Derek, your integrity is truly remarkable. Thanks for posting this.

– mark on 16 May 2007 @ 6pm

Wow. I just won a subscription in the Photobloggies. I feel dirty accepting it.

– Brooks on 16 May 2007 @ 6pm

Derek, I’m sure the “backlash” is upsetting to you. I hope you know that it’s motivated (at least my small part of it) out of respect for the same things you’ve just said - about valuing the community and respecting that trust through open honest communication. I only found JPG because I started following your “Ephemera” photo blog. It was my admiration for your work, and how it made me want to work at being a better photographer, that kept me following, and led me to join JPG and submit work a couple times. It was about participation in a shared enjoyment of something. For Paul to just cut you and Heather out inexplicably, to me it ripped the heart out of that. It’s hard to feel that submitting to this “new JPG” would be about sharing, it would feel more like I was getting used for cheap labor so somebody could make a profit by publishing a magazine. Maybe someday Paul can earn back the trust he’s shattered.

The “deleting my account” backlash isn’t against you or your work. It’s actually support for it.

– Daniel Nash on 16 May 2007 @ 7pm

“Maybe it was a mistake for me to tell this story.”
Disagree.

“I don’t think it makes me look good.”
Disagree again.

“It probably will hurt me financially.
I don’t think it will. Besides, you won’t let it - you have chihuahuas to feed.

“And it’s certainly embarrassing.”
I know I speak for many when I say that you need not feel embarrassed.

You know why I challenge your statements? It’s because your “…professional career is based on inspiring community participation online.”

Derek Powazek projects, from Fray to JPG, have set the gold standard in how every Web 2.0 company should conduct their business: Create lively venues for interaction; provide respectful facilitation and visionary leadership; generate passion; encourage our authentic voices.

You set the bar high and this user, this authentic voice is grateful for your example of excellence.

Such accomplishments cancel out any doubts and misgivings you may have in sharing your painful experience in this incident.

I look forward to participating in the next cool thing you’re going to do.

All the best,
Grace Davis
Blogger/Mother/Wife/Dog Owner/Citizen
Santa Cruz, California

– GraceD on 16 May 2007 @ 7pm

Derek:

We’ve never met, you never had reason to contact me, nor have (had) I been a contributor to jpgmag.com for very long. My effort, desire and hopes for the community you and Heather started however were never the less for this and it truly saddens me to read of the recent events that have transpired.

As is my nature, when something like this comes to my attention, I tend to seek out all the info I can and if that pursuit has yielded anything, it’s that the people who flocked to the world you created still believe in you and want nothing more for you and Heather to succeed in whatever it is you decide to put your heart into next.

Most of what I have read echos this one thought, the heart of JPG has been unceremoniously ripped from its bosom and just as your supporters flocked to JPG, they now have packed up shop and gone home, taking their pictures with them, evident in the precipitous drop in member pages.

I know you still have a stake in the success of JPG, both monetarily and emotionally, and to see the turmoil brewing in your void must be difficult. That being said, I for one would like to point out that JPG was indeed a success. You and Heather created something larger than yourselves, something that contributed to the greater good of a lot of people, people who are very proud to have been apart of what you made. People who no doubt, will wait with anticipation to once again throw their passions and efforts in with yours to make something amazing once more, something greater than themselves.

Please add my name to your Rolodex and when that rocket is set for take off, all you have to do is ask and my matches are yours. See you soon.

– garrison beau scott on 16 May 2007 @ 7pm

As far as I’m concerned, you have no reason to explain why you told your side of the story. It was the right thing to do and shows integrity on your part.

You and Heather did more than build a magazine, you created a community. I feel that by telling your side, it just shows that you can’t just “leave immediately”, because you realize that internet communities are not just made up by nameless faceless profiles that submit photos. We’re people. Real people. And being people, it is in our nature to question and wonder when someone is suddenly not there.

My husband and I have built our business through lots of hard work and passion. For me, part of the attraction of JPG Magazine was that it reflected my own experience: husbands and wives can feed each other creatively, even being opposites, they can create something real and tangible that can resonate with others.

Now I have mixed emotions. What originally drew me to JPG is no longer there. I don’t want to see it become an impersonal site who doesn’t understand or acknowledge the roots that built the JPG community. Will I leave? I don’t know yet. But, I can say that if I stay, I can’t help but forever now compare “before” and “after”.

And I don’t like that.

– Stephanie Pina on 16 May 2007 @ 8pm

I’ve only heard of JPG magazine and don’t really know much about it. Having said that, and reading your story, I admire your integrity and anyone looking to work with you in the future should see that too. If they don’t then they’re probably not worth working with.
More power to you!

– jen on 16 May 2007 @ 8pm

This is all unbelievable. The only bright spot in any of this is your forthcomingness. Don’t doubt that for a second! How could you live with it otherwise?

You will continue to do *great and wonderful* things, unlike Paul.

– TedR on 16 May 2007 @ 9pm

As I said on MetaFilter, not much will be lost from the JPG community by my quitting it, but I felt it important to show the powers that be that their decision was costly. However, I’m keeping my subscription for now — the mission of the magazine remains the same, and even if the powers that be are jerks, that mission, the one you and Heather started, is still worth supporting. I can tolerate corporate assholery if the media is good and positive — I subscribe to Discover even though Disney owns it, because it’s a good magazine and it’s clear Disney doesn’t mess with it; same with the Wall Street Journal. But if JPG begins to stray, I won’t hesitate to unsubscribe.

I’m sorry that all of this has happened. I look forward to your next project, and if there’s any way I can help, let me know.

– Andrew on 16 May 2007 @ 9pm

Hello,

I’m relatively new to JPG Magazine and just found out about your ordeal tonight. I just want to say that you did the right thing in posting your story. There are few people who are that willing to put it all on the line to preserve integrity like that.

Good luck with your future projects

– Tim on 16 May 2007 @ 10pm

Derek, I never submitted to JPG because I’m not a photographer, but I do own a couple of the early LULU issues and was always impressed by how you embraced (and were embraced) by your audience. You know how the ‘work’ (for want of a better word) a community (which is also why I have owned Design For Community since it came out).

When the dust clears, you’ll both walk away from this stronger - and most importantly with a strong community behind you waiting for your next move.

I wish you and the missus many good vibes. (Can we have Fray back now please? ;))

– Mark Bridgeman on 16 May 2007 @ 10pm

Derek, I’m astonished. I completely agree with GraceD, she put it the best way

You know how much I liked JPGmag and the project behind it. I’ve been an “evangelist” of it, here in Italy

So, very sad to read this, for the project but, most of all, for Heather and you

Hope to meet you again soon somewhere in the net or… who knows what you’ll be “brave” to invent?

Keep pushin’,
Alberto

– alberto d'ottavi on 17 May 2007 @ 1am

I’m holding onto my JPG subscription and account, for now. I still need to work through exactly how I want to let 8020 know I’m displeased without going scorched earth, yet.

Here’s my hope, albeit faint and fluttering:

That between cancellations, letters of concern, removal of submissions for Issue 11, not voting on submissions, 8020 recognizes the community is lost, as things stand now. Perhaps wishful thinking. More likely, only the very participatory users have left and they’re left with a number of others (the 80?) and someone is convinced a new 20 can be built. Perhaps it can, but it will be much different, and I don’t think it’s sustainable, largely because it just got a lot more opaque over there.

Let’s hope, though, 8020’s other investors are still, at heart, reasonable people.

What I would like to openly wonder about, is would it be feasible for the community to buy out Paul’s share at fair value?

More directly, Derek, thanks to you and Heather both for putting up the good fight for the entire process JPG, building your vision and inviting us to share in it. We have, and we love you both for it.

– Nathan Walls on 17 May 2007 @ 6am

Derek and Heather,

This is an incredible opportunity for you. You can just take the community with you and start a new Magazine 2.0 company. Sure, it won’t have the JPG name, but it was never about the name.

It was about a photography magazine that was 100% submission-based.

You can pick up right where you left off with JPG. Don’t let this stop you from realizing your dream.

Laura

– Laura Moncur on 17 May 2007 @ 7am

I don’t think it was a mistake at all and I’m glad you shared the story. I’ve been raving about this magazine ever since I found out about it just a few issues ago and now I’m torn because I LOVE the concept but want nothing to do with a business who acts this way.

You could have been full of anger and vileness when you posted, but you didn’t. You posted the facts from your side and nothing else. Being honest in this world is key! thank you for doing so.

– C.C. Chapman on 17 May 2007 @ 8am

Derek,

I am grateful that you offered me a free subscription to the magazine for my contribution to issue #4. I got my issue #9 in mail a few weeks ago. It is a wonderful piece of work.

I deleted all my photos from the JPGmag website after they removed issues 1-6. And I will never deal with JPGmag again without you.

Thank you so much for the great work and good luck with your next project.

Sam

– S. LIU on 17 May 2007 @ 9am

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this. Its something that goes on too often these days, and while business is business, its important for “consumers” particularly in a community project like jpgmag, to know the truth about changes so we can decide for ourselves whether we want to be part of something or not.

Had you been pushed out in a more transparent way I might have not even cared. Takeovers happen. People are forced into and out of roles they don’t like. It sucks but its life and as long as people are honest about things we can make up our own minds about them.

But the fact that the new jpg controllers sought to take the brand you and Heather built and use it for their gain without disclosing the nature of the transition speaks to their dishonesty.

People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.

I hope you do another media project that we can all get behind.

– Ben Roberts on 17 May 2007 @ 10am

Derek, I have followed you & Heather online for as long as I can remember. (I’m still amused by my fangirl moment of asking you to sign my book for me at SxSW 2003.) You have always embraced community transparency, and that IS what made JPG what it is - because people believed in you both so strongly. You have been JPG magazine for so many of us, and that is why the reaction is so strong out there.

I personally have held off on deleting my account because of the fact that I know how hard it must be for you to see people doing that. To see the community fold in on itself in a way. So for now, I’ll leave it alone as I watch and wait. Like you said, you rent a community, and who knows what will become of this in the end.

Always remember though that in times like these, amazing things seem to happen in the end. Somehow you will come out of all of this as a new and improved person. It is impossible to see as it is happening, but I believe that there are many, many great things in your future. I’ll be cheering you both on along the way.

Christine

– Christine on 17 May 2007 @ 10am

Holy ________(please insert explative) !!!!!! Well I had just joined…..great lesson for me…never assume, I’m too damn trusting. Well I hope you and your wife start a new place…called ‘Truth’ so that those of us that adhere to the same principles as you can have a safe place to go.

…..terminating jpg account.

– Tom H on 17 May 2007 @ 11am

I’ve said more than enough in the threads on flickr, but I’m not sure whether you are keeping up with them or not so I’ll add my voice here:

JPG without you and Heather wouldn’t be the same, but I would have stayed anyway if it weren’t for the removal of those issues. You leaving could have been explained and the ‘about page’ wording resolved in time.

I actually found out about this when my dad called from Canada. He told me that he was trying to show his new wife my ‘magazine stuff’ and he couldn’t find it. He assumed that he wasn’t looking in the right place. When I checked the site, the issues were GONE.

That’s so not cool.

Those issues meant a lot to me personally. That was the first time any of my photos had been publishes. My kids took those magazines to school for show and tell. When I checked flickr and read some of the things that were going on I was completely shocked.

I’m glad too see that they’ve taken some steps to backtrack but [as many others have said] too little, too late.

– kristyk on 17 May 2007 @ 12pm

and… published, not publishes

Maybe you could talk to the designer of this theme about a preview tool?

;-)

– kristyk on 17 May 2007 @ 12pm

It doesn’t make you look bad. Au Contraire!-It takes some serious iron to speak the truth when it shows you as imperfect.

– Spence on 17 May 2007 @ 3pm

Grace Davis said it best.

Transparency and honesty will always be best for a business in the long run if it has nothing to hide. JPG Magazine had *nothing* to hide, instead by trying to rewrite a history they should have been proud of they’ve permanently damaged their brand.

Some times the toughest lessons in what essentially is “business politics” are learnt best through experience even if that experience is painful.

I wish you and Heather all the very best in future endeavors. I also hope those affected at 8020 who had no role to play in this get through this.

– Joel on 17 May 2007 @ 5pm

I was tempted to delete my JPG account immediately after reading yours and Heather’s posts, but I held off. I wanted to read the other side of the story. It wasn’t until I read Paul’s initial explanation on the 8020 blog that I pulled the plug.

Your post, and basically all of your work online, is very individual. You write with the voice of a person, a voice of hope, or of hopes dashed in this case, I suppose. Paul’s response was written in the voice of a corporation. The voice of a corporation is a voice of fear. It’s the fear that we might say something wrong, we might betray a weakness if we show our humanity, we might open ourselves to attack by our rivals, so better to say nothing or say as little as possible.

Fear is poison, and it’s endemic in corporations. It kills the humanity in people. With Paul’s initial response, to me, he showed that the poison, the fear, had taken over from the hope, the humanness, that a Powazek/Champ-fronted JPG projected. Even his lengthier, more personal post on Flickr started out by saying that he had to be careful what he said because he represented the company. The poison runs deep. I have to deal with that poison every day at work. I don’t want to deal with it outside of work. And that’s why I deleted my account, because JPG showed that it was now more about fear than hope.

I don’t know you well, Derek. I’ve met you a couple of times at SXSW, first time last year outside the Red Eyed Fly before the Fray Cafe. We talked about a post I had written a few weeks earlier about Ernie Kovacs and such and I really enjoyed talking to you. So maybe I was a little more inclined to believe what you wrote than what Paul, who I’ve never met, had to write. But really, it came down to the fact that you wrote from the heart and he didn’t. I have no interest in participating in a community based on fear. The decision to delete my account was easy in the end.

I wish you and Heather the best of luck in whatever your turn your hands to next.

– ralph on 17 May 2007 @ 6pm

Building a community is an exercise in building trust, and when you’re fortunate enough to have one gel around you, it truly is a beautiful thing. Money can’t buy that, people make that happen.

I know very little about the players personally, but from what I’ve read, there’s a level of integrity in yourself and Heather that’s palpable, and with your removal from JPG the integrity you represented there has gone too. It’s sad, because it was your baby, but it stopped being that and you stopped being responsible for it when it’s founding principles were violated outside your control. You did what you needed to do, and I think you’ll find the community will not only stand behind you, but follow you.

Whatever you do, wherever you do it, you’ll be starting from the 10th floor, and I’m sure you’ll do just fine.

– Stephen Smith on 17 May 2007 @ 9pm

Derek,

Peace , peace, peace ….

You followed your heart ( and you have been doing till now) and continue to do so. Be at peace.

– Navdeep on 17 May 2007 @ 9pm

let’s start a weird funny naked people mag. me and you 50/50

thats’ where all the fun and money is anyway.

eyes forward.

– merkley??? on 17 May 2007 @ 10pm

Signed anything with non-competition clauses? If not, just start a PNG or DNG magazine and show the bastards how its done.

– Alex S on 17 May 2007 @ 11pm

this just sucks big time - except for one thing.
the thing they havent stolen from you.
you have the ability to do anything and be as successful again
and we’re here to back you
all of us jaypeggers

– john on 18 May 2007 @ 1am

I completely agree with GraceD, she said it the best way. You did it the right way, no shame on you. Hope you begin soon a new project, I wish both of you the best.
Don´t be sorry for what happened, learn from it.
Sorry for my english, I´m from Spain, lol.

– d:e:m on 18 May 2007 @ 1am

I don’t know you, and I don’t know JPG Magazine (followed a link from another blog I follow). I just read Monday’s post, and completed reading this one moments ago. I didnt take anything away from the first post that indicated this was an ego trip. I interpreted it as one side of a story gone bad. While I haven’t been in situations as far reaching as this, I have seen similar things happen. Silence has never been a good answer regarding fundamental changes in a website or the underlying philosophy that makes it work. That truth is magnified exponentially when it is a community site. The truth always finds a way to the surface, and woe be unto the people that try to keep it silent.

I think what you have done is admirable. It takes a lot of heart to stand up for what is right, even if it requires admitting ones own shortcomings or lack of foresight. But hey, life is a constant learning opportunity, and it is clear you have learned something here.

Again, I wasn’t aware of your existence until I came across an entry in someone else’s blog this morning, but I will be following this one now as well. And I anxiously anticipate your next venture.

– Chester Bullock on 18 May 2007 @ 7am

Derek –

My sympathies to you, Heather and the JPG community. This is tragic.

I think it was probably 1994-ish when we met in San Francisco, back in your WIRED days pre-Fray, but I still remember you fondly and I hate to think of something this unpleasant affecting you and your family.

All best. I look forward to your next endeavour, hopefully with more dependable collaborators.

– Mike Rose on 18 May 2007 @ 8am

Derek, not to worry. Stay close. Paul will be gone soon. All sniveling, lying retardo bastards eventually go into politics, and your magazine will be free once again.

Lesson for others: when you start a company keep most of the stock.

– Ron McElfresh on 18 May 2007 @ 9am

You left for the same reasons you started - passion. No shame in that, it’s a terrible resoltuion for you but there is respect in starting a magazine as you did - and even more for sticking to your guns. The best of luck with the next adventure.

– Marcus on 18 May 2007 @ 9am

i found this via a friend who was a subscriber (not sure if she submitted) to JPG. i was curious because i know how excited she was when her husband bought her a subscription. after reading your post, i want to offer my support. i’ve been through something similar, in terms of the betrayal and subsequent denial of a company i worked very hard for. i hope that your financial and business standings aren’t negatively impacted by this. so far, mine haven’t been, so that’s a good sign. in fact, i’m doing much better now than i was and have brought a few others up with me.

good tidings. please continue to put integrity forward as a business concept.
thanks.

– InfamousQBert on 18 May 2007 @ 1pm

I sincerely doubt it will do anything to hurt your credibility - in fact, I’m sure it will have the opposite effect. Fantastic job telling your story, even when it hurts; your courage is impressive!

– Brady J. Frey on 18 May 2007 @ 2pm

I met you and Heather briefly at SXSW many many moons ago. I admired both of your creative minds and you guyz devotion to growing a community online.

JPG is a genius invention. Ever since it’s birth, i’ve been a 80%er. Now i’ll jump to the 20%.

It’s unfortunate that shit happens. The good news is - you both are brilliant and everything happens for a reason.

The bad news is, I just bought a subscription. At least hopefully you’ll get a piece of it.

Looking forward to watching what you guys hatch next.

I need to jump over to Cafe Press and create a Team Powazek shirt :)

– EM on 18 May 2007 @ 5pm

Derek,

The world needs more people with integrity. I applaud you for standing up for what you believe in and not bending your ethical principals!

There will be better opportunities in your future Derek. Stand tall and know that you did a good thing!

David Roberts
Founder/The Wedding Photojournalist Association
http://www.WPJA.com

– David Roberts on 18 May 2007 @ 6pm

Derek, I was sad to read the whole story, but I’m glad you told it, because you’re right - the community did deserve to know.

I am sure what has been taken from you ultimately will prove much less than what has been given to you, and what you will do next with what you’ve been given today.

I cant wait to see the next big Derek & Heather project.

– Mike Wasylik on 18 May 2007 @ 6pm

Your sad tale is all too common, I’m afraid. Still, one hopes you can pull a Steve Jobs, and return to the company and save it before Paul is done running it into the ground.

– marcos on 19 May 2007 @ 3am

I really don’t know what to do. I have strong feelings about abandoning my JPG membership, which sucks because I am a late-comer who was really excited about the possibilities. Of course, your story could be completely biased — few of us were there at the time — and I see that 8020 is making some steps to repair this perception.

I know I’m not supposed to care about this, really. Companies rebrand themselves all the time, and making up one genesis story for another is not surprising. However, I guess few of those other companies use words like “community”, “share” and “contribute” like this latest crop of Whatever 2.0 companies.

And this is what sucks. Ventures like 8020 use language that promote these exact feelings, and yet when all is said and done, I’m certainly have no real stake in anything that goes on at JPG mag. But since I’m /supposed/ to be part of some community, this sort of rebranding feels like it is changing /my/ history. This is the part that feels like lies and mealy mouthed corp speak.

I wonder how the people feel who got their photos into one of the first six issues? Dropping that history from the company seems, at best, disingenuous.

This is going to be a real problem going forward with this sort of business model. How do you make changes like this — something that is your right, privilege and even responsibility as a business owner — without alienating the people you’ve been telling all along are the core asset to the company?

– clvrmnky on 19 May 2007 @ 6am

Hello Derek (and Heather)

I used to be a big fan of Fray - about ten years ago now - and then I lost touch with that community. I linked to you through another blog that discussed the JPG problem.

If I’m not wrong you and Heather had just met (through the web) in ‘97/’98 - and I’m very happy you’re together.

There’s a lot to be said on the JPG events but I think much has been said already. All I want to communicate is: reading you again is like bumping into an old friend on the street.

Go Derek!

– Eileen on 19 May 2007 @ 9am

Difficult: That’s what they say when you’re not compliant or considered to be “too passionate.” Fuck em. You’re all right Mr. Powazek.

– Gayla on 19 May 2007 @ 5pm

Dear Derek,

I have been visiting your sites from the early days of powazek.com and have seen all your babies come to fruition, and it saddens me to see people allow partnerships,titles “CEO” get in the way of the orginal vision intended. You did the right thing by putting it out there for everyone to know the truth.
I wish and hope that you will not let this bring you down,because when one door closes another one opens up. I wish you the best and may good luck always be on your side.

– michele on 20 May 2007 @ 8pm

This is a bit weird… I’ve been in the exact same situation with a magazine I had started. Almost identical circumstances. Take care, and all the best with your new projects.

– Arun on 21 May 2007 @ 1am

As I already said here:

http://blog.photoblogs.org/2007/05/16/jpg-magazine-happenings/

Unbelievable! JPG struck me as the best thing in decades. That is why I contributed to it (which is something I do not often do, with my personal work) and ended up with an image on page 46 of ISSUE 5, PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT A CRIME. However, what happened to Derek and Heather certainly is a crime, in my book! Disgusting. On the plus side, the first six issues just became collectors items.

– Michal Daniel on 21 May 2007 @ 4pm

It’s hard to put a good (wo)man down and you prove it well. Good for you. Good luck, do it again and show the bastards how to do it properly.

Jason, Paris

– jason on 22 May 2007 @ 2pm

Derek,

Through your wife’s site at the mirrorproject.com i found out about your site a couple of years ago. i used to be a frequent poster to the mirror project (search for my handle at danielleussink - its good to see all the old photos are still there). due to various reasons i stopped contributing at about the same time as the JPG Magazine was founded. i also stopped reading your wife’s and your own blogs.

now, a couple of years on, i coincidentally come across this. what a pity that the founders of the JPG Magazine are out of it!!! its really really shameful. on the other hand, its great to see that the magazine had such a success, because of your hard work.

did you ever read one of the books by orwell - animal farm? even including all the people who are quitting their JPG accounts now, it seems similar in so many ways.

– Daniel on 22 May 2007 @ 2pm

bring back Fray, on PublicSquare! http://www.publicsquarehq.com

Heck, it might be good for a new photosite, also. ;-)

– christina on 22 May 2007 @ 6pm

Derek, you’re inspiring. Can’t wait to see what you do next. Let’s go on a photowalking together soon!

– Robert Scoble on 23 May 2007 @ 5pm

I have been loving the creative energy of JPG, and asked for a subscription to it for my birthday (may 20th) but was surprised to see your name and heather’s missing the last time I looked.

It’s sad, and I see it all the time. I’ve seen my son go through these kinds of things (Michael Buffington), but somehow, he always seems to land back on his feet.

I am confident you guys will, too. And when you do, I will sure want to know where and how, and if there is anything I can do for you, let me know.

Put me on your list!

– kcp on 24 May 2007 @ 11am

The jpg project have always been an inspiration for me. It was sad to read that you “have left”, even worse to know the reasons behind that. Thanks for sharing with us. All the best.

– Giovanni B. on 25 May 2007 @ 12am

Bummer.

It seems the CEO wasn’t interested in changing the JPG story so much as he (and maybe others, who knows) realized that they’d gotten what they needed from you and just wanted you gone. Fortunately, the door is now wide open and just waiting for you to accept the next great challenge.Take the hard lessons from this and prosper, ever forward, even more.

– suspicious-mold on 25 May 2007 @ 12am

Animo, amigo!
It’s sad, but you both are doing right revealing the whole history, there’s nothing embarrassing on it. You have all my support.

– wu on 25 May 2007 @ 9am

Great advice, great posts. Good luck with your future projects… getting my photo published in JPGMag was a huge thrill for me- thanks for giving me that confidence boost!

– josh on 25 May 2007 @ 1pm

Wow - I just read your recent posts about this. I’m really sorry, what happened to you is shitty. The only thing you’re guilty of is trusting someone (albeit foolishly). This Paul guy is a dick. I’ve known you online for nearly a decade, and I believe your word is good. Good luck with future projects, I’m sure you’ll learn from this and build something even better. Guys like Paul come a dime a dozen, but guys like you are truly rare.

– Susan on 25 May 2007 @ 6pm

Derek: This is such a classic case. How many founders are forced out by the money lenders as they try to change the thing around? While you were trying to make art, they’re trying to make money.

Sad. But that’s capitalism for you. And artists shouldn’t get involved with capitalism.

Look on the bright side: Now you have the time to start a new community.

I just hope you and Heather got your money’s worth out of the deal.

Just don’t forget to let us know about your next project.
You two have my best regards for the future.

– Richard Friedman on 26 May 2007 @ 12am

Derek,
Your integrity and honesty astounds me; if only I could be in business with you! You did the right thing, not only as a way to be honest with the community you’ve built, but it helps folks like me who are venturing out with a new business. Your comments were insightful and incredibly helpful.

No doubt you will rock out in anything you do!

Cheers, Felicia

– Felicia Sullivan on 27 May 2007 @ 5am

Derek,
I only came across JPG recently, but love the concept, the ethos and the execution (issuse 9 and 10 just arrived at my door). I’m truly saddened to read that such a pure idea has been corrupted by this corporate bullshit.

Thank you for creating JPG, and good luck in whatever you do next; I for one will be with you, and I suspect I won’t be alone.
All the best
Martin

– Martin Nicholls on 31 May 2007 @ 5am

Derek,

The best for all involved would be to see the continued success of what you and Heather created. Time heals all. Hopefully as JPG grows and becomes more successful, and you will get the credit you rightly deserve as the father of JPG.

– Mike on 31 May 2007 @ 1pm

Derek,

The cream will rise to the top. That’s what you and Heather are. You must know deep down that this will make you stronger and attract the right people/circumstances to your future. There might not seem like any justice at the moment, but you can sleep at night and feel good about whatever you do. It’s inspiring to see people with principles that aren’t afraid to stand by them. I for one would like to be part of ANYTHING you are involved with in the future. I’d say good luck, but your already making your own.

: >

– Stephen on 6 June 2007 @ 6am

Derek, you did the right thing. Thank you.

– Vance on 19 June 2007 @ 9pm

I think you did the right thing in telling the story, no one knows the truth besides you and Heather and you both have no one to answer to but yourselves. I think every entrepreneur like myself need to know these things can happen and we should not be so naive to the truth out there.

The Powazek name with forever be synonymous with JPG Magazine. You and Heather are brilliant!

– Char on 25 June 2007 @ 9am

Two years ago I lost my job because I took the side of ethics and integrity over deceit and dishonesty.

Once the initial shockwaves subsided, I found myself walking tall, shoulders high, proud of myself for my actions.

So should you.

– Bill on 26 June 2007 @ 7pm

Derek, you were not only right to do what you did but also right to tell the world!! Thanks man, sheds a whole new light on the current people at the helm…

Jack

– Jack Allen on 26 June 2007 @ 8pm

Derek,

Now is the time you should be most proud of your story and having left. I only just heard about this today, as I was searching for information on bad things happening with JPG.

I recieved the new issue only yesterday, and was completely dumbfounded as to how the image that graces the cover even made it to the publishing stage at all. If you give a good look, you will see parts of the steering wheel are missing, where the photog did a poor job of outlining and adding in the new sky. (and most likely just did a select and feather based on the missing piece, the halo effect and very soft edges of the car window frame)

I was amazed that a magazine would post submission rules that state “We’re about mostly unmodified photos. That means we do not accept photos that have been overly Photoshopped. Adjustments to color and sharpness is just fine, of course. Just keep it real, baby. Here’s a handy rule: If anything has been digitally added or removed (well, besides dust), it’s probably not right for JPG.” and then publish this photo - ON THE COVER no less.

I have been a graphic designer and photographer for a long time, and have worked over many images for commercial purposes…so believe me when I say that I have seen WORSE jobs done, but this one would never get by me for print or any other use. I couldn’t believe this got past you guys.

And now I understand that it didn’t. Because you aren’t there.

Well, neither am I anymore. And as one person in the beginnings of going on his own, to someone that has been there (you) and will be again…KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON!

– Andrew Rousey on 27 July 2007 @ 9am

What - no reply from Paul? Well, I guess that’s to be expected. Thanks for the info Derek - look forward to your next project.

– JoBeeOne on 29 July 2007 @ 10pm

well, i for one admire you for stepping up to speak the truth. i’ll be deleting my jpg account just asa i hit submit here.
head up & you’ll likely find that this happened for some better reason. when God says ‘no’ it’s often a ‘yes’ to something more :o) ((Hugs))

– lindey on 15 August 2007 @ 12pm

I was wondering what was up with the magazine…. I thought it was all about amateurs, but from the last few issues I’ve seen it looks as though the magazine is made up of photos and photo essays that didn’t come from the website and are obviously from professionals, friends of the publishers, and/or colleagues.

Just thought it was funny to see hundreds of photos on the site that are at a certain level of quality and then you open up the mag to see a ton of work that I NEVER saw on the website. Made me think that the whole process was just a scam. Of course a few photos made it in from the site I’m sure, but I’m not buying the whole concept. I am in publishing myself (www.believeinone.com) so I’m no stranger to putting together a magazine (we publish 6x per year @ 64 pages with contributors from around the world).

After reading this blog and other reports, now I know that there is no reason to believe that there is any integrity at this publication. It just affirms a hunch I had. Sorry to hear about this situation. You obviously have great ideas, so I wouldn’t worry about it. Move on, start a new project, and take them down! Nothing ever survives without the spirit that gave birth to it…

– wes on 10 September 2007 @ 9am

Derek,

Being the curious fellow that I am, I found it weird to see that you and your wife Heather were no longer at JPG magazine. So I Googled, “JPG Business Articles,” and low and behold hear I am reading about how it is you and your wife have been tossed out of the company that the both of you built. Not for nothing, I just can’t be a part of something that has been unscrupulously taken away from someone, especially something so beautiful as JPG. I immediately wet to my JPG account and pulled myself from the site. Please, whenever you set up another magazine, or website, let me know about it I’ll be the first one to sign up. Thank you and Heather for all of the hard work you’ve done.

Kenneth M. Ortiz

– Keneth M. Ortiz on 27 December 2007 @ 7pm