How to write about the Journal.
Strait Journal is a culture publication about Detroit, anchored by music. The writing in our archive began in 2024; the publication was consolidated as Strait Journal in 2026. We cover music, food and drink, arts, community, and city. Every piece is reported from primary sources and fact-checked before it runs. For depth on why the Journal exists, see about.
Detroit, anchored by music.
Beats and writers:
- Shawn · editor + working writer; Detroit electronic music history, Hart Plaza and place writing, prior Movement coverage
- Marcus · Detroit techno + electronic music, contributing
- Jamie · arts venues, visual art
- Samantha · bars, restaurants, food + drink
Every post carries a Detroit connection. Sometimes the music angle is explicit; often it is not. What matters is that we are in the room.
Audience snapshot.
- Articles published 330
- Beats 5 (Music · Eats · Arts · Community · City)
- Named writers 4
- Coverage area Detroit metro
- Distribution straitjournal.com · RSS
The Journal is pre-revenue and reader-supported. Subscriber + traffic numbers are not yet published; ask if you need them for a story.
What we've been writing about.
Auto-curated from the music beat and Movement / techno / electronic tags. Updated every build.
- Four hours from Detroit, Electric Forest was worth the drive, storm and all
- Spot Lite and UFO Bar close at the end of June as owners leave nightlife
- Inside the trees: a Detroit reader's field guide to Electric Forest 2026
- Baker's Keyboard Lounge closes for a refresh, with a June return on Livernois
- DJ Minx and Dom Dolla close Movement 2026 on Memorial Day Monday
- Detroit's electronic music museum still needs a home
- A Movement weekend built on Detroit techno, with Carl Craig twice and a Borderland set
- Detroit's first Juneteenth music festival features Kash Doll, Babytron and Fetty Wap
- Pine Knob opens its 2026 season Saturday with Kid Cudi and a new marquee
- Detroit makes it official: Techno Week lands as Movement turns 20
- 'Big Jim' O'Brien exits WCSX after 24 years, says he is staying in Detroit
- Concert of Colors to pay tribute to WGPR-TV's 'The Scene' at July festival
Named humans, every byline.
The Journal is small. Every piece is reported from primary sources, fact-checked, and edited before publication. See the masthead for direct emails.
For Movement / electronic music coverage: Shawn is the Journal's editor and the lead writer on Detroit electronic music history, Hart Plaza place writing, and prior Movement editions; Marcus contributes festival reporting and the labels and venues that make up the scene. Direct line: [email protected].
Reach us.
For press releases, advance review copies, comment requests, festival passes, and event listings. We read everything. We publish very little of it verbatim, but we read it.
We do not accept sponsored posts, affiliate links, or paid partnerships. We will tell you no, and we will tell you quickly.
Response time: within two weeks. For urgent press passes (same-week festivals, deadlines under 72 hours), put "URGENT" in the subject line.
Logos and the kit.
Use the wordmark in your story, your venue listing, your festival program. The mono PNG is for dark backgrounds. Need a different format? [email protected].
How to use our work.
Republishing a piece in full is welcome, with attribution to Strait Journal and a link back to the original on straitjournal.com. For commercial syndication or licensed use, write to [email protected].
Excerpts under 200 words may be quoted without prior permission, with credit to Strait Journal and a link to the original. Photographs are licensed separately; check the photo credit on each piece.
We do not currently offer paywalled content. Everything we publish is free to read.