Author / Magdiaries

by Magdiaries

No future…

Are magazines doomed? I don’t think so.

Whilst the big publishing houses moan about transformation to digital, declining margins and whether content marketing will save us all, something exciting is going on.

Just as punks flicked two fingers at the rock dinosaurs of the 1970s, a new wave of independent publishers are revolutionising magazine publishing. Full of passion and unfettered by traditional business models, they’re taking matters into their own hands: using new technologies to take risks; talking directly to readers; collaborating; connecting; creating; and innovating.

The result? Avant-garde, beautifully written, visually stunning magazines that will keep our business alive.

Katherine Raderecht | Former Head of Women’s Lifestyle, Future Plc



Grub Street Journal
by Magdiaries

From the Beano to Private Eye

Magazines have always been part of my life.

From The Beano to Private Eye, via Your Spectrum, Loaded, Autosport, Word, Neon, Empire, Total Film and MotorSport, they have always been a window on to my passions.

And now I get to put them together, and to figure out how we can keep that window open, no matter how a reader wants to engage with us.

The last 30 years of our industry were fun but the next 30 are exciting – as long as people have passions, we’ll be there to give them that little extra piece of insight and knowledge.

James Hewes | Publishing director, Gulf News Magazines and Gulf News Publishing, UAE

 



Grub Street Journal
by Magdiaries

Niche titles for niche readerships

In turbulent times, could it be independent magazines coming out on top?

This hot trend – with what feels like hundreds of new titles surfacing each week – begs the question, is there really enough room for us all? (This keeps me up at night)

Nonetheless, this plethora of new independent titles has awakened something in their readers. Made by passionate people who share in their readers’ interests, these magazines encapsulate whole lifestyles and ways of thinking, their pages bursting with niche content that actually speaks to their readers.

Hopefully here lies the key to success for a new age of publishing.

Rachel Taylor | Co-founder & Co-editor, Another Escape



Grub Street Journal
by Magdiaries

Smells like ‘zine spirit

First week. Latest issue arrives.

My colleague grabs a copy, pulls open a random page and thrusts his face into it. I got used to him doing that with each new issue. “I love the smell” he’d explain to every new, puzzled recruit as they saw his ritual for the first time.

I could make the simplistic, obvious point about not being able to do that with a tablet magazine, but I won’t. Of all the reasons magazines are brilliant, smell is low down the list.

My point is: keep print alive. Or people like this will roam the streets.

Matthew Bellotti | Chief Content Officer, Mongoose Publishing, Malaysia

 

 



Grub Street Journal
by Magdiaries

The heart of a digital immigrant

It’s a brave new world right enough. Full of seers and visionaries all advocating the creed of digital.

But spare a thought for the humble print  magazine that still has a place in the heart of a digital immigrant.

We may slowly succumb to the lure of side swipes and responsive design. But not while there are customers who desire great content and beautiful images on paper that they can hold and enjoy without needing to pinch and push first.

I accept the need to ‘innovate’, ‘disrupt’ and broaden our horizons but for the moment it is still ‘our time’. Just…

Brian Cameron | Sales Director, Scottish Field

 



Grub Street Journal