The rise of digital has turned much of the magazine industry upside down as publishers grapple with new business models, declining print circulations and a raft of new, digitally native competitors. To help chart the shift, Peter Houston, founder of Flipping Pages Media, has launched The Magazine Diaries – a voice for those working in the industry.
The publishing project has been designed to let magazine people tell the world how they feel about making magazines at a time which Houston describes as “the middle of the biggest disruption in publishing history.”
100 of the best 100-word drabbles, in which magazine professionals have the chance express their feelings about their work, will be pulled together to make a book.
“I stole the idea for the book from a friend,” said Houston. “He wrote 100-word drabbles to document his recovery form a stroke and published a book in support of the Stroke Association. I loved the idea and thought it would work well for magazine people.
“Rather than make the whole thing about my opinions, I thought it would be much more interesting to get the thoughts and feelings of 100 magazine people. I think it’s worked well; we’ve got more than 100 at least.”
Although the deadline for submissions for the book has passed, the project is still accepting entries for the website – and anyone that still wants to tell the world how the magazine business is treating them can get in touch here.
“The next step is to get the book made and get it on sale,” added Houston. “It will be launched at MagFest in Edinburgh next month, then go on sale through The Magazine Diaries website.
“Between now and then we need to build awareness so that the book sells. Twitter is the main vehicle, but also LinkedIn. We’ll be pathetically grateful to anyone that shares any of the diary entries, blogs about the project or just spreads the word.”
All profits from the publication will go to MagAid, a charity using magazines to improve literacy among young people in disadvantaged areas of the UK.
