Month / July 2014

by Magdiaries

Why we got into this game

It has never been easier to make and publish great magazines – in digital form, or in hefty, glorious printed incarnations.

It has never been harder to build a robust business model around publishing great magazines  – one that can reliably pay talented and experienced people to keep the ship sailing through the stormiest conditions.

The only solution is to innovate and experiment – to find new ways to tell brilliant stories to passionate audiences.

That requires original thinking, fearless creativity and probably a few late nights.

But isn’t that why we got into this game in the first place?

Alan Rutter | Digital content consultant; Co-founder, Clever Boxer



Grub Street Journal
by Magdiaries

Analogue vs Digital: We Don’t Have a Choice

The decline in the publishing industry exists solely in the ‘outside world’; we are in a proverbial bubble, protected from the digital threat to the printed word.

STIR is a   creative arts magazine for prisoners, by prisoners. Our hands are not bound by commercialism: our currency is creativity.

We are theoretically digital: we have a website for those on the outside, however the absence of Internet access or e-learning facilities in Scottish prisons means our readers inside rely solely on the tactility of our product.

This keeps the focus on raising aspirations, strengthening literacy and encouraging originality through the arts.

STIR editorial team,  STIR Magazine, HMP Shotts



Grub Street Journal
by Magdiaries

A PhD in magazines

I have a PhD in magazines. Literally.

I’m interested in how they construct an identity for themselves and for their readers and how much that matters on both sides; I remember walking around at college with my copy of sfx artfully arranged so as to poke out of my tote bag, title outwards.

Now I write for magazines when I want to speak to people who care about something as passionately as I do, even if they disagree with me.

Digital is fine, but now that we know each other a little better… do you want to talk paper density?

Georgina Turner | Lecturer, University of Liverpool; Freelance writer



Grub Street Journal
by Magdiaries

I feel the need, the need to read

Magazines. Straight from the printers.

That feel in your hands. That smell. Everyone smells them, looks up, smiles.

That fear. That terror when it’s your magazine: could you have read it one more time? Did you sort that thing on page whatever? Is it any good?

That joy. That delight when people read your words and enjoy your creativity.

That camaraderie, the sheer joy of hard work with friends. Work that sparks with laughter and so much “what if we just…”.

That call. That blissful call from your mum, “I saw your name in Smith’s”.

I bloody love magazines, me.

Simon Kirrane | Freelance Editor



Grub Street Journal
by Magdiaries

Freelance life

The joy. Commissioned. Relief. Still a writer.

Prevarication. Official deadline… passes. Real deadline? Aaargh. Words wrenched from reluctant brain. Anguish: is it any good? Too many words? Again.

Click. Save. Send. Forget.

Time passes.

A magazine. On a shelf. I’m in it! Forgot it existed. In real life. Quick scan; no glaring blunder? Nice headline; I’ll claim it.

Intro changed. My fault. Too many words. Again.

But doesn’t it look lovely? The nice pictures. Shiny paper. Third read; relaxed in its company. Like real writing. By real journalists.

Maybe I’m OK. Onto the next. Then I’ll probably never work again…

Adrian Lobb | Freelance Writer (TV, music, arts)



Grub Street Journal