Courtenay, Kate P., and I were at the 826 Valencia panel with folks from Kitchen Sink, Hyphen, Dwell, The Face, & Bitch magazines.
We will try to share the highlights with you both here and in class. Topics included the ad sales & fundraising, subscription & newsstand distribution, cover & page layout, and aspects of the editorial process such as working with writers & photographers.
Some of my notes:
When the subject of magazine covers arose, Neil Stevenson of popbitch formerly an editor for The Face quipped: "Women want women's lifestyle magazines to act like an idealized mirror. The covers with Jennifer Aniston or Catherine Zeta-Jones who have the quality of "the-girl-next-door-put-through-the-hot-machine" sell way more copies than covers with Cameron Diaz because she is TOO hot."
Dwell editor Sam confirmed that the black & white cover had the worst newsstand sales of any issue of Dwell. All editors agree that covers need color to pop on the newsstand racks. Sam also mentioned that covers are not made for subscribers--covers are designed to win over people at the newsstand who you may not already have engaged, while still not turning off your subscribers.
Joey Stevenson mentioned Amelia's Magazine with a scratch-n-sniff cover (again, maximum tactility battling internet virtuality). Expensive to produce, but something you want to hold in your hands.
Sam mentioned LoDown out of Germany where every single page has a different layout.
Jen from Kitchen Sink advised those who want to start a magazine to work with people whose "brains you like. If you don't like the people in the room, get out of the room."
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