Momus’s life through magazines
“There are hardly any pictures of the outsides of British newsagents in the 1970s”

Interview with the editor of 1970s mag Contemporary Photographer
Part of Foto8‘s series of looks at classic photo magazines. Looking forward to when they get to Reportage.

SI Wiki Vault
Brave move, letting their archive loose inside a sports-focussed wiki. Seems to be working quite nicely.

Novel made from 40,000 snippets of 1960s women’s magazines
I missed this when it first came out. Have now ordered it – sounds great.

I thought I’d start things modestly. There’s plenty more to come, including reviews (of both classic and new magazines), stories, trends, discussions, commentary and news.

First off, however, are my Ten Magazine Commandments. Print them out and stick by them, or disagree violently (but wittily) in the comments box. And we’re away.

Make a magazine for your readers

Not the PR people, not the advertisers, not the editor-in-chief.

Be true to your format

If you’re digital, be digital. Don’t try to be clickable, moving paper. If you’re paper, be paper. Don’t try to be a printout of the internet.

Be different from the competition

Being first to a story isn’t being different, different is being different.

Make sure your public can find you

Sell it, give it away, put it online. There’s nothing more frustrating – and more likely to die young – than a magazine I love but can never find.

Surprise and challenge your readers

Give the people what they want, then give them what they don’t know how to ask for.

Know what you don’t do

And then never do it. If you don’t know where the line is, it’s probably behind you.

Make every issue a collector’s issue

Passionate readers will keep their favourite copies on the bookshelf / next to the lavatory for years to come. Be that magazine.

Editors: learn to be visual. Designers: learn to love words

And then talk to each other.

Reward dedicated readers

You’d be amazed how many people notice jokes in the credits, flipbooks on the folios, regular messages in the small print. These people are your most dedicated readers, give them treats.

Actually, that’s only nine. Add yours.

Fake retraction stickers placed in Elle
Eco-extremists get clever

Round up of inspiring PDF magazines
Mostly for designers. Royal, JPEG and Naked Wales are my favourites

SFX to be distributed in space
How silly