User-generated magazines
June 5, 2008 · Filed Under Business Bytes, Future of Media
Everywhere and JPG magazines are two relatively new magazines produced by just 19 staffers — and thousands of users. A new model for magazines?
“More publications of this sort could be on the way,” the San Fransisco Chronicle reports. “The 8020 team – which predicts its less-than-a-year-old publications will make money by next year – is looking into producing similar titles for foodies and car enthusiasts.”
Articles may be short – most are 400 to 600 words – “but the quality is there,” said (Editor Todd) Lappin, a former editor at Wired and other publications. “After doing this for a bit, I’m still not seeing what professional travel writers do that our people aren’t doing better. Think about it. There’s only one of them going to a place and there’s potentially hundreds of our people already there.”
It’s hard to argue with the volume of submissions. The tagline on the cover of the April/May issue of JPG reads: “made by ‘16,278 submitters and 129,124 voters.’ ” Approximately 200 images make it into each issue and the editors will provide guidance about what kind of submissions they’re looking for. Currently on the Everywhere Web site is the solicitation: “Help us make Issue 4!” It touts locales as diverse as Barcelona and “The Jersey Shore” as assignment suggestions for its community.
