So to scratch a creative itch I have, I'm going to start a magazine!
Sitting on a lot of the details for now, but I can tell you it will be a
niche publication, very localized. Not setting out with the goal of
making money, but of creatively stretching and also filling a need that
I see. I'm working on structuring it in a way that will make it as easy
to break even as possible...anything more can go back into the product
and make it better.

So, has anyone worked in magazines, either as an employee or
entrepreneur? I'm doing some research right now, hoping to learn from
the experiences of others. This thing is on the slow track to be sure I
do it the "right" way.

Thanks for any feedback anyone may have.

"Brian Mays" <bmays1@sbcglobal.net> wrote

UAlbany (my employer) produces 3 issues of a magazine each year. My dept.
does the design and contracts the printing. Circulation is about 135,000
(non-paying, of course). 48 pages+cover, 4 color throughout. What kind of
feedback are you looking for?



"Brian Mays" <bmays1@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:Oz5Ee.1894$9D1.293@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net ...

I really like working in publishing - beats the hell out of ad agencys
or studios. Format, design, printing, editorial, ad sales, circulation
and distribution all come together to make a good publication. And I
know you are not in it for the money but if you do it right you can
make alot of money, especially 10 years down the line when the big boys
are knocking on your door asking to buy your baby.

Good luck with it

JAK

Brian Mays <bmays1@sbcglobal.net> wrote in news:Oz5Ee.1894$9D1.293
@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net:
The first thing to do is get input from the right sources: in this case,
not primarily from alt.design.graphics but perhaps from alt.journalism and
similar. You'll need to raise the abstration level and change the viewpoint
in order to make it all work.

--
Matti Vuori, <http://sivut.koti.soon.fi/mvuori/index-e.htm>

I worked for a monthly city magazine about twenty years ago. I
worked in the finance area so I know a thing or two about running a
profitable magazine. I just had to chuckle when you said you didn't
mind losing money. GET USED TO LOSING MONEY. You definitely will need
lots of it just to pay for the printing, editorial and staff.

The key is to definite a style all your own that attracts the
attention of readers, finding a good niche that is large enough to
attract sufficient readership to attract advertisers. Once you get
those advertisers, continue to improve the product and promote the
magazine to keep the machinery going.

I really advise against people going into publishing unless they have
deep pockets or have investors. If you won the MEGAMILLIONS LOTTO
recently then have fun. But, most entrepreneurs don't have the
finances, have no idea just how tough it is to make money and don't
know just how many new pubs fail.

Good luck to you in your magazine venture. Know when to foldem.

Sorry for the slow comeback, life is a little crazier these days :-)

Some of the types of things I'm looking for right now are things that
worked for people, things that didn't work, and things they wished
they'd done differently knowing what they know now.

Thanks,
Brian

Fred Doyle wrote:

You're generally thinking along the same track as me. Not on all the
specifics :-) but generally.

One interesting story I read was about a man who had started just a
simple once a month newsletter on the subject he was working with. Over
the course of a number of years it grew slowly but gradually to the
point where it is a very respected and profitable magazine. I had been
thinking along that route.

Brian

graphicjak wrote:

I've been hitting up some friends in publishing locally who have done
similar projects. Also, working at the newspaper gives me some good
insight as well.


Matti Vuori wrote:

"Brian Mays" <bmays1@sbcglobal.net> wrote

As I remember, you've done print design before, yes? In may ways, what I can
tell you is what you know about any print project. Start working with your
printer as soon as possible. Know the same things you must know when
contacting any printer, ie. quantity, paper, size, # or colors, proofing
exectations, anticipated production schedule, etc.

It takes a lot of people to do a successful magazine. You probably see that
from other people's answers in this thread, too. You'll be dealing with
writers, editors, photographers, ad sales people, ad agencies, designers,
printers, and so on. That's a lot of egos. Be patient. (Get to know your
photographers very well.)

Proofread....get good editors, and then proofread again. That's a lot of
money coming off the press. Even still, you'll miss things. As someone once
said to me after I made a mistake in a periodical, "the NY Times makes many,
many mistakes. You will make some too. When the NY Times makes mistakes,
what do they do? Print a correcton that no one sees or understands if they
do see it."

My favorite mistake? On the cover of a magazine, 135,000 copies, already in
the mail, and someone notices the headline says, Donor Role of Honor, not
Donor Roll of Honor. Would you have caught that mistake? Who wants to go
collect those 135,000 magazines?
--
Fred Doyle



"Brian Mays" <bmays1@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:zlSEe.42$oY.30@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net...

Brian Mays wrote:
I ran my own small press magazine (well, fanzine really, think Xerox and
stapler) for a few years. Complete labour of love.

What I know about the publishing industry I can write in 2 lines:

"Magazines exist to bring consumers to advertisers. Advertising revenue
runs magazines, not the cover price."

When commissioning/selecting articles, really you have to think 'what
potential advertiser will like this'. Get to know your audience,
questionairres help a lot, run one at least once a year.

Good luck!

HTH

--

Davémon
http://www.nightsoil.co.uk

I've ran across the ads/cover price issue in some of my research
already. You have a good idea in the questionnaire. I may do some of
that before publication.


Davémon wrote:

Hi Brian,

Its just about like a webzine or a webblog, someone starts one because
he/she wants to talk about something they are passionate about and want
to share with everyone. As time goes by the site had grown on to alot of
people and it became a regular fixture into people's lifestyle. Once you
have reached that stage, you know you can cater to a certain market
segment, YOUR market segment that you had without knowingly (or
knowingly) set out to create. Then you can figure out what are the
potential gold mines that is available to tap.

Cheers
Mezza



Brian Mays wrote: