Industries: the appeal of print - blog tasks

 1) Writer's Edit journal article

Read this excellent Writer's Edit academic journal article on the independent magazine industry and answer the following questions:

1) What is the definition of an independent print magazine?

Characterised as “published without the financial support of a large corporation or institution in which the makers control publication and distribution…

2) What does Hamilton (2013) suggest about independent magazines in the digital age?

A small but growing body of evidence suggests that small printed magazines are quietly thriving even as the global newspaper and book industries falter”

3) Why does the article suggest that independent magazines might be succeeding while global magazine publishers such as Bauer are struggling?

Independent magazines use digital developments to their advantage, and have a strong online presence. These creators set their own terms and rely on collaboration to achieve them.

4) What does the article suggest about how independent publishers use digital media to target their niche audiences?

Independent magazines are able to maintain a strong vision for their magazine without feeling the pressure to appeal to a wider market each issue. 

5) Why is it significant that independent magazines are owned and created by the same people? How does this change the creative process and direction of the magazine?

Those editors and founders of independent magazines are producing cultural records that will one day represent the changing concept of print magazines 

6) What does the article suggest regarding the benefits of a 'do-it-yourself' approach to creating independent magazines?

 “The term “do-it-yourself/do-it-with-others” emphasises semiotic self-determination in how citizens formulate and live out their identities and actions as citizens.” It is through this collaboration that the concept of a magazine community is established.

7) The article discusses the audience appeal of print. Why might audiences love the printed form in the digital age?

There is beauty in the ritual of holding a physical magazine in front of you” (Brimble 2014). This physical print magazine is the output of years of work, both online and in meeting and working with contributors and supporters.

8) What are the challenges in terms of funding and distributing an independent magazine?

Creators rely on subscriptions and high cover prices to continue to produce, while not necessarily making a profit from each print run. 


2) Irish Times feature on independent magazines

Now read this short feature in the Irish Times on the growth of independent magazines and answer the following questions:

1) Why are independent magazines so popular?

 Their subject matter is as diverse as their production techniques, from mental health to trans rights, from football to street wear. They are driven by a passion, both for their content, and the printed form, and thanks to technology, they are able to reach audiences around the world.

2) Why is the magazine publishing industry set up to favour the big global conglomerates?

These are the titles that rely on advertising (rather than copy sales) for revenue. They have a relatively cheap cover price (a 12-issue subscription to Vogue UK costs less than £20), and are filled with adverts.

3) What does the article suggest regarding finding an audience for an independent magazine?

Make your subject too broad (a magazine about football) and you will get lost in the crowd. Make it too narrow (a magazine about redheads who support Bohemians) and your audience will be too small. Get it right 

4) What are the challenges for magazine distributors?

 Shipping boxes of magazines is expensive, and with publishers taking all the risk (they pay for both shipping, and if the magazines don’t sell, the price of shipping them back), it’s key that publishers focus on getting as many direct sales online as possible.

5) The article suggests that many independent magazines only make money by diversifying into other products. What examples do they give?

The Gentlewoman, The Gourmand, Cereal and Kinfolk