Category / 100 Words

by Magdiaries

Excited like a 19-year old

In October 1986 aged 19 and about to enter the world of PR, I bought a new music magazine called Q. It opened my ears to music and my eyes to magazines.

Fast forward 27 years to the PPA Centenary dinner in London. Among the doyens of the publishing industry were Q founders David Hepworth and Mark Ellen. I was excited like the 19-year old me, too nervous to ask for their autographs.

That’s what magazines mean to me. The challenges make me nervous, but the wealth of opportunities we have in the digital age makes me excited every day.

Alan Ramsay | MD, Connect Publications; Chairman, PPA Scotland

* Alan still has his first issue of Q and still subscribes.

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Grub Street Journal
by Magdiaries

The old guard

When I first started at Dennis the in-joke was often about the ‘old guard’.

Freelancers, editors, numerous others who were dinosaurs and didn’t understand the brave new direction publishing was taking. At that time I believe it was lists of things and ‘repurposing content’. You’ll learn, they said.

Today publishing has changed so completely that I’m not sure I understand it any more. I look at new ventures and I’m perplexed by the idea let alone the approach and execution. I want – I need – to let these youngsters know they’re doing it wrong, but they’d just ignore me.

They’ll learn.

Christopher Brennan | Journalism lecturer and freelancer



Grub Street Journal
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