professor Samir Husni, who is also known as "Mr. Magazine" and widely considered one of the most authoritative voices on magazines in the world. HERO was subscribed to by dozens of public libraries around the United States, and the world. SamFrancis 12:43, 11 December 2006 (UTC)


 * Keep: Multiple Citations Found to Support Mr. Francis' Entry Gosh, not sure what all the fuss is here. I researched extensively and  found more than 30 other articles dating back to August, 1997 verifying Sam's claims. Listing only the notables here:

1. Judy Weider (19 Aug. 1997, pg. 63) "The Best & Brightest Under 30: Sam Francis"  The Advocate  2. Lynn Smith (15 March 1998, Life & Style) "For the Man In Your Life"  Los Angeles Times  3. Elaine Herscher (18 April 1998, pg. 1A) "Newest Gay Magazines Put Focus on The Family"  San Francisco Chronicle 4. Ron Belgau (1 April 1998) "Profile in Couarge: In Los Angeles, 23-year-old Sam Francis has a new vision for gay america"  Oasis Magazine  5. Eric Hunter (4 June 1998) "Will Monogamy Sell?"  Cincinnati CityBeat  6. David Heitz (23 June 1998, pg. 48) "Hip to Be Square: A New Magazine Targets Young Men with 'Hot Monogamy' The Advocate  7. Wayne Hoffman and Ernie Glam (17 July 1998, Pg. 21)  "Sex & Sensibility: Gay Media Turn Away From Sex to Woo Advertisers and Attract New Readers"  New York Blade News  8. Ernie Glam (April 1998 pg. 9A) "HERO offers readers a pro-monogamy alternative"  New York Blade News  9. Wayne Hoffman (24 July 1998, pg. 29) "Sex & Sensibility' The Washington Blade  10. V. Dion Haynes (30 July 1998, Tempo Pg. 1) "Two New Magazines Offer Help and Guidance to Alternative Families"  The Chiicago Tribune  11. Michael Gardunio (26 Aug 1998, Pg. 12) "You're My HERO"  Q Ink Northwest  10. No Byline (03 Sep 1998) "Magazines Target Alternative Families"  The Des Moines Register  12. Judith Silberfield and Thomas Doustaly (September 1998) "États-Unis"  Tetu Magazine 13. No byline (September 1998, pg. 27) "Helpful Sources: HERO Magazine"  Our World: International Gay & Lesbian Travel Magazine  14. No byline  (Aug. 1999) "HERO Worship"  Attitude Magazine  15. Anne M. Russell (28 Jan 1999) "Finding Funding"   Folio Magazine <BR> 16. L.M.  (Oct. 1998) "New Magazines: HERO"  Folio Magazine <BR> 17. Rex Wockner  (25 June 1999) "Media Report" '' Fab! Magazine <BR> 18. No Byline  (Spring 1999) "Paging Ahead" '' min magazine <BR> 19. Dan Savage  (June 1999, pg. 62) "Faithlessly Yours"  OUT Magazine <BR> 20. Dan Egan  (03 Jan 2000, pg. 1A) "One-Time Utah Whiz Kid Makes Waves With a Unique Magazine"  The Salt Lake Tribune <BR> 21. Michael Colford  (15 Oct 1999, pg. 114) "HERO: The Magazine for the Rest of Us"  Library Journal <BR> 22. Kate Fitzgerald  "Promo Spotlight: Gay title 'HERO,' Altoids join up for traveling kissing booth"  Advertising Age <BR> 23. Michael Colford (1 May 2000, pg. 51)  "Best New Magazines of 1999"  Library Journal <BR> 24. Eileen P. Gunn and Kate Kitzgerald (19 June, 2000, pg. 61)  "Highly Targeted Interests Drive [Gay] Magazine Growth" '' Advertising Age' <BR> 25. No Byline (August 2000, pg. 7)  "Magazine Publishes Wedding Guide For Men"  Stonewall News Northwest <BR> 26. James Brady  (No Date, pg. 38) "Brady's Bunch" '' Advertising Age' <BR> 27. Sean Maher (31 Aug. 2000)  "Gay Games Announces New Sponsor"  Sydney Star Observerl <BR> 28. Lou Chibbaro Jr. (9 Nov. 2001, pg. 14)  "Gay Media Businesses Weigh Impact of Sept. 11"  The Washington Blade <BR> 28. Samir Husni (Jan 1999) "One of the Most Notable Magazine of 1998: HERO, The Magazine For the Rest of Us" '' Samir Husni's 1999 Guide to New Consumer Magazines' <BR> 29. Darrin Frei (April 1998, pg. 70)  "Sam Tyson: From Publishing to Porn" Genre Magazine <BR> 30. Dean Keefer (July 2004, pg. 58)  "Sam Tyson Constructs the Ultimate Fantasy" Playgirl <BR> 31. Dean Keefer (Summer, 2005, pg. 44)  "Body Work: Handsome and Handy, Sam Tyson Constructs the Ultimate Fantasy" Playgirl Magazine's MEN AT WORK Special Edition #50 <BR>

Maritoon 14:41, 11 December 2006 (UTC)


 * Keep Meets the spirit, if not the letter, of WP:BIO and these additional citations from reputable sources denote notability.  Also, Otto4711 has withdrawn the WP: AFD nomination.

1. Peter Scarlet (03 May 1991, pg. B3) "Students Profit From Own Businesses, Win Entrepreneur Contest"  The Salt Lake Tribune<BR> 2. No Byline (01 April 1991, pg D6) "Governor to Honor Young Businessmen"  The Salt Lake Tribune<BR> —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.208.77.6 (talk) 20:33, 14 December 2006 (UTC).
 * Strong Keep Two additional citations about this person found: <P>


 * Speedy Keep The article now meets the WP:V standards. Additionally, the article has been merged with  Sam K Francis and improved with citations and references.  Maritoon 01:10, 15 December 2006 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.