This week’s cover story on Eye Weekly talks about the challenges faced by small magazine publishers, including Spacing (there’s Biz Manager Holland Gidney, Associate Editor Lindsay Gibb — also editor of Broken Pencil — and managing editor Dale Duncan on the cover).
In the world of small magazine publishing, appearances can be deceiving.
Take Spacing, a magazine about Toronto public space and politics, where I am one of the founding editors and current managing editor. Spacing is widely read at City Hall; some even say it plays a role in setting the agenda. Reporters and producers often call on its editors to speak about Toronto politics and events — to date, the magazine has been featured or included in 31 newspaper articles, 21 magazine articles and on 10 television and radio shows. It has even received awards for content and design, including a National Magazine Award for best editorial package.
On the inside, however, Spacing is a group of young writers and editors who largely pay for printing costs by selling one-inch buttons and, lately, we’ve been dreaming of a day when we might get paid for what we do. Our magazine may influence the mayor of Toronto, but it doesn’t come close to paying my rent.
The impression that small magazines are bigger than they actually are is quite common. Every once in a while, progressive teen magazine Shameless receives resumés from writers looking for paying jobs, but, like Spacing, the enterprise is still volunteer-run.
10 comments
I read the article this morning; I fall into the category of readers who thought these independent magazines, including Spacing, were in better positions. Certainly gives me a new found respect for those who give their time for the independent media in the country.
The article also broke the news that ‘Shameless’ would soon come to an end.
And who can forget e-mails addressed to “whomever reads the e-mail, could you please tell the people who write Spacing that…”
i’ve always been curious: just how many copies does Spacing tend to sell? I’ll bet the election issue sold more than normal…
To be clear, Shameless isn’t coming to an end. The editors are looking for new people to take over so that the magazine can keep going. They plan on creating a board of directors, which they will be on so that they can retain some control over the magazine. They’ll help by providing new editors with some guidance. They’ve already received a bunch of applications for the job and plan on doing interviews soon. It’s good to know that Shameless won’t be shutting down entirely. It’s such a wonderful and important magazine.
Well, I sure appreciate Spacing, and I’d hate to see the editors succumb to burnout. I really should buy me some Spacing merch…
I tried to buy spacing’s 2007 calendars as gifts but PAGES was sold out! More swag like calendars and buttons might help generate revenue (i know it’s not much but every little bit helps, right?!)
It’s good to know Shameless will continue. Although the article teased the idea of it continuing with other people at the helm, it didn’t seem definitive.
Thanks for clarifying, Dale. Shameless is certainly going to continue publishing, just with a new editorial team guiding it. It’s definite! We will have a new crew in place by the spring, so stay tuned for good things to come….
I always read Spacing magazine to really understand urban issues. I can’t tell you how important it is to have magazines like Spacing. The next edition will be available at the local news stand beside Lettieri in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood for the first time. I tell everyone to read it. I’ll be looking for Shameless.
Thanks for everything.
I like Shameless, but when I’m reading it, I feel like the cast of CSI Miami is going to swoop down on me and call me a perp of some kind for looking at a teen girl magazine. TV takes away all innocence.